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

Asbury University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wilmore, KY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Asbury is a private Christian university known for undergraduate media communications and equestrian studies. Most students live on the residential campus in the small town of Wilmore.

#109 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $23,033
Details Calculate my Chances
Harding University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Searcy, AR
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews

Harding is a private Christian university affiliated with the Churches of Christ and known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. Most students live on the residential campus in the college town of Searcy.

#110 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $22,806
Details Calculate my Chances
University of Alabama in Huntsville Campus

credit : bryce_edwards / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Huntsville, AL
  • | 0 reviews

UAH is a public university known for undergraduate aerospace engineering, engineering, and the sciences. The Huntsville campus sits near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and a major aerospace industry hub.

#111 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1210-1410
  • Avg GPA 3.81
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $19,396
Details Calculate my Chances
Old Dominion University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Norfolk, VA
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Old Dominion is a large public university known for undergraduate oceanography, engineering, and nursing. The urban campus sits in the coastal city of Norfolk.

#112 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $16,419
Details Calculate my Chances
Campbell University Campus

credit : Gerry Dincher / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Buies Creek, NC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Campbell is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate health sciences, business, and PGA golf management. The rural campus anchors the small town of Buies Creek.

#113 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $25,736
Details Calculate my Chances
Palm Beach Atlantic University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • West Palm Beach, FL
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Palm Beach Atlantic is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and ministry. The urban campus in West Palm Beach borders the Intracoastal Waterway.

#114 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1220
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $31,231
Details Calculate my Chances
Ouachita Baptist University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Arkadelphia, AR
  • | 0 reviews

Ouachita Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate music, education, and business. Most students live on the residential campus in the small college town of Arkadelphia.

#115 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $24,532
Details Calculate my Chances
St. Mary's University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Antonio, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

St. Mary's is a private Marianist Catholic university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits on San Antonio's near West Side.

#116 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $20,412
Details Calculate my Chances
The University of Tampa Campus

credit : hyku / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tampa, FL
  • 2.5 | 13 reviews

University of Tampa is a private university known for undergraduate business, marine science, and nursing. The urban campus centers on historic Plant Hall along the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa.

#117 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 40%
  • Net Price $35,679
Details Calculate my Chances
William Carey University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

William Carey is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and music. The main campus is in Hattiesburg in southern Mississippi.

#118 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1290
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $15,469
Details Calculate my Chances
Mississippi State University Campus

credit : cj&erson / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Mississippi State, MS
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Mississippi State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and architecture. Starkville is a college town centered on the campus.

#119 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $18,478
Details Calculate my Chances
Xavier University of Louisiana Campus

credit : louisianatravel / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • New Orleans, LA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

Xavier University of Louisiana is a private Catholic HBCU known for undergraduate pharmacy, biology, and chemistry. The urban campus sits in New Orleans.

#120 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1113
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $17,162
Details Calculate my Chances
Tennessee Technological University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Cookeville, TN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Tennessee Tech is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and technology. The campus sits in the college town of Cookeville on the Cumberland Plateau.

#121 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1048-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $15,336
Details Calculate my Chances
Radford University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Radford, VA
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews

Radford is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in a small college town in southwestern Virginia's New River Valley.

#122 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $16,749
Details Calculate my Chances
Randolph Macon College Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Ashland, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Randolph-Macon is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, psychology, and business. Most undergrads live on a historic campus in the small college town of Ashland.

#123 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $28,912
Details Calculate my Chances
The University of Texas at Tyler Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tyler, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 24 application deadline

UT Tyler is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and engineering. The campus is in the East Texas city of Tyler.

#124 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.44
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $14,476
Details Calculate my Chances
Christian Brothers University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Memphis, TN
  • | 0 reviews

Christian Brothers is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate engineering and business. The urban campus sits in midtown Memphis.

#125 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $16,754
Details Calculate my Chances
Shenandoah University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Winchester, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Shenandoah is a private university known for undergraduate music, theater, and dance through the Shenandoah Conservatory. The campus is in Winchester in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

#126 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $27,181
Details Calculate my Chances