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

Angelo State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • San Angelo, TX
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Angelo State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and agriculture. The campus is in the West Texas city of San Angelo.

#271 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $14,048
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University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Pine Bluff, AR
  • | 0 reviews

UAPB is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate aquaculture and agriculture. Students study on a residential campus in Pine Bluff in southeastern Arkansas.

#272 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 845-1108
  • Avg GPA 2.9
  • Acceptance Rate 41%
  • Net Price $12,373
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Northwestern State University of Louisiana Campus

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

Northwestern State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus is in historic Natchitoches, a small city along the Cane River.

#273 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 866-1163
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $13,134
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Limestone University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Gaffney, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Limestone is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus is in the small town of Gaffney in upstate South Carolina.

#274 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $19,369
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Arkansas State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Jonesboro, AR
  • | 0 reviews

Arkansas State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, agriculture, and business. The campus is located in Jonesboro in northeast Arkansas.

#275 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $12,410
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Shorter University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Rome, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 25 application deadline

Shorter is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. The campus sits in the small city of Rome in northwest Georgia.

#276 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.25
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $16,821
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Lamar University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Beaumont, TX
  • 1.7 | 3 reviews

Lamar is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and nursing. The campus is located in Beaumont in southeast Texas.

#277 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $9,814
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Columbia College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Columbia College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and nursing. Students study on an urban campus in South Carolina's capital.

#278 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $18,790
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University of Houston Downtown Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Houston, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UHD is a public university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in downtown Houston near the city's business district.

#279 Best Colleges in the South
  • SAT Range 940-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.29
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $10,832
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Winston Salem State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Winston-Salem, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Winston-Salem State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The urban campus is part of the University of North Carolina system.

#280 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 830-1020
  • Avg GPA 3.01
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $12,989
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St. Thomas University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Miami Gardens, FL
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews

St. Thomas is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and sports administration. The suburban campus lies in Miami Gardens just north of Miami.

#281 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $27,844
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Midway University Campus

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

Midway is a private university known for undergraduate equestrian studies, nursing, and teacher education. The residential campus is in the small town of Midway in central Kentucky.

#282 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $30,679
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University of North Carolina at Pembroke Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Pembroke, NC
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

UNC Pembroke is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and nursing. The campus was founded to serve Native American students and remains closely tied to the Lumbee community.

#283 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.44
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $9,723
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Troy University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Troy, AL
  • 5.0 | 4 reviews

Troy is a public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. The main campus is a residential college-town setting in southeastern Alabama.

#284 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $12,842
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Concordia University Texas Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Austin, TX
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Concordia Texas is a private Lutheran university with undergraduate programs in nursing, business, and education. The campus is in northwest Austin.

#285 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $24,723
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University of Maryland Eastern Shore Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Princess Anne, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UMES is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, aviation science, and hospitality management. The rural campus is located in the small town of Princess Anne on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

#286 Best Colleges in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1010
  • Avg GPA 3.07
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $13,311
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Tougaloo College Campus
 

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

Tougaloo is a private historically Black liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs in the sciences and social sciences. The historic campus just outside Jackson was a key site in the Civil Rights Movement.

#287 Best Colleges in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-1090
  • Avg GPA 2.8
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $14,328
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Virginia State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Petersburg, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Virginia State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, education, and business. The historic campus is in Petersburg near Richmond.

#288 Best Colleges in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1070
  • Avg GPA 2.85
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $17,840
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