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
University of Mary Washington Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Fredericksburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Mary Washington is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate historic preservation and education. The historic campus sits in Fredericksburg near the Rappahannock River.

#7 Best Public Universities in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $21,800
Details
Queens University of Charlotte Campus

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  • 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.

#5 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1340
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $31,839
Details
Lipscomb University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Lipscomb is a private Christian university known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The residential campus sits in Nashville's Green Hills neighborhood.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $27,695
Details
Spelman College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Atlanta, GA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Spelman is a highly selective historically Black women's college known for undergraduate sciences and the liberal arts. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Atlanta's West End, part of the Atlanta University Center.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1108-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 25%
  • Net Price $40,354
Details
Maryland Institute College of Art Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

MICA is a private art and design college known for undergraduate illustration, graphic design, and fine arts. The urban campus lies in Baltimore's Station North Arts District.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Maryland 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1078-1305
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $47,834
Details
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Prescott, AZ
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Embry-Riddle Prescott is a private university known for undergraduate aeronautical science, aerospace engineering, and aviation. The mountain campus sits outside downtown Prescott in Arizona high country.

#1 Best Private Colleges in Arizona 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.82
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $41,864
Details
University of Arizona Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Tucson, AZ
  • | 0 reviews

Arizona is a large public university known for undergraduate astronomy, optical sciences, and planetary science. The main campus sits in the Sonoran Desert in Tucson.

#1 Best Value in Arizona 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $19,055
Details
University of North Carolina School of the Arts Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Winston Salem, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Mar 15 application deadline

UNCSA is a public arts conservatory known for undergraduate dance, drama, music, and filmmaking. Students train on a specialized campus in Winston-Salem devoted to intensive performing-arts study.

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 30%
  • Net Price $13,140
Details
Hendrix College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Conway, AR
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

Hendrix is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and its Odyssey experiential-learning program. Most students live on the residential campus in the college town of Conway.

#1 Best Value in Arkansas 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1123-1348
  • Avg GPA 3.79
  • Acceptance Rate 56%
  • Net Price $24,699
Details
Oklahoma City University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Oklahoma City, OK
  • | 0 reviews

Oklahoma City University is a private university known for undergraduate dance, music, and theater. The urban campus is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

#3 Best Colleges in Oklahoma 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $24,051
Details
Belmont University Campus

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  • 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.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.83
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $38,578
Details
Auburn University Campus

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  • 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.

#1 Best Public Universities in Alabama 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1260-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 46%
  • Net Price $25,242
Details
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Daytona Beach, FL
  • 4.5 | 8 reviews

Embry-Riddle is a private university known for undergraduate aerospace engineering, aeronautical science, and aviation. The Daytona Beach campus adjoins the local airport on Florida's Atlantic coast.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.88
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $42,976
Details
Goucher College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Goucher is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate creative writing, dance, and international studies. Every undergraduate completes a required study abroad experience.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Maryland 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1325
  • Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $26,913
Details
John Brown University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Siloam Springs, AR
  • | 0 reviews

John Brown is a private Christian university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and business. The residential campus is in the small college town of Siloam Springs in northwest Arkansas.

#2 Best Colleges in Arkansas 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $21,537
Details
LeTourneau University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Longview, TX
  • 4.0 | 3 reviews

LeTourneau is a private Christian university known for undergraduate engineering and aviation. The campus is in Longview in East Texas.

#9 Best Private Colleges in Texas 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $29,799
Details
Florida Southern College Campus

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  • 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.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $29,384
Details
Agnes Scott College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Decatur, GA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Agnes Scott is a private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, writing, and global learning. The residential campus sits in historic Decatur, just outside Atlanta.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $27,499
Details