Best Southern Colleges

There are 1097 colleges and universities in the South enrolling 7,307,736 students. Explore the list of top colleges in the South below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in South offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

The  South is home to nationally ranked institutions like Duke University, Rice University, Johns Hopkins University and Vanderbilt University. The highest ranked college in the South is Duke University and the top rated public state college is University of Virginia Main Campus.

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List of the Best South Colleges

Western Carolina University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Cullowhee, NC
  • 4.6 | 10 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Western Carolina is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and criminal justice. The campus sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Cullowhee.

#181 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.44
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $13,767
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Methodist University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fayetteville, NC
  • | 0 reviews

Methodist University is a private university known for undergraduate PGA golf management and business. The campus sits in Fayetteville near Fort Liberty.

#182 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $26,334
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Belhaven University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Jackson, MS
  • | 0 reviews

Belhaven is a private Christian university known for undergraduate dance, music, and visual arts. The urban campus sits in Jackson's historic Belhaven neighborhood.

#183 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1298
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 50%
  • Net Price $16,299
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University of Charleston Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Charleston, WV
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews

University of Charleston is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The urban campus sits along the Kanawha River in West Virginia's capital.

#184 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 985-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.13
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $20,844
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Murray State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Murray, KY
  • | 0 reviews

Murray State is a public university known for undergraduate education, agriculture, and nursing. Murray is a small college town in western Kentucky built around the campus.

#185 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $10,182
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Georgia College & State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Milledgeville, GA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

Georgia College is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the arts and sciences. The residential campus occupies historic grounds in downtown Milledgeville, Georgia's former capital.

#186 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $21,632
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Life University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Marietta, GA
  • | 0 reviews

Life University is a private university known for chiropractic education and undergraduate exercise science and biology. The suburban campus is in Marietta near Atlanta.

#187 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 920-1130
  • Avg GPA 3.11
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $29,111
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Reinhardt University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Waleska, GA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Reinhardt is a private university known for undergraduate business, education, and music. The campus is set in the small North Georgia mountain town of Waleska.

#188 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.25
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $24,550
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University of Louisiana at Monroe Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Monroe, LA
  • | 0 reviews

ULM is a public university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and health sciences. The campus borders Bayou DeSiard in Monroe.

#189 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $13,648
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Mississippi University for Women Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Columbus, MS
  • | 0 reviews

Mississippi University for Women is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and education. Historically the first public women's college in the United States, the Columbus campus is now coeducational.

#190 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $12,487
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Brenau University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Gainesville, GA
  • | 0 reviews

Brenau is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the arts. Traditional undergraduates enroll in its residential Women's College on a historic campus in Gainesville.

#191 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $19,743
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Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Baton Rouge, LA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

FranU is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The compact Baton Rouge campus is tied to the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady health system.

#192 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $16,432
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University of West Florida Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Pensacola, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UWF is a public university known for undergraduate marine biology, archaeology, and nursing. The wooded Pensacola campus includes a large nature preserve.

#193 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 58%
  • Net Price $10,092
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University of Virginia's College at Wise Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Wise, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

UVA Wise is a public liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing and teacher education. The rural campus sits in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia.

#194 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 945-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 29%
  • Net Price $14,378
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Winthrop University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Rock Hill, SC
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews

Winthrop is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, visual and performing arts, and business. The historic campus sits in Rock Hill, near the Charlotte metro area.

#195 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1220
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 79%
  • Net Price $16,108
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Texas State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • San Marcos, TX
  • 3.8 | 9 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

Texas State is a large public university known for undergraduate geography, education, and mass communication. The campus in the college town of San Marcos sits along the spring-fed San Marcos River.

#196 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1200
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $15,716
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Spalding University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Louisville, KY
  • | 0 reviews

Spalding is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and education. The urban campus sits in downtown Louisville.

#197 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 875-1038
  • Avg GPA 3.87
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $25,999
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Florida Gulf Coast University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Fort Myers, FL
  • 3.0 | 3 reviews
  • Nov 1 application deadline

FGCU is a public university known for undergraduate environmental science, marine science, and hospitality management. The Fort Myers campus includes nature preserves and sits near the Gulf Coast.

#198 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1200
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $12,863
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