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

Tennessee Wesleyan University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Athens, TN
  • | 0 reviews

Tennessee Wesleyan is a small private Methodist university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus sits in the small town of Athens in East Tennessee.

#199 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $15,125
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Georgia State University Campus

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

Georgia State is a large public university known for undergraduate business, public health, and public policy. The urban campus sits in downtown Atlanta.

#200 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $16,854
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University of South Alabama Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Mobile, AL
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

South Alabama is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The campus is in the coastal city of Mobile near Mobile Bay.

#201 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $16,074
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University of Arkansas at Little Rock Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Little Rock, AR
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 17 application deadline

UA Little Rock is a public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and criminal justice. The urban campus is located in Arkansas's capital city.

#202 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 59%
  • Net Price $12,033
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University of the Incarnate Word Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • San Antonio, TX
  • | 0 reviews

UIW is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and the health sciences. The urban campus is in San Antonio.

#203 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $23,363
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Savannah College of Art and Design Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Savannah, GA
  • 4.2 | 4 reviews

SCAD is a private art and design college known for undergraduate fashion, graphic design, and animation. The campus occupies renovated historic buildings in downtown Savannah.

#204 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $50,821
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University of Mary Hardin Baylor Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Belton, TX
  • | 0 reviews

Mary Hardin-Baylor is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus is in Belton in Central Texas.

#205 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $27,651
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University of New Orleans Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • New Orleans, LA
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

UNO is a public university known for undergraduate naval architecture, marine engineering, and hospitality. The urban campus sits on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

#206 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 935-1241
  • Avg GPA 3.21
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $12,258
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New Mexico State University Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Las Cruces, NM
  • | 0 reviews

New Mexico State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture and engineering. The main campus lies in Las Cruces near the Organ Mountains.

#207 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 870-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.55
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $10,719
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Lee University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Cleveland, TN
  • | 0 reviews

Lee is a private Christian university known for undergraduate music and education. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Cleveland, Tennessee.

#208 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $20,416
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The University of Tennessee Chattanooga Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Chattanooga, TN
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

UTC is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and nursing. The urban campus borders the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga.

#209 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1013-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $15,347
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Sam Houston State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Huntsville, TX
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Sam Houston State is a large public university known for undergraduate criminal justice and forensic science. The main campus is in Huntsville in the piney woods of East Texas.

#210 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1120
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.25
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $14,737
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Saint Leo University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Leo, FL
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Saint Leo is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate criminal justice, business, and education. The campus adjoins a Benedictine abbey in a small central Florida town north of Tampa.

#211 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,599
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University of Central Oklahoma Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Edmond, OK
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

UCO is a public university known for undergraduate forensic science and teacher education. The suburban campus sits in Edmond just north of Oklahoma City.

#212 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $18,660
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The University of Texas Permian Basin Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Odessa, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 23 application deadline

UT Permian Basin is a public university known for undergraduate petroleum engineering and business. The campus is located in Odessa in West Texas's Permian Basin.

#213 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1130
  • Avg GPA 3.27
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $13,563
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The University of Tennessee Martin Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Martin, TN
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

UT Martin is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, education, and business. The residential campus is in the small college town of Martin in northwest Tennessee.

#214 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $11,955
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Johnson & Wales University Charlotte Campus
 

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

Johnson & Wales Charlotte is a private university known for undergraduate culinary arts, hospitality management, and business. The urban campus is located in uptown Charlotte.

#215 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1130
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $28,084
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Coastal Carolina University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Conway, SC
  • 4.7 | 3 reviews

Coastal Carolina is a public university known for undergraduate marine science and PGA golf management. The Conway campus lies a short drive from Myrtle Beach and the Atlantic coast.

#216 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $14,379
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