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

Saint Edward's University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Austin, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Saint Edward's is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate liberal arts, business, and education. The hilltop campus in South Austin overlooks the downtown skyline.

#73 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1240
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $28,766
Details

St. Mary's University

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Antonio, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

St. Mary's is a private Marianist Catholic university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits on San Antonio's near West Side.

#74 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $20,412
Details

University of Alabama at Birmingham

  • Public 4 Year
  • Birmingham, AL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UAB is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and biomedical programs. The urban campus is anchored by a major academic medical center in Birmingham.

#75 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1210-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.82
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $17,997
Details

Arizona State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tempe, AZ
  • 3.8 | 5 reviews

ASU is a large public university known for undergraduate journalism, business, and sustainability. The Tempe campus sits in the Phoenix metro area.

#76 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $17,779
Details

Florida Southern College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lakeland, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Florida Southern is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The Lakeland campus holds the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.

#77 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $29,384
Details

University of North Florida

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

UNF is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and coastal biology. The suburban Jacksonville campus includes lakes and a large nature preserve with trails.

#78 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $11,135
Details

Asbury University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wilmore, KY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Asbury is a private Christian university known for undergraduate media communications and equestrian studies. Most students live on the residential campus in the small town of Wilmore.

#79 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $23,033
Details

Queens University of Charlotte

  • Private 4 Year
  • Charlotte, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Sep 7 application deadline

Queens is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and communications. The historic campus sits in Charlotte's Myers Park neighborhood.

#80 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1340
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $31,839
Details

Texas Christian University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fort Worth, TX
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

TCU is a private university known for undergraduate business and communications. The residential campus sits a few miles from downtown Fort Worth.

#81 Best Value in the South 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1350
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $41,848
Details

George Mason University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Fairfax, VA
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

George Mason is a large public university known for undergraduate economics, public policy, and computer science. The suburban Fairfax campus sits near Washington, D.C.

#82 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $18,823
Details

Roanoke College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Salem, VA
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews

Roanoke is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, biology, and psychology. The residential campus sits in Salem at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

#83 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $26,044
Details

West Virginia University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Morgantown, WV
  • 4.0 | 4 reviews

WVU is a large public university known for undergraduate forensic science, engineering, and journalism. The campus spreads across a hilly college town in Morgantown along the Monongahela River.

#84 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.45
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $15,169
Details

Louisiana State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Baton Rouge, LA
  • 4.7 | 3 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

LSU is a large public university known for undergraduate petroleum engineering, agriculture, and business. The campus sits along the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge.

#85 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1180-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $21,430
Details

University of Maryland Baltimore County

  • Public 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

UMBC is a public university known for undergraduate computer science, information systems, and engineering. The suburban campus sits in Baltimore County just outside the city.

#86 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $18,770
Details

Fisk University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Fisk is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate natural sciences and music. The historic urban campus sits in Nashville and is closely tied to the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

#87 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1510
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 37%
  • Net Price $18,595
Details

Harding University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Searcy, AR
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Harding is a private Christian university affiliated with the Churches of Christ and known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. Most students live on the residential campus in the college town of Searcy.

#88 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $22,806
Details

Ouachita Baptist University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Arkadelphia, AR
  • | 0 reviews

Ouachita Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate music, education, and business. Most students live on the residential campus in the small college town of Arkadelphia.

#89 Best Value in the South 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $24,532
Details

Towson University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Towson, MD
  • 3.8 | 4 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

Towson is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and communications. The suburban campus sits just north of Baltimore.

#90 Best Value in the South 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1235
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $16,653
Details