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

Maryville College

  • 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.

#289 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1018-1188
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 61%
  • Net Price $21,469
Details

University of Memphis

  • Public 4 Year
  • Memphis, TN
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

University of Memphis is a large public university known for undergraduate music, business, and journalism. The urban campus is in Midtown Memphis.

#290 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 915-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $12,756
Details

Middle Tennessee State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Murfreesboro, TN
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

MTSU is a large public university known for undergraduate recording industry, aerospace, and music business programs. The campus is in Murfreesboro, a growing city about a half hour southeast of Nashville.

#291 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $13,859
Details
Southern Adventist University Campus
 

Southern Adventist University

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

Southern Adventist is a private Seventh-day Adventist university known for undergraduate nursing and theology. Most students live on the residential campus in Collegedale near Chattanooga.

#292 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $25,753
Details
Tennessee Wesleyan University Campus
 

Tennessee Wesleyan University

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

Tennessee Wesleyan is a small private Methodist university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus sits in the small town of Athens in East Tennessee.

#293 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $15,125
Details

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga

  • Public 4 Year
  • Chattanooga, TN
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

UTC is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and nursing. The urban campus borders the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga.

#294 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1013-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $15,347
Details
The University of Tennessee Martin Campus
 

The University of Tennessee Martin

  • Public 4 Year
  • Martin, TN
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

UT Martin is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, education, and business. The residential campus is in the small college town of Martin in northwest Tennessee.

#295 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $11,955
Details

Tennessee State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • | 0 reviews

Tennessee State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate nursing, business, and engineering. The urban campus is in Nashville.

#296 Best Value in the South
  • SAT Range 880-1050
  • Avg GPA 3.22
  • Acceptance Rate 70%
  • Net Price $14,586
Details

Tusculum University

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

Tusculum is a small private university with undergraduate programs in business, education, and nursing. The historic Greeneville campus is Tennessee's oldest college and retains a Presbyterian affiliation.

#297 Best Value in the South 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1110
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.18
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $20,355
Details

Angelo State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • San Angelo, TX
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Angelo State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and agriculture. The campus is in the West Texas city of San Angelo.

#298 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $14,048
Details

Concordia University Texas

  • Private 4 Year
  • Austin, TX
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Concordia Texas is a private Lutheran university with undergraduate programs in nursing, business, and education. The campus is in northwest Austin.

#299 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $24,723
Details

Texas A & M University Corpus Christi

  • Public 4 Year
  • Corpus Christi, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is a public university known for undergraduate marine science, coastal biology, and environmental science. The campus sits on Ward Island along Corpus Christi Bay.

#300 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1193
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $15,233
Details

East Texas A&M University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Commerce, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

East Texas A&M is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and agricultural sciences. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Commerce in Northeast Texas.

#301 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $12,327
Details

Hardin Simmons University

  • 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.

#302 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $19,811
Details

Houston Christian University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Houston, TX
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews

Houston Christian is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus is in southwest Houston.

#303 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $21,282
Details

University of Houston Downtown

  • Public 4 Year
  • Houston, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UHD is a public university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in downtown Houston near the city's business district.

#304 Best Value in the South
  • SAT Range 940-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.29
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $10,832
Details

University of the Incarnate Word

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Antonio, TX
  • | 0 reviews

UIW is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and the health sciences. The urban campus is in San Antonio.

#305 Best Value in the South 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $23,363
Details

Lamar University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Beaumont, TX
  • 1.7 | 3 reviews

Lamar is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and nursing. The campus is located in Beaumont in southeast Texas.

#306 Best Value in the South 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $9,814
Details