Best Value Southern Colleges

There are 359 colleges in the South ranked by value using the same methodology as our national list. Rankings balance academic quality with the net price students typically pay.

University of Tulsa leads South value rankings for 2027 with a 10 out of 10 academic rating and an average net price of $13,095. The top value public university is New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Also high value: Duke University, Johns Hopkins University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Compare net price, aid, and academic ratings across the colleges below. See how value scores are calculated on our methodology page. Explore the regional list below or browse individual states.

359 Results
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South Public Private 4 Year

Flagler College

  • 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.

#163 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1190
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $32,395
Details

AdventHealth University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Orlando, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

AdventHealth University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The urban Orlando campus is closely tied to the AdventHealth hospital system.

#164 Best Value in the South
  • SAT Range 1010-1140
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $29,658
Details

Florida International University

  • 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.

#165 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1260
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $11,178
Details

Saint Leo University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Leo, FL
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Saint Leo is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate criminal justice, business, and education. The campus adjoins a Benedictine abbey in a small central Florida town north of Tampa.

#166 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,599
Details
St. Thomas University Campus
 

St. Thomas University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Miami Gardens, FL
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews

St. Thomas is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and sports administration. The suburban campus lies in Miami Gardens just north of Miami.

#167 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $27,844
Details

Southeastern University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lakeland, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Southeastern is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, business, and education. The campus is in Lakeland, a midsize city between Tampa and Orlando.

#168 Best Value in the South
  • SAT Range 960-1183
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $32,334
Details

University of West Florida

  • Public 4 Year
  • Pensacola, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UWF is a public university known for undergraduate marine biology, archaeology, and nursing. The wooded Pensacola campus includes a large nature preserve.

#169 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 58%
  • Net Price $10,092
Details

Albany State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Albany, GA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Albany State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in the southwest Georgia city of Albany.

#170 Best Value in the South
  • SAT Range 740-900
  • Avg GPA 2.77
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $11,484
Details
Point University Campus
 

Point University

  • Private 4 Year
  • West Point, GA
  • | 0 reviews

Point is a small private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, business, and education. The campus is in the small town of West Point on the Georgia-Alabama border.

#171 Best Value in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 972-1237
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $19,545
Details

Clark Atlanta University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Atlanta, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

Clark Atlanta is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate social work, business, and mass media arts. The urban Atlanta campus is part of the Atlanta University Center consortium with neighboring HBCUs.

#172 Best Value in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $31,223
Details

Brenau University

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

Brenau is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the arts. Traditional undergraduates enroll in its residential Women's College on a historic campus in Gainesville.

#173 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $19,743
Details
Brewton Parker College Campus
 

Brewton Parker College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Mount Vernon, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Brewton-Parker is a small private Baptist college with undergraduate programs in education, business, and Christian studies. The rural campus is located in the small town of Mount Vernon in southeast Georgia.

#174 Best Value in the South 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1010
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $25,613
Details

Clayton State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Morrow, GA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 17 application deadline

Clayton State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The suburban Morrow campus sits beside a lake south of Atlanta.

#175 Best Value in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1078
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $8,192
Details

Columbus State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Columbus, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 30 application deadline

Columbus State is a public university known for undergraduate music through the Schwob School of Music, plus nursing and theater. Arts programs also use a downtown RiverPark campus along the Chattahoochee River.

#176 Best Value in the South 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 800-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.07
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $12,420
Details

Fort Valley State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Fort Valley, GA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jun 15 application deadline

Fort Valley State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate agriculture and animal science. The residential campus is in the small city of Fort Valley in central Georgia.

#177 Best Value in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1070
  • Avg GPA 2.87
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $10,047
Details

Georgia Southwestern State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Americus, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 21 application deadline

Georgia Southwestern is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The residential campus sits in the small city of Americus in southwest Georgia.

#178 Best Value in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.17
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $11,769
Details

Georgia College & State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Milledgeville, GA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

Georgia College is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the arts and sciences. The residential campus occupies historic grounds in downtown Milledgeville, Georgia's former capital.

#179 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $21,632
Details

Georgia Southern University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Statesboro, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Georgia Southern is a large public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and logistics. The main campus anchors the college town of Statesboro in southeast Georgia.

#180 Best Value in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 986-1133
  • Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $15,971
Details