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.
Virginia State University
- Public 4 Year
- Petersburg, VA
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Virginia State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, education, and business. The historic campus is in Petersburg near Richmond.
- SAT Range 840-1070
- Avg GPA 2.85
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $17,840
Virginia Union University
- Private 4 Year
- Richmond, VA
-
| 0 reviews
Virginia Union is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate programs in business, education, and social work. The historic urban campus sits on Richmond's North Side.
- SAT Range 850-885
- Avg GPA 2.71
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $11,483
Virginia Wesleyan University
- Private 4 Year
- Virginia Beach, VA
-
| 0 reviews
Virginia Wesleyan is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate programs in the arts and sciences. The wooded campus sits in suburban Virginia Beach near the Atlantic coast.
- SAT Range 1140-1350
- Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 73%
- Net Price $21,267
Bluefield State University
- Public 4 Year
- Bluefield, WV
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Bluefield State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate nursing, engineering technology, and education. The campus is in Bluefield, a small city in the Appalachian mountains of southern West Virginia.
- SAT Range 870-1080
- Avg GPA 3.41
- Acceptance Rate 97%
- Net Price $15,814
University of Charleston
- Private 4 Year
- Charleston, WV
-
1.0 | 1 reviews
University of Charleston is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The urban campus sits along the Kanawha River in West Virginia's capital.
- SAT Range 985-1160
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.13
- Acceptance Rate 62%
- Net Price $20,844
Concord University
- Public 4 Year
- Athens, WV
-
| 0 reviews
Concord is a small public university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The residential campus sits in the college town of Athens in southern West Virginia.
- SAT Range 830-1090
- Avg GPA 3.4
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $11,379
Fairmont State University
- Public 4 Year
- Fairmont, WV
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
Fairmont State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and business. The hilltop campus overlooks the small city of Fairmont in north-central West Virginia.
- SAT Range 810-1070
- Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $11,328
Marshall University
- Public 4 Year
- Huntington, WV
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 10 application deadline
Marshall is a public university known for undergraduate forensic science, nursing, and business. The urban campus borders the Ohio River in Huntington.
- SAT Range 910-1150
- Avg GPA 3.68
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $8,076
Shepherd University
- Public 4 Year
- Shepherdstown, WV
-
| 0 reviews
Shepherd is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and teacher education. The campus sits in historic Shepherdstown along the Potomac River.
- SAT Range 878-1140
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 97%
- Net Price $11,744
West Virginia State University
- Public 4 Year
- Institute, WV
-
| 0 reviews
West Virginia State is a public historically Black university with undergraduate programs in business, education, and the sciences. The campus is in Institute, near Charleston.
- SAT Range 760-1040
- Avg GPA 3.24
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $11,055
West Liberty University
- Public 4 Year
- West Liberty, WV
-
| 0 reviews
West Liberty is a small public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The residential campus is set in a small town in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle.
- SAT Range 890-1123
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 97%
- Net Price $13,655
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
- Public 4 Year
- Beckley, WV
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
WVU Tech is a public college known for undergraduate engineering and technology. The campus sits in Beckley in the mountains of southern West Virginia.
- SAT Range 880-1120
- Avg GPA 3.51
- Acceptance Rate 37%
- Net Price $11,281
West Virginia Wesleyan College
- Private 4 Year
- Buckhannon, WV
-
| 0 reviews
West Virginia Wesleyan is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing and education. Most students live on a residential campus in the college town of Buckhannon.
- SAT Range 892-1160
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $19,218
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
- Private 4 Year
- Daytona Beach, FL
-
| 0 reviews
Embry-Riddle Worldwide is a private university known for undergraduate aviation, aeronautics, and aerospace programs offered mainly online. Most students complete degrees through flexible distance learning rather than a traditional residential campus.
- SAT Range 1040-1240
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 58%
- Net Price $19,458
Florida Gulf Coast University
- Public 4 Year
- Fort Myers, FL
-
3.0 | 3 reviews
- Nov 1 application deadline
FGCU is a public university known for undergraduate environmental science, marine science, and hospitality management. The Fort Myers campus includes nature preserves and sits near the Gulf Coast.
- SAT Range 1040-1200
- Avg GPA 4.0
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $12,863
Johnson & Wales University Charlotte
- Private 4 Year
- Charlotte, NC
-
| 0 reviews
Johnson & Wales Charlotte is a private university known for undergraduate culinary arts, hospitality management, and business. The urban campus is located in uptown Charlotte.
- SAT Range 880-1130
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 80%
- Net Price $28,084
Ave Maria University
- Private 4 Year
- Ave Maria, FL
-
3.0 | 2 reviews
Ave Maria is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate theology, philosophy, and the liberal arts. The campus anchors the planned town of Ave Maria in southwest Florida.
- SAT Range 1018-1240
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 41%
- Net Price $25,294