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

University of Central Oklahoma

  • Public 4 Year
  • Edmond, OK
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

UCO is a public university known for undergraduate forensic science and teacher education. The suburban campus sits in Edmond just north of Oklahoma City.

#253 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $18,660
Details

East Central University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Ada, OK
  • | 0 reviews

East Central is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and nursing. The campus is in the small city of Ada in south-central Oklahoma.

#254 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 58%
  • Net Price $8,565
Details

Northeastern State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tahlequah, OK
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews

Northeastern State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and Native American studies. The Tahlequah campus sits in the capital of the Cherokee Nation.

#255 Best Value in the South 0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 866-1136
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $12,410
Details
Northwestern Oklahoma State University Campus
 

Northwestern Oklahoma State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Alva, OK
  • | 0 reviews

Northwestern Oklahoma State is a small public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Alva in northwestern Oklahoma.

#256 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 803-1036
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $10,492
Details

Oklahoma Christian University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Edmond, OK
  • | 0 reviews

Oklahoma Christian is a private university affiliated with the Churches of Christ and known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and business. The campus is in the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond.

#257 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $22,391
Details

Oklahoma Baptist University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Shawnee, OK
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Oklahoma Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and music. The residential campus sits in the smaller city of Shawnee east of Oklahoma City.

#258 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 49%
  • Net Price $23,839
Details

Oral Roberts University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tulsa, OK
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews

Oral Roberts is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, nursing, and business. The Tulsa campus centers on the Prayer Tower and a distinctive modernist architectural style.

#259 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $25,808
Details

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Durant, OK
  • | 0 reviews

Southeastern Oklahoma State is a public university known for undergraduate education and aviation. The small-city campus in Durant lies near the Oklahoma-Texas border.

#260 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1186
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $9,075
Details

Southwestern Oklahoma State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Weatherford, OK
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

SWOSU is a public university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and education. The campus is in the small college town of Weatherford in western Oklahoma.

#261 Best Value in the South
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $14,410
Details

Anderson University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Anderson, SC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

A private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. Most students live on its residential campus in Anderson in South Carolina's Upstate region.

#262 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $24,434
Details

Charleston Southern University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Charleston, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Charleston Southern is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban campus sits in North Charleston in the greater Charleston area.

#263 Best Value in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $21,080
Details
Benedict College Campus
 

Benedict College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Benedict is a private historically Black college known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in South Carolina's capital city of Columbia.

#264 Best Value in the South
  • SAT Range 820-1010
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $18,665
Details

Claflin University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Orangeburg, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Claflin is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate biology, business, and education. The residential campus is located in Orangeburg in central South Carolina.

#265 Best Value in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1040
  • Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $17,272
Details

Coker University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hartsville, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Coker is a private university known for undergraduate liberal arts programs and round-table classroom teaching. The historic campus sits in the small town of Hartsville.

#266 Best Value in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $19,823
Details
Columbia International University Campus
 

Columbia International University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

CIU is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies and intercultural studies. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Columbia.

#267 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1195
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $26,056
Details
Columbia College Campus
 

Columbia College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Columbia College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and nursing. Students study on an urban campus in South Carolina's capital.

#268 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $18,790
Details

Converse University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Spartanburg, SC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Converse is a private university known for undergraduate music and the visual and performing arts. Its historic campus in Spartanburg was long a women's college and is now coeducational.

#269 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $19,061
Details

Francis Marion University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Florence, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Francis Marion is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The wooded campus sits on the edge of Florence.

#270 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 870-1115
  • Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $11,727
Details