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 Tech
- Public 4 Year
- Blacksburg, VA
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Virginia Tech is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and architecture. The campus sits in the college town of Blacksburg in Virginia's Blue Ridge region.
- SAT Range 1280-1450
- Avg GPA 3.97
- Acceptance Rate 55%
- Net Price $24,912
Auburn University
- Public 4 Year
- Auburn, AL
-
4.6 | 9 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Auburn is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and agriculture. The residential campus anchors the classic college town of Auburn.
- SAT Range 1260-1390
- Avg GPA 3.97
- Acceptance Rate 46%
- Net Price $25,242
Samford University
- Private 4 Year
- Birmingham, AL
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Samford is a private Christian university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and business. The Georgian-style campus sits in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood.
- SAT Range 1070-1250
- Avg GPA 3.84
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $34,926
Randolph Macon College
- Private 4 Year
- Ashland, VA
-
| 0 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Randolph-Macon is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, psychology, and business. Most undergrads live on a historic campus in the small college town of Ashland.
- SAT Range 980-1220
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $28,912
College of Charleston
- Public 4 Year
- Charleston, SC
-
| 0 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
College of Charleston is a public liberal arts college known for undergraduate marine biology and historic preservation. The historic campus sits in downtown Charleston near the harbor.
- SAT Range 1140-1310
- Avg GPA 3.94
- Acceptance Rate 60%
- Net Price $21,004
University of South Carolina Columbia
- Public 4 Year
- Columbia, SC
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Dec 1 application deadline
South Carolina is a large public university known for undergraduate international business and hospitality management. The historic Horseshoe anchors the campus in downtown Columbia.
- SAT Range 1180-1360
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 60%
- Net Price $24,488
Wayland Baptist University
- Private 4 Year
- Plainview, TX
-
2.5 | 2 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Wayland Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate education, business, and Christian studies. The campus is in the small city of Plainview on the Texas High Plains.
- SAT Range 900-1090
- Avg GPA 3.14
- Acceptance Rate 56%
- Net Price $20,446
Old Dominion University
- Public 4 Year
- Norfolk, VA
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Old Dominion is a large public university known for undergraduate oceanography, engineering, and nursing. The urban campus sits in the coastal city of Norfolk.
- SAT Range 1100-1280
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $16,419
University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Public 4 Year
- Huntsville, AL
-
| 0 reviews
UAH is a public university known for undergraduate aerospace engineering, engineering, and the sciences. The Huntsville campus sits near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and a major aerospace industry hub.
- SAT Range 1210-1410
- Avg GPA 3.81
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $19,396
Shenandoah University
- Private 4 Year
- Winchester, VA
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Shenandoah is a private university known for undergraduate music, theater, and dance through the Shenandoah Conservatory. The campus is in Winchester in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
- SAT Range 1010-1230
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 77%
- Net Price $27,181
University of Arkansas
- Public 4 Year
- Fayetteville, AR
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Arkansas is a large public university known for undergraduate business and architecture. The campus sits in the college town of Fayetteville in the Ozark Mountains.
- SAT Range 1030-1220
- Avg GPA 3.74
- Acceptance Rate 74%
- Net Price $18,408
Nova Southeastern University
- Private 4 Year
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
Nova Southeastern is a private university known for undergraduate marine science, health sciences, and psychology. The suburban campus sits in the Fort Lauderdale area of South Florida.
- SAT Range 1030-1300
- Avg GPA 3.99
- Acceptance Rate 73%
- Net Price $31,858
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Public 4 Year
- Charlotte, NC
-
| 0 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UNC Charlotte is a large public university known for undergraduate business, engineering, and architecture. The suburban campus sits in North Carolina's largest city.
- SAT Range 1140-1330
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 80%
- Net Price $15,045
University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Public 4 Year
- Wilmington, NC
-
3.4 | 5 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
UNCW is a public university known for undergraduate marine biology and coastal sciences. The campus sits in coastal Wilmington near the Atlantic beaches.
- SAT Range 1230-1340
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 64%
- Net Price $18,976
Baylor University
- Private 4 Year
- Waco, TX
-
4.2 | 14 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Baylor is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and prehealth programs. The residential campus sits along the Brazos River in Waco.
- SAT Range 1200-1400
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.74
- Acceptance Rate 51%
- Net Price $47,001
Lubbock Christian University
- Private 4 Year
- Lubbock, TX
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
Lubbock Christian is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus in Lubbock is affiliated with the Churches of Christ.
- SAT Range 950-1190
- Avg GPA 3.71
- Acceptance Rate 73%
- Net Price $24,544
Florida Institute of Technology
- Private 4 Year
- Melbourne, FL
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
Florida Tech is a private university known for undergraduate aerospace engineering, ocean engineering, and aviation. The Melbourne campus sits on Florida's Space Coast near the Atlantic Ocean.
- SAT Range 1120-1320
- Avg GPA 3.72
- Acceptance Rate 58%
- Net Price $37,361
Belmont University
- Private 4 Year
- Nashville, TN
-
4.0 | 4 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
Belmont is a private university known for undergraduate music business, commercial music, and entertainment programs. The urban Nashville campus has long ties to the city's recording and music industry.
- SAT Range 1160-1350
- Avg GPA 3.83
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $38,578