Best Southeastern Colleges

There are 836 colleges and universities in the Southeast enrolling 4,959,702 students. Explore the list of top colleges in the Southeast 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 Southeast offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

The  Southeast is home to nationally ranked institutions like Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, Vanderbilt University and Emory University. The highest ranked college in the Southeast is Duke University and the top rated public state college is University of Virginia Main Campus.

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Southeast Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year

List of the Best Southeast Colleges

  • Public 4 Year
  • Fairfax, VA
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

George Mason is a large public university known for undergraduate economics, public policy, and computer science. The suburban Fairfax campus sits near Washington, D.C.

#37 Best Colleges in the Southeast 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $18,823

  • Public 4 Year
  • Harrisonburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

JMU is a large public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. Harrisonburg is a college town in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

#38 Best Colleges in the Southeast 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1340
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $18,856

  • Private 4 Year
  • Birmingham, AL
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Samford is a private Christian university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and business. The Georgian-style campus sits in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood.

#39 Best Colleges in the Southeast 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.84
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $34,926

  • Public 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

UMBC is a public university known for undergraduate computer science, information systems, and engineering. The suburban campus sits in Baltimore County just outside the city.

#40 Best Colleges in the Southeast 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $18,770

  • 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.

#41 Best Colleges in the Southeast 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $21,800

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

#44 Best Colleges in the Southeast 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1108-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 25%
  • Net Price $40,354

  • 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.

#45 Best Colleges in the Southeast 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1078-1305
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $47,834

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

#47 Best Colleges in the Southeast 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1123-1348
  • Avg GPA 3.79
  • Acceptance Rate 56%
  • Net Price $24,699

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

#49 Best Colleges in the Southeast 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1260-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 46%
  • Net Price $25,242

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

#51 Best Colleges in the Southeast 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1325
  • Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $26,913

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

#53 Best Colleges in the Southeast 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $29,384

  • 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.

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