Best Southern Colleges

There are 359 ranked four-year colleges in the South, evaluated with the same methodology used for our national rankings. Only nonprofit, selective four-year schools are included.

Leading our 2027 rankings is Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, topping our list in the South. The top rated public university is University of Virginia Main Campus. Also highly ranked: Rice University, Johns Hopkins University and Vanderbilt University.

Compare tuition, acceptance rates, and enrollment across the colleges below. See how rankings 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
Tennessee Wesleyan University Campus
 

  • 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.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $15,125
Details
Georgia State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Atlanta, GA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

Georgia State is a large public university known for undergraduate business, public health, and public policy. The urban campus sits in downtown Atlanta.

#4 Best Public Universities in Georgia 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $16,854
Details
University of South Alabama Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Mobile, AL
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

South Alabama is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The campus is in the coastal city of Mobile near Mobile Bay.

#6 Best Public Universities in Alabama 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $16,074
Details
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Little Rock, AR
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 17 application deadline

UA Little Rock is a public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and criminal justice. The urban campus is located in Arkansas's capital city.

#2 Best Public Universities in Arkansas 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 59%
  • Net Price $12,033
Details
University of the Incarnate Word Campus

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  • 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.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Texas 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $23,363
Details
Savannah College of Art and Design Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Savannah, GA
  • 4.2 | 4 reviews

SCAD is a private art and design college known for undergraduate fashion, graphic design, and animation. The campus occupies renovated historic buildings in downtown Savannah.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $50,821
Details
University of Mary Hardin Baylor Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Belton, TX
  • | 0 reviews

Mary Hardin-Baylor is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus is in Belton in Central Texas.

#20 Best Private Colleges in Texas 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $27,651
Details
University of New Orleans Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • New Orleans, LA
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

UNO is a public university known for undergraduate naval architecture, marine engineering, and hospitality. The urban campus sits on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

#5 Best Public Universities in Louisiana 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 935-1241
  • Avg GPA 3.21
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $12,258
Details
New Mexico State University Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Las Cruces, NM
  • | 0 reviews

New Mexico State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture and engineering. The main campus lies in Las Cruces near the Organ Mountains.

#3 Best Colleges in New Mexico 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 870-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.55
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $10,719
Details
Lee University Campus

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

Lee is a private Christian university known for undergraduate music and education. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Cleveland, Tennessee.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $20,416
Details
The University of Tennessee Chattanooga Campus

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  • 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.

#5 Best Public Universities in Tennessee 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1013-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $15,347
Details
Sam Houston State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Huntsville, TX
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Sam Houston State is a large public university known for undergraduate criminal justice and forensic science. The main campus is in Huntsville in the piney woods of East Texas.

#10 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1120
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.25
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $14,737
Details
Saint Leo University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Leo, FL
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Saint Leo is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate criminal justice, business, and education. The campus adjoins a Benedictine abbey in a small central Florida town north of Tampa.

#16 Best Private Colleges in Florida 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,599
Details
University of Central Oklahoma Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Edmond, OK
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

UCO is a public university known for undergraduate forensic science and teacher education. The suburban campus sits in Edmond just north of Oklahoma City.

#3 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $18,660
Details
The University of Texas Permian Basin Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Odessa, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 23 application deadline

UT Permian Basin is a public university known for undergraduate petroleum engineering and business. The campus is located in Odessa in West Texas's Permian Basin.

#11 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1130
  • Avg GPA 3.27
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $13,563
Details
The University of Tennessee Martin Campus
 

  • 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.

#6 Best Public Universities in Tennessee 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $11,955
Details
Johnson & Wales University Charlotte Campus
 

  • 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.

#12 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1130
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $28,084
Details
Coastal Carolina University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Conway, SC
  • 4.7 | 3 reviews

Coastal Carolina is a public university known for undergraduate marine science and PGA golf management. The Conway campus lies a short drive from Myrtle Beach and the Atlantic coast.

#7 Best Public Universities in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $14,379
Details