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

Ave Maria University
Connect Me
A
Ave Maria, FL

Ave Maria University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,335enrollment
  • $23,515net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1018-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Texas Lutheran University
Connect Me
T
Seguin, TX

Texas Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,361enrollment
  • $23,600net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Tuskegee University
Connect Me
T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 2,846enrollment
  • $35,126net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 995-1255SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Oklahoma Baptist University
Connect Me
O
Shawnee, OK

Oklahoma Baptist University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Oklahoma

  • 1,526enrollment
  • $25,099net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1190SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Emory and Henry College
Connect Me
E
Emory, VA

Emory and Henry College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,364enrollment
  • $21,714net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1240SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Christian Brothers University
Connect Me
C
Memphis, TN
 

Christian Brothers University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,043enrollment
  • $17,068net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1300SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Our Lady of the Lake College
Connect Me
O
Baton Rouge, LA
 

Our Lady of the Lake College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Louisiana

  • 1,204enrollment
  • $15,239net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Fisk University
Connect Me
F
HBCU
Nashville, TN

Fisk University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,005enrollment
  • $19,836net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1480SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Bridgewater College
Connect Me
B
Bridgewater, VA

Bridgewater College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,436enrollment
  • $19,660net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1375SAT range
  • 28-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Oglethorpe University
Connect Me
O
Atlanta, GA

Oglethorpe University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,522enrollment
  • $22,251net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1106-1320SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Lynchburg
Connect Me
L
Lynchburg, VA

University of Lynchburg

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 2,592enrollment
  • $22,921net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 980-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Averett University
Connect Me
A
Danville, VA

Averett University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,378enrollment
  • $24,091net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 960-1191SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
King College
Connect Me
K
Bristol, TN
 

King College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,295enrollment
  • $23,282net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Guilford College
Connect Me
G
Greensboro, NC

Guilford College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,208enrollment
  • $22,620net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Montevallo
Connect Me
M
Montevallo, AL

University of Montevallo

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 2,942enrollment
  • $17,280net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 970-1200SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Maryville College
Connect Me
M
Maryville, TN

Maryville College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,147enrollment
  • $20,990net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1018-1188SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Catawba College
Connect Me
C
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,241enrollment
  • $18,319net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1186SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
North Greenville University
Connect Me
N
Tigerville, SC

North Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 2,219enrollment
  • $20,264net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 22

Compare Calculate my chances