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
McNeese State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Lake Charles, LA
  • | 0 reviews

McNeese is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, engineering, and business. The campus sits in Lake Charles in southwest Louisiana.

#7 Best Public Universities in Louisiana 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1198
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $12,430
Details
Nicholls State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Thibodaux, LA
  • | 0 reviews

Nicholls State is a public university known for undergraduate culinary arts and nursing. The campus is in Thibodaux, a small bayou city in south Louisiana.

#8 Best Public Universities in Louisiana 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 934-1196
  • Avg GPA 3.34
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $12,298
Details
University of Southern Mississippi Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews

Southern Miss is a public university known for undergraduate polymer science and music. The main campus sits in the college town of Hattiesburg in southern Mississippi.

#4 Best Public Universities in Mississippi 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $15,095
Details
University of West Georgia Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Carrollton, GA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

West Georgia is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The residential campus is in Carrollton, a small city about an hour west of Atlanta.

#5 Best Public Universities in Georgia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $12,913
Details
Southeastern University Campus

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

Southeastern is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, business, and education. The campus is in Lakeland, a midsize city between Tampa and Orlando.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Florida
  • SAT Range 960-1183
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $32,334
Details
West Liberty University Campus

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  • 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.

#5 Best Public Universities in West Virginia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1123
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $13,655
Details
Auburn University at Montgomery Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Montgomery, AL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

AUM is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus is located in Montgomery, Alabama's capital city.

#8 Best Public Universities in Alabama 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1036-1203
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $13,945
Details
The University of Tennessee Southern Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Pulaski, TN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 26 application deadline

UT Southern is a small public university with undergraduate programs in nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in the small town of Pulaski in southern Tennessee.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee
  • SAT Range 905-1110
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.17
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $14,546
Details
West Virginia Wesleyan College Campus
 

  • 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.

#2 Best Private Colleges in West Virginia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 892-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $19,218
Details
Georgetown College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Georgetown, KY
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Georgetown College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and business. Most undergrads live on its residential campus in a small Kentucky college town.

#7 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $15,160
Details
East Texas A&M University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Commerce, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

East Texas A&M is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and agricultural sciences. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Commerce in Northeast Texas.

#19 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $12,327
Details
Tarleton State University Campus

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

Tarleton State is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, animal science, and nursing. The main campus anchors the college town of Stephenville in north-central Texas.

#20 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.21
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $16,159
Details
Toccoa Falls College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Toccoa Falls, GA
  • 1.8 | 6 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Toccoa Falls is a private Christian college known for undergraduate biblical studies, ministry, and missions. The wooded campus includes the Toccoa Falls waterfall in the North Georgia foothills.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $21,955
Details
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Magnolia, AR
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 27 application deadline

SAU is a public university known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The campus is in the small college town of Magnolia.

#4 Best Public Universities in Arkansas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 875-1105
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $13,442
Details
Southeastern Oklahoma State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Durant, OK
  • | 0 reviews

Southeastern Oklahoma State is a public university known for undergraduate education and aviation. The small-city campus in Durant lies near the Oklahoma-Texas border.

#6 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1186
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $9,075
Details
Austin Peay State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Clarksville, TN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 4 application deadline

Austin Peay is a public university known for undergraduate education and nursing. The Clarksville campus is close to Fort Campbell and draws many military-connected students.

#8 Best Public Universities in Tennessee 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 843-1126
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $9,882
Details
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Edinburg, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

UTRGV is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and engineering. Campuses span the Rio Grande Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border.

#21 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1090
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.16
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $5,282
Details
The University of Texas at San Antonio Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • San Antonio, TX
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UTSA is a large public university known for undergraduate cybersecurity and business. The main campus sits in northwest San Antonio near the Texas Hill Country.

#22 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1220
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $10,959
Details