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

University of Mary Washington Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Fredericksburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Mary Washington is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate historic preservation and education. The historic campus sits in Fredericksburg near the Rappahannock River.

#55 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $21,800
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Queens University of Charlotte Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Charlotte, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Sep 7 application deadline

Queens is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and communications. The historic campus sits in Charlotte's Myers Park neighborhood.

#56 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1340
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $31,839
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Lipscomb University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Lipscomb is a private Christian university known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The residential campus sits in Nashville's Green Hills neighborhood.

#57 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $27,695
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Spelman College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Atlanta, GA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Spelman is a highly selective historically Black women's college known for undergraduate sciences and the liberal arts. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Atlanta's West End, part of the Atlanta University Center.

#58 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1108-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 25%
  • Net Price $40,354
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Maryland Institute College of Art Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

MICA is a private art and design college known for undergraduate illustration, graphic design, and fine arts. The urban campus lies in Baltimore's Station North Arts District.

#59 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1078-1305
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $47,834
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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Prescott, AZ
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Embry-Riddle Prescott is a private university known for undergraduate aeronautical science, aerospace engineering, and aviation. The mountain campus sits outside downtown Prescott in Arizona high country.

#60 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.82
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $41,864
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University of Arizona Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Tucson, AZ
  • | 0 reviews

Arizona is a large public university known for undergraduate astronomy, optical sciences, and planetary science. The main campus sits in the Sonoran Desert in Tucson.

#61 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $19,055
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University of North Carolina School of the Arts Campus

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

UNCSA is a public arts conservatory known for undergraduate dance, drama, music, and filmmaking. Students train on a specialized campus in Winston-Salem devoted to intensive performing-arts study.

#62 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 30%
  • Net Price $13,140
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Hendrix College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Conway, AR
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

Hendrix is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and its Odyssey experiential-learning program. Most students live on the residential campus in the college town of Conway.

#63 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1123-1348
  • Avg GPA 3.79
  • Acceptance Rate 56%
  • Net Price $24,699
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Oklahoma City University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Oklahoma City, OK
  • | 0 reviews

Oklahoma City University is a private university known for undergraduate dance, music, and theater. The urban campus is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

#64 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $24,051
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Belmont University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • 4.0 | 4 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

Belmont is a private university known for undergraduate music business, commercial music, and entertainment programs. The urban Nashville campus has long ties to the city's recording and music industry.

#65 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.83
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $38,578
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Auburn University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Auburn, AL
  • 4.6 | 9 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Auburn is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and agriculture. The residential campus anchors the classic college town of Auburn.

#66 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1260-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 46%
  • Net Price $25,242
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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Daytona Beach, FL
  • 4.5 | 8 reviews

Embry-Riddle is a private university known for undergraduate aerospace engineering, aeronautical science, and aviation. The Daytona Beach campus adjoins the local airport on Florida's Atlantic coast.

#67 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.88
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $42,976
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Goucher College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Goucher is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate creative writing, dance, and international studies. Every undergraduate completes a required study abroad experience.

#68 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1325
  • Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $26,913
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John Brown University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Siloam Springs, AR
  • | 0 reviews

John Brown is a private Christian university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and business. The residential campus is in the small college town of Siloam Springs in northwest Arkansas.

#69 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $21,537
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LeTourneau University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Longview, TX
  • 4.0 | 3 reviews

LeTourneau is a private Christian university known for undergraduate engineering and aviation. The campus is in Longview in East Texas.

#70 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $29,799
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Florida Southern College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Lakeland, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Florida Southern is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The Lakeland campus holds the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.

#71 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $29,384
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Agnes Scott College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Decatur, GA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Agnes Scott is a private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, writing, and global learning. The residential campus sits in historic Decatur, just outside Atlanta.

#72 Best Colleges in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $27,499
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