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.
Georgia State University
- Public 4 Year
- Atlanta, GA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Apr 1 application deadline
Georgia State is a large public university known for undergraduate business, public health, and public policy. The urban campus sits in downtown Atlanta.
- SAT Range 940-1180
- Avg GPA 3.54
- Acceptance Rate 55%
- Net Price $16,854
Life University
- Private 4 Year
- Marietta, GA
-
| 0 reviews
Life University is a private university known for chiropractic education and undergraduate exercise science and biology. The suburban campus is in Marietta near Atlanta.
- SAT Range 920-1130
- Avg GPA 3.11
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $29,111
Oglethorpe University
- Private 4 Year
- Atlanta, GA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 15 application deadline
Oglethorpe is a private liberal arts college known for a required undergraduate core curriculum in the humanities and sciences. The wooded campus sits in Atlanta's Brookhaven neighborhood.
- SAT Range 1090-1310
- Avg GPA 3.73
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $20,490
Piedmont University
- 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.
- SAT Range 1038-1245
- Avg GPA 3.54
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $22,252
Reinhardt University
- Private 4 Year
- Waleska, GA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Reinhardt is a private university known for undergraduate business, education, and music. The campus is set in the small North Georgia mountain town of Waleska.
- SAT Range 940-1160
- Avg GPA 3.25
- Acceptance Rate 62%
- Net Price $24,550
Savannah College of Art and Design
- Private 4 Year
- Savannah, GA
-
4.2 | 4 reviews
SCAD is a private art and design college known for undergraduate fashion, graphic design, and animation. The campus occupies renovated historic buildings in downtown Savannah.
- SAT Range 1030-1270
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $50,821
Savannah State University
- Public 4 Year
- Savannah, GA
-
3.7 | 3 reviews
- Jul 15 application deadline
Savannah State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate marine science. The waterfront campus sits along a tidal marsh on the edge of Savannah.
- SAT Range 845-980
- Avg GPA 2.77
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $7,956
Shorter University
- Private 4 Year
- Rome, GA
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 25 application deadline
Shorter is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. The campus sits in the small city of Rome in northwest Georgia.
- SAT Range 1040-1200
- Avg GPA 3.25
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $16,821
Thomas University
- 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.
- SAT Range 990-1220
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 38%
- Net Price $17,823
Toccoa Falls College
- Private 4 Year
- Toccoa Falls, GA
-
1.8 | 6 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Toccoa Falls is a private Christian college known for undergraduate biblical studies, ministry, and missions. The wooded campus includes the Toccoa Falls waterfall in the North Georgia foothills.
- SAT Range 1010-1230
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 66%
- Net Price $21,955
Truett McConnell University
- Private 4 Year
- Cleveland, GA
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Truett McConnell is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate Christian studies and education. The campus is in the North Georgia mountains near Cleveland.
- SAT Range 1000-1190
- Avg GPA 3.49
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $22,179
Valdosta State University
- Public 4 Year
- Valdosta, GA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jun 15 application deadline
Valdosta State is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The campus is in the south Georgia city of Valdosta.
- SAT Range 920-1100
- Avg GPA 3.23
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $11,144
University of West Georgia
- Public 4 Year
- Carrollton, GA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
West Georgia is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The residential campus is in Carrollton, a small city about an hour west of Atlanta.
- SAT Range 950-1140
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 52%
- Net Price $12,913
University of the Cumberlands
- Private 4 Year
- Williamsburg, KY
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 31 application deadline
University of the Cumberlands is a private Christian university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. Students live on a residential campus in the small Appalachian town of Williamsburg.
- SAT Range 960-1160
- Avg GPA 3.47
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $14,743
Eastern Kentucky University
- Public 4 Year
- Richmond, KY
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
EKU is a public university known for undergraduate criminal justice, fire protection, and safety programs. The campus sits in the college town of Richmond in central Kentucky.
- SAT Range 880-1080
- Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $12,279
Georgetown College
- Private 4 Year
- Georgetown, KY
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
Georgetown College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and business. Most undergrads live on its residential campus in a small Kentucky college town.
- SAT Range 960-1160
- Avg GPA 3.54
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $15,160
Kentucky State University
- Public 4 Year
- Frankfort, KY
-
| 0 reviews
Kentucky State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate aquaculture and agriculture. Students attend a small campus in Kentucky's capital city.
- SAT Range 820-1010
- Avg GPA 2.72
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $9,397
Midway University
- Private 4 Year
- Midway, KY
-
| 0 reviews
Midway is a private university known for undergraduate equestrian studies, nursing, and teacher education. The residential campus is in the small town of Midway in central Kentucky.
- SAT Range 1100-1170
- Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $30,679