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

University of Kentucky
K
Lexington, KY

University of Kentucky

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#73 Best Colleges in the South

  • 30,390enrollment
  • $19,831net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1083-1330SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Arizona State University
A
Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#74 Best Colleges in the South

  • 77,881enrollment
  • $14,653net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Meredith College
M
Raleigh, NC

Meredith College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#75 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,711enrollment
  • $25,357net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1098-1273SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Bellarmine University
B
Louisville, KY

Bellarmine University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#76 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,149enrollment
  • $24,425net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1280SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Central Florida
C
Orlando, FL

University of Central Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#77 Best Colleges in the South

  • 70,310enrollment
  • $11,108net price
  • 36%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1350SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

University of North Carolina at Wilmington
N
Wilmington, NC

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#78 Best Colleges in the South

  • 18,030enrollment
  • $17,946net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1330SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

The University of Alabama
A
Tuscaloosa, AL

The University of Alabama

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#79 Best Colleges in the South

  • 38,316enrollment
  • $20,518net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1370SAT range
  • 21-31ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Florida Southern College
F
Lakeland, FL

Florida Southern College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#80 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,386enrollment
  • $27,091net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1335SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

LeTourneau University
L
Longview, TX

LeTourneau University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#81 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,209enrollment
  • $25,661net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1370SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Spelman College
S
HBCU
Atlanta, GA

Spelman College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#82 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,417enrollment
  • $43,920net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1200SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of South Florida Main Campus
S
Tampa, FL

University of South Florida Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#83 Best Colleges in the South

  • 49,708enrollment
  • $10,004net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

College of Charleston
C
Charleston, SC

College of Charleston

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#84 Best Colleges in the South

  • 10,941enrollment
  • $20,351net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Christopher Newport University
C
Newport News, VA

Christopher Newport University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#85 Best Colleges in the South

  • 4,584enrollment
  • $25,393net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Presbyterian College
P
Clinton, SC

Presbyterian College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#86 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,231enrollment
  • $21,959net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1220SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 21

Abilene Christian University
A
Abilene, TX

Abilene Christian University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#87 Best Colleges in the South

  • 4,912enrollment
  • $28,725net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1270SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

University of Arkansas
A
Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#88 Best Colleges in the South

  • 29,068enrollment
  • $16,759net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1220SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Texas Tech University
T
Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University

Public 4 Year

8 reviews

#89 Best Colleges in the South

  • 40,542enrollment
  • $15,452net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1280SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

William Carey University
W
Hattiesburg, MS

William Carey University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#90 Best Colleges in the South

  • 5,738enrollment
  • $14,834net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 980-1320SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.46Estimated Avg GPA