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

  • Private 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Goucher is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate creative writing, dance, and international studies. Every undergraduate completes a required study abroad experience.

#37 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1325
  • Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $26,913

  • Public 4 Year
  • University, MS
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews

Ole Miss is a large public university known for undergraduate accountancy and business. Oxford is a classic college town built around the campus.

#38 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $15,045

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

William Carey is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and music. The main campus is in Hattiesburg in southern Mississippi.

#39 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1290
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $15,469

  • Public 4 Year
  • Winston Salem, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Mar 15 application deadline

UNCSA is a public arts conservatory known for undergraduate dance, drama, music, and filmmaking. Students train on a specialized campus in Winston-Salem devoted to intensive performing-arts study.

#40 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 30%
  • Net Price $13,140
Christian Brothers University Campus
 

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

Christian Brothers is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate engineering and business. The urban campus sits in midtown Memphis.

#41 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $16,754

  • Public 4 Year
  • Richardson, TX
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

UT Dallas is a public university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and business. The suburban Richardson campus sits in the Dallas area's tech corridor.

#42 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.78
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $14,916

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
  • 5.0 | 7 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Alabama is a large public university known for undergraduate business and communications. Tuscaloosa is a classic college town built around the historic campus.

#43 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1400
  • Avg GPA 3.76
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $22,559

  • Private 4 Year
  • Siloam Springs, AR
  • | 0 reviews

John Brown is a private Christian university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and business. The residential campus is in the small college town of Siloam Springs in northwest Arkansas.

#44 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $21,537

  • Public 4 Year
  • Newark, DE
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Delaware is a large public university known for undergraduate chemical engineering, business, and fashion studies. The campus is set in the college town of Newark.

#45 Best Value in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.94
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $19,139

  • Private 4 Year
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • | 0 reviews

Jacksonville University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, aviation, and marine science. The campus sits along the St. Johns River.

#46 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $24,238

  • Public 4 Year
  • Louisville, KY
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

UofL is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and business. Most undergraduates study on the urban Belknap Campus in Louisville.

#47 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 79%
  • Net Price $19,785

  • Private 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Loyola Maryland is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and communications. The wooded residential campus sits in a northern Baltimore neighborhood.

#48 Best Value in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $32,846

  • Private 4 Year
  • Salisbury, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Catawba is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate environmental science and ecology. The residential campus sits in Salisbury in North Carolina's Piedmont region.

#49 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $18,447

  • Private 4 Year
  • Irving, TX
  • 4.2 | 5 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

University of Dallas is a private Catholic university known for a Great Books core curriculum and undergraduate work in philosophy, politics, and the humanities. The suburban campus sits in Irving just outside Dallas.

#50 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.9
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $29,209

  • Public 4 Year
  • College Station, TX
  • 5.0 | 6 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

Texas A&M is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and business. A large Corps of Cadets gives the College Station campus a long-standing military tradition.

#51 Best Value in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1400
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $21,437

  • Private 4 Year
  • Coral Gables, FL
  • 4.0 | 14 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

University of Miami is a private university known for undergraduate marine science, business, and communications. The Coral Gables campus has Mediterranean-style buildings set among lakes and tropical landscaping.

#52 Best Value in the South 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1320-1480
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 19%
  • Net Price $45,397

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tampa, FL
  • 4.0 | 4 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

USF is a large public university known for undergraduate public health, business, and engineering. The main campus is a large urban site in Tampa near Tampa Bay.

#53 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1320
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $11,579

  • Private 4 Year
  • New Orleans, LA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

Xavier University of Louisiana is a private Catholic HBCU known for undergraduate pharmacy, biology, and chemistry. The urban campus sits in New Orleans.

#54 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1113
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $17,162