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

Bridgewater College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Bridgewater, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Bridgewater is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs in biology, business, and education. The Church of the Brethren-affiliated campus sits in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

#145 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $11,316
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Ave Maria University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Ave Maria, FL
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews

Ave Maria is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate theology, philosophy, and the liberal arts. The campus anchors the planned town of Ave Maria in southwest Florida.

#146 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1018-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 41%
  • Net Price $25,294
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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Daytona Beach, FL
  • | 0 reviews

Embry-Riddle Worldwide is a private university known for undergraduate aviation, aeronautics, and aerospace programs offered mainly online. Most students complete degrees through flexible distance learning rather than a traditional residential campus.

#147 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1240
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 58%
  • Net Price $19,458
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Texas Lutheran University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Seguin, TX
  • | 0 reviews

Texas Lutheran is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The residential campus is in Seguin, a small city northeast of San Antonio.

#148 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.9
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $25,119
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Averett University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Danville, VA
  • 1.6 | 5 reviews

Averett is a private university known for undergraduate aviation and business programs. The small campus sits in the city of Danville near the North Carolina border.

#149 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 926-1143
  • Avg GPA 3.07
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $23,471
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Thomas University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Thomasville, GA
  • | 0 reviews

Thomas University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The small campus is located in Thomasville in southern Georgia.

#150 Best Colleges in the South
  • SAT Range 990-1220
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $17,823
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Louisiana Tech University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Ruston, LA
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews

Louisiana Tech is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and architecture. Ruston is a college town in northern Louisiana built around the campus.

#151 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $12,325
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Longwood University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Farmville, VA
  • | 0 reviews

Longwood is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Farmville.

#152 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $20,847
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Maryville College Campus

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

Maryville is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate environmental studies and outdoor programs. The residential campus sits near the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee.

#153 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1018-1188
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 61%
  • Net Price $21,469
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University of North Carolina at Greensboro Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Greensboro, NC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

UNCG is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the performing arts. The urban campus is located in Greensboro.

#154 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1355
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $11,404
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Emory & Henry University Campus

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

Emory & Henry is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate teacher education and the social sciences. The rural campus sits in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia.

#155 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1051-1223
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $21,446
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Hardin Simmons University Campus

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

Hardin-Simmons is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. The residential campus is located in Abilene in West Texas.

#156 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $19,811
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Tuskegee University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Tuskegee, AL
  • 4.0 | 5 reviews
  • Apr 15 application deadline

Tuskegee is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and veterinary science. The rural campus is a historic HBCU in Alabama.

#157 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 995-1255
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 49%
  • Net Price $24,344
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East Tennessee State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Johnson City, TN
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

ETSU is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and bluegrass music. The campus sits in the Appalachian Highlands of northeastern Tennessee.

#158 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1200
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $16,286
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Flagler College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Augustine, FL
  • 0.0 | 1 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Flagler is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and communication. The historic campus centers on the former Hotel Ponce de Leon in downtown St. Augustine.

#159 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1190
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $32,395
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Piedmont University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Demorest, GA
  • 2.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Piedmont is a private university known for undergraduate education and nursing. The campus is set in the small town of Demorest in northeast Georgia's Blue Ridge foothills.

#160 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1038-1245
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $22,252
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Freed Hardeman University Campus
 

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

Freed-Hardeman is a private Christian university affiliated with the Churches of Christ, known for undergraduate biblical studies, ministry, and education. The residential campus sits in the small town of Henderson in West Tennessee.

#161 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 952-1087
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $20,178
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Florida Atlantic University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • 4.2 | 4 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

FAU is a large public university known for undergraduate ocean engineering and marine science. The Boca Raton campus sits near the Atlantic coast in South Florida.

#162 Best Colleges in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $10,225
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