Best Southern Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the South for 2023

There are 1310 colleges and universities in the South enrolling 7,250,552 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.


1,310 results

List of the Best South Colleges

Furman University
F
Greenville, SC

Furman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,463enrollment
  • $37,761net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1422SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Texas Christian University
T
Fort Worth, TX

Texas Christian University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in the South

  • 11,938enrollment
  • $40,220net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1350SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in the South

  • 43,859enrollment
  • $17,410net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

Virginia Tech
V
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Tech

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in the South

  • 37,279enrollment
  • $20,247net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Texas A & M University College Station
T
College Station, TX

Texas A & M University College Station

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in the South

  • 72,530enrollment
  • $19,906net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1380SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
N
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in the South

  • 36,831enrollment
  • $14,600net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1440SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Rhodes College
R
Memphis, TN

Rhodes College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,073enrollment
  • $29,852net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1490SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Wofford College
W
Spartanburg, SC

Wofford College

Private 4 Year

8 reviews

#26 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,765enrollment
  • $30,431net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1185-1330SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

St Mary's College of Maryland
S
St. Mary's City, MD

St Mary's College of Maryland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,544enrollment
  • $20,237net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1135-1340SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Clemson University
C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#28 Best Colleges in the South

  • 27,341enrollment
  • $22,935net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Virginia Military Institute
V
Lexington, VA

Virginia Military Institute

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#29 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,652enrollment
  • $18,969net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1300SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Centre College
C
Danville, KY

Centre College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,320enrollment
  • $22,748net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1235-1465SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Delaware
D
Newark, DE

University of Delaware

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Colleges in the South

  • 23,996enrollment
  • $19,747net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1155-1340SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Elon University
E
Elon, NC

Elon University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#32 Best Colleges in the South

  • 7,127enrollment
  • $39,401net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1320SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.65Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

University of Georgia
G
Athens, GA

University of Georgia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#33 Best Colleges in the South

  • 40,118enrollment
  • $16,580net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Baylor University
B
Waco, TX

Baylor University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#34 Best Colleges in the South

  • 20,626enrollment
  • $40,133net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1350SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Tulsa
T
Tulsa, OK

University of Tulsa

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#35 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,832enrollment
  • $25,333net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1370SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Union University
U
Jackson, TN

Union University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#36 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,930enrollment
  • $26,906net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1330SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA