The Best Southern Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the South for 2025

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the South as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2025 is Washington and Lee University. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
South small Public Private 4 year

128 results

Queens University of Charlotte
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Q
Charlotte, NC

Queens University of Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,846enrollment
  • $27,178net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.41Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 7

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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
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N
Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,074enrollment
  • $11,163net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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Maryland Institute College of Art
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M
Baltimore, MD

Maryland Institute College of Art

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,861enrollment
  • $43,066net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 915-1220SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Hendrix College
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H
Conway, AR

Hendrix College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Arkansas

  • 1,107enrollment
  • $24,236net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1185-1385SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Mount St Mary's University
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M
Emmitsburg, MD

Mount St Mary's University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Maryland

  • 2,499enrollment
  • $25,298net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1280SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Meredith College
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M
Raleigh, NC

Meredith College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,576enrollment
  • $23,405net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1260SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Agnes Scott College
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A
Decatur, GA

Agnes Scott College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,077enrollment
  • $25,609net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1350SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Roanoke College
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R
Salem, VA

Roanoke College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,835enrollment
  • $27,695net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

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Presbyterian College
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P
Clinton, SC

Presbyterian College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,136enrollment
  • $20,058net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 21

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Eckerd College
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E
Saint Petersburg, FL

Eckerd College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,986enrollment
  • $40,122net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1336SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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Berry College
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B
Mount Berry, GA

Berry College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 2,370enrollment
  • $25,383net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1278SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Transylvania University
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T
Lexington, KY

Transylvania University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Kentucky

  • 1,022enrollment
  • $25,634net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1290SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of North Carolina at Asheville
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N
Asheville, NC

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 2,925enrollment
  • $14,175net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1350SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Bellarmine University
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B
Louisville, KY

Bellarmine University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Kentucky

  • 2,993enrollment
  • $24,432net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1075-1243SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Randolph Macon College
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R
Ashland, VA

Randolph Macon College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,523enrollment
  • $29,058net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1210SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Asbury University
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A
Wilmore, KY

Asbury University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Kentucky

  • 1,942enrollment
  • $21,375net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1320SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

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Ouachita Baptist University
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O
Arkadelphia, AR

Ouachita Baptist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Arkansas

  • 1,815enrollment
  • $22,087net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1290SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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Wayland Baptist University
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W
Plainview, TX

Wayland Baptist University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,861enrollment
  • $20,222net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 900-1090SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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