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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South Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year

List of the Best South Colleges

Truett McConnell University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Cleveland, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Truett McConnell is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate Christian studies and education. The campus is in the North Georgia mountains near Cleveland.

#325 Best Colleges in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,179
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Jackson State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Jackson, MS
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Jackson State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate business, education, and public health. The urban campus sits in Mississippi's capital city.

#326 Best Colleges in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 820-1070
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $23,450
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Lander University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Greenwood, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Lander is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus is in the small city of Greenwood in South Carolina's Upstate.

#327 Best Colleges in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1178
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $15,520
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Tusculum University Campus

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

Tusculum is a small private university with undergraduate programs in business, education, and nursing. The historic Greeneville campus is Tennessee's oldest college and retains a Presbyterian affiliation.

#328 Best Colleges in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1110
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.18
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $20,355
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Alcorn State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Alcorn State, MS
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews

Alcorn State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, nursing, and biology. The rural campus sits in southwestern Mississippi.

#329 Best Colleges in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 670-998
  • Avg GPA 3.2
  • Acceptance Rate 45%
  • Net Price $12,376
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Prairie View A & M University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Prairie View, TX
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Prairie View A&M is a public HBCU known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and agriculture. The small-town campus sits northwest of Houston in Prairie View.

#330 Best Colleges in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 79%
  • Net Price $14,448
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Clayton State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Morrow, GA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 17 application deadline

Clayton State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The suburban Morrow campus sits beside a lake south of Atlanta.

#331 Best Colleges in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1078
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $8,192
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Mississippi Valley State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Itta Bena, MS
  • | 0 reviews

Mississippi Valley State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate education and business. The rural campus sits in the Mississippi Delta near Greenwood.

#332 Best Colleges in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 2.9
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $10,232
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Fort Valley State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Fort Valley, GA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jun 15 application deadline

Fort Valley State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate agriculture and animal science. The residential campus is in the small city of Fort Valley in central Georgia.

#333 Best Colleges in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1070
  • Avg GPA 2.87
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $10,047
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Columbus State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Columbus, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 30 application deadline

Columbus State is a public university known for undergraduate music through the Schwob School of Music, plus nursing and theater. Arts programs also use a downtown RiverPark campus along the Chattahoochee River.

#334 Best Colleges in the South 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 800-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.07
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $12,420
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Bethune Cookman University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Daytona Beach, FL
  • | 0 reviews

Bethune-Cookman is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in Daytona Beach near Florida's Atlantic coast.

#335 Best Colleges in the South 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 830-990
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $12,476
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Morgan State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • 4.2 | 5 reviews
  • Apr 15 application deadline

Morgan State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and business. The urban campus is in northeast Baltimore.

#336 Best Colleges in the South 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1070
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $15,476
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West Virginia State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Institute, WV
  • | 0 reviews

West Virginia State is a public historically Black university with undergraduate programs in business, education, and the sciences. The campus is in Institute, near Charleston.

#337 Best Colleges in the South 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 760-1040
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $11,055
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Alabama A & M University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Normal, AL
  • | 0 reviews

Alabama A&M is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and education. The Normal campus lies just north of Huntsville.

#338 Best Colleges in the South 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 810-1040
  • Avg GPA 3.02
  • Acceptance Rate 58%
  • Net Price $17,152
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Brewton Parker College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Mount Vernon, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Brewton-Parker is a small private Baptist college with undergraduate programs in education, business, and Christian studies. The rural campus is located in the small town of Mount Vernon in southeast Georgia.

#339 Best Colleges in the South 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1010
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $25,613
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Alabama State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Montgomery, AL
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Jul 31 application deadline

Alabama State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate education, business, and health sciences. The urban campus is in Montgomery, the state capital.

#340 Best Colleges in the South 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 749-967
  • Avg GPA 2.95
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $13,138
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Kentucky State University Campus

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

Kentucky State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate aquaculture and agriculture. Students attend a small campus in Kentucky's capital city.

#341 Best Colleges in the South 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 820-1010
  • Avg GPA 2.72
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $9,397
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Southern University and A & M College Campus

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

Southern is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing, engineering, and agriculture. The Baton Rouge campus sits on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.

#342 Best Colleges in the South 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-1020
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 35%
  • Net Price $18,353
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