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
Furman University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Greenville, SC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Furman is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate biology, political science, and business. The residential campus centers on a lake just outside Greenville.

#1 Best Value in South Carolina 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1260-1430
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $34,086
Details
The University of Texas at Austin Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Austin, TX
  • 5.0 | 4 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

UT Austin is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate business, engineering, and computer science. The urban campus occupies a large site in central Austin.

#15 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1250-1510
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 27%
  • Net Price $17,942
Details
Texas Christian University Campus

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  • 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.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1350
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $41,848
Details
University of Tulsa Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Tulsa, OK
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

University of Tulsa is a private university known for undergraduate petroleum engineering and energy programs. The compact urban campus sits in midtown Tulsa.

#6 Best Value Colleges in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1223-1530
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $13,095
Details
Texas A&M University College Station Campus

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  • 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.

#21 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1400
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $21,437
Details
Rhodes College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Memphis, TN
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Rhodes is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology and international studies. The collegiate Gothic campus sits in a wooded residential section of Memphis.

#3 Best Colleges in Tennessee 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1300-1486
  • Avg GPA 3.99
  • Acceptance Rate 50%
  • Net Price $31,037
Details
Virginia Military Institute Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Lexington, VA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

VMI is a public military college known for undergraduate engineering and the sciences. All students join the Corps of Cadets and live in barracks under a military regimen on the historic Lexington campus.

#22 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $18,825
Details
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Raleigh, NC
  • 5.0 | 4 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

NC State is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and textiles. The campus sits in Raleigh within North Carolina's Research Triangle.

#23 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1300-1470
  • Avg GPA 3.83
  • Acceptance Rate 42%
  • Net Price $15,522
Details
Clemson University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Clemson, SC
  • 4.4 | 10 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Clemson is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and business. The lakeside campus sits in the Blue Ridge foothills beside Lake Hartwell.

#25 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $25,003
Details
University of Georgia Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Athens, GA
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

UGA is a large public university known for undergraduate journalism, business, and agricultural sciences. The historic campus anchors the college town of Athens.

#1 Best Public Universities in Georgia 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1270-1480
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $16,662
Details
Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Atlanta, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 4 application deadline

Georgia Tech is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and the sciences. The urban campus sits in midtown Atlanta.

#3 Best Colleges in Georgia 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1370-1540
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.85
  • Acceptance Rate 14%
  • Net Price $15,918
Details
Elon University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Elon, NC
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 10 application deadline

Elon is a private university known for undergraduate communications and business. Most students live on the residential campus in the small college town of Elon.

#4 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1280
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $44,440
Details
Virginia Tech Campus

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  • 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.

#4 Best Public Universities in Virginia 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1280-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $24,912
Details
Centre College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Danville, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Centre is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, politics, and the natural sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in the small college town of Danville.

#1 Best Value in Kentucky 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Acceptance Rate 54%
  • Net Price $23,860
Details
Wofford College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Spartanburg, SC
  • 3.1 | 8 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Wofford is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, finance, and government. The historic campus in Spartanburg has a large Greek system.

#3 Best Colleges in South Carolina 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1198-1343
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $30,481
Details
University of Delaware Campus

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  • 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.

#1 Best Value in Delaware 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.94
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $19,139
Details
St. Mary's College of Maryland Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • St. Mary's City, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public honors college known for undergraduate liberal arts. The historic campus sits on the St. Mary's River in southern Maryland.

#3 Best Colleges in Maryland 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1143-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.45
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $21,071
Details
Baylor University Campus

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  • 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.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1400
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 51%
  • Net Price $47,001
Details