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

Samford University
S
Birmingham, AL

Samford University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#37 Best Colleges in the South

  • 5,758enrollment
  • $31,322net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1290SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Southwestern University
S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#38 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,504enrollment
  • $29,830net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Austin College
A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#39 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,228enrollment
  • $24,085net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

Mercer University
M
Macon, GA

Mercer University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#40 Best Colleges in the South

  • 9,009enrollment
  • $21,693net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1400SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.98Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

University of South Carolina Columbia
S
Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina Columbia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#41 Best Colleges in the South

  • 35,471enrollment
  • $21,784net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.69Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

University of Dallas
D
Irving, TX

University of Dallas

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#42 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,538enrollment
  • $27,450net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1390SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Oklahoma City University
O
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#43 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,551enrollment
  • $25,072net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1233SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Eastern Mennonite University
E
Harrisonburg, VA

Eastern Mennonite University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#44 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,342enrollment
  • $22,766net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1590SAT range
  • 25-34ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

The University of Tennessee
T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#45 Best Colleges in the South

  • 31,701enrollment
  • $21,133net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

Florida State University
F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#46 Best Colleges in the South

  • 45,130enrollment
  • $12,815net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1340SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
O
Norman, OK

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#47 Best Colleges in the South

  • 28,042enrollment
  • $21,836net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1340SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

George Mason University
G
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#48 Best Colleges in the South

  • 38,628enrollment
  • $18,285net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Mary Washington
M
Fredericksburg, VA

University of Mary Washington

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#49 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,956enrollment
  • $22,569net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

John Brown University
J
Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#50 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,459enrollment
  • $21,578net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

University of North Carolina School of the Arts
N
Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#51 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,119enrollment
  • $11,940net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1380SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott
E
Prescott, AZ

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#52 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,071enrollment
  • $36,356net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

The University of Texas at Dallas
T
Richardson, TX

The University of Texas at Dallas

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#53 Best Colleges in the South

  • 29,696enrollment
  • $11,185net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1450SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.78Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

James Madison University
J
Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#54 Best Colleges in the South

  • 22,166enrollment
  • $18,592net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1310SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.57Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15