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.

1,097 Results
Sort:
South Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year

List of the Best South Colleges

Furman University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Greenville, SC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Furman is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate biology, political science, and business. The residential campus centers on a lake just outside Greenville.

#19 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1260-1430
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $34,086
Details Calculate my Chances
The University of Texas at Austin Campus

credit : ejmc / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Austin, TX
  • 5.0 | 4 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

UT Austin is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate business, engineering, and computer science. The urban campus occupies a large site in central Austin.

#20 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1250-1510
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 27%
  • Net Price $17,942
Details Calculate my Chances
Texas Christian University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fort Worth, TX
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

TCU is a private university known for undergraduate business and communications. The residential campus sits a few miles from downtown Fort Worth.

#21 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1350
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $41,848
Details Calculate my Chances
University of Tulsa Campus

credit : imarcc / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tulsa, OK
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

University of Tulsa is a private university known for undergraduate petroleum engineering and energy programs. The compact urban campus sits in midtown Tulsa.

#22 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1223-1530
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $13,095
Details Calculate my Chances
Texas A&M University College Station Campus

credit : eschipul / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • College Station, TX
  • 5.0 | 6 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

Texas A&M is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and business. A large Corps of Cadets gives the College Station campus a long-standing military tradition.

#23 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1400
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $21,437
Details Calculate my Chances
Rhodes College Campus

credit : euthman / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Memphis, TN
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Rhodes is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology and international studies. The collegiate Gothic campus sits in a wooded residential section of Memphis.

#24 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1300-1486
  • Avg GPA 3.99
  • Acceptance Rate 50%
  • Net Price $31,037
Details Calculate my Chances
Virginia Military Institute Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Lexington, VA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

VMI is a public military college known for undergraduate engineering and the sciences. All students join the Corps of Cadets and live in barracks under a military regimen on the historic Lexington campus.

#25 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $18,825
Details Calculate my Chances
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Campus

credit : w_lemay / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Raleigh, NC
  • 5.0 | 4 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

NC State is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and textiles. The campus sits in Raleigh within North Carolina's Research Triangle.

#26 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1300-1470
  • Avg GPA 3.83
  • Acceptance Rate 42%
  • Net Price $15,522
Details Calculate my Chances
Clemson University Campus

credit : Jason A G / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Clemson, SC
  • 4.4 | 10 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Clemson is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and business. The lakeside campus sits in the Blue Ridge foothills beside Lake Hartwell.

#27 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $25,003
Details Calculate my Chances
University of Georgia Campus

credit : hyku / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Athens, GA
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

UGA is a large public university known for undergraduate journalism, business, and agricultural sciences. The historic campus anchors the college town of Athens.

#28 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1270-1480
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $16,662
Details Calculate my Chances
Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus Campus

credit : hectorir / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Atlanta, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 4 application deadline

Georgia Tech is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and the sciences. The urban campus sits in midtown Atlanta.

#29 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1370-1540
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.85
  • Acceptance Rate 14%
  • Net Price $15,918
Details Calculate my Chances
Elon University Campus

credit : MPD01605 / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Elon, NC
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 10 application deadline

Elon is a private university known for undergraduate communications and business. Most students live on the residential campus in the small college town of Elon.

#30 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1280
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $44,440
Details Calculate my Chances
Virginia Tech Campus

credit : Paul_CK / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Blacksburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Virginia Tech is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and architecture. The campus sits in the college town of Blacksburg in Virginia's Blue Ridge region.

#31 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1280-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $24,912
Details Calculate my Chances
Centre College Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Danville, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Centre is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, politics, and the natural sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in the small college town of Danville.

#32 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Acceptance Rate 54%
  • Net Price $23,860
Details Calculate my Chances
Wofford College Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Spartanburg, SC
  • 3.1 | 8 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Wofford is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, finance, and government. The historic campus in Spartanburg has a large Greek system.

#33 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1198-1343
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $30,481
Details Calculate my Chances
University of Delaware Campus

credit : mathplourde / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Newark, DE
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Delaware is a large public university known for undergraduate chemical engineering, business, and fashion studies. The campus is set in the college town of Newark.

#34 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.94
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $19,139
Details Calculate my Chances
St. Mary's College of Maryland Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • St. Mary's City, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public honors college known for undergraduate liberal arts. The historic campus sits on the St. Mary's River in southern Maryland.

#35 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1143-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.45
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $21,071
Details Calculate my Chances
Baylor University Campus

credit : cogdogblog / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Waco, TX
  • 4.2 | 14 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Baylor is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and prehealth programs. The residential campus sits along the Brazos River in Waco.

#36 Best Colleges in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1400
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 51%
  • Net Price $47,001
Details Calculate my Chances