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 North Carolina at Charlotte Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Charlotte, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UNC Charlotte is a large public university known for undergraduate business, engineering, and architecture. The suburban campus sits in North Carolina's largest city.

#127 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $15,045
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Mississippi College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Clinton, MS
  • | 0 reviews

Mississippi College is a private Baptist college known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The suburban campus sits in Clinton just west of Jackson.

#128 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1260
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 29%
  • Net Price $28,559
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University of North Florida Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • | 0 reviews

UNF is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and coastal biology. The suburban Jacksonville campus includes lakes and a large nature preserve with trails.

#129 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $11,135
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Dallas Baptist University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Dallas, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Dallas Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate business, education, and biblical studies. The hilltop campus overlooks Mountain Creek Lake in southwest Dallas.

#130 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1213
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $30,057
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Wayland Baptist University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Plainview, TX
  • 2.5 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Wayland Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate education, business, and Christian studies. The campus is in the small city of Plainview on the Texas High Plains.

#131 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.14
  • Acceptance Rate 56%
  • Net Price $20,446
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Catawba College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Salisbury, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Catawba is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate environmental science and ecology. The residential campus sits in Salisbury in North Carolina's Piedmont region.

#132 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $18,447
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University of Lynchburg Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Lynchburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Sep 1 application deadline

University of Lynchburg is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. Students live on a residential campus in Lynchburg near the Blue Ridge Mountains.

#133 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $23,845
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Fisk University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Fisk is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate natural sciences and music. The historic urban campus sits in Nashville and is closely tied to the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

#134 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1510
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 37%
  • Net Price $18,595
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Trevecca Nazarene University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Trevecca is a private Nazarene university known for undergraduate education, business, and ministry programs. Most students live on the urban Nashville campus.

#135 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1235
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $18,035
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Marymount University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Arlington, VA
  • | 0 reviews

Marymount is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and interior design. The Arlington campus sits just outside Washington, D.C.

#136 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $31,989
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West Virginia University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Morgantown, WV
  • 4.0 | 4 reviews

WVU is a large public university known for undergraduate forensic science, engineering, and journalism. The campus spreads across a hilly college town in Morgantown along the Monongahela River.

#137 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.45
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $15,169
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East Carolina University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Greenville, NC
  • 4.2 | 4 reviews

East Carolina is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and education. The main campus is in Greenville, a college town in eastern North Carolina.

#138 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $13,755
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Lubbock Christian University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Lubbock, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

Lubbock Christian is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus in Lubbock is affiliated with the Churches of Christ.

#139 Best Colleges in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $24,544
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Florida International University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Miami, FL
  • 4.1 | 7 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

FIU is a large public university known for undergraduate hospitality management and international business. The urban campus in Miami has a large Hispanic student population and strong Latin American ties.

#140 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1260
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $11,178
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Southern Adventist University Campus
 

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

Southern Adventist is a private Seventh-day Adventist university known for undergraduate nursing and theology. Most students live on the residential campus in Collegedale near Chattanooga.

#141 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $25,753
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Appalachian State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Boone, NC
  • 4.3 | 10 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Appalachian State is a large public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and sustainable development. Boone is a mountain college town in North Carolina's Blue Ridge range.

#142 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.96
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $14,978
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University of Montevallo Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Montevallo, AL
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Montevallo is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate education, fine arts, and the performing arts. The historic campus sits in a small college town in central Alabama.

#143 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 54%
  • Net Price $17,890
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University of St Thomas Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Houston, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

University of St. Thomas is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and the liberal arts. The urban campus sits in Houston's Museum District.

#144 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $20,599
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