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.
Asbury University
- Private 4 Year
- Wilmore, KY
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Asbury is a private Christian university known for undergraduate media communications and equestrian studies. Most students live on the residential campus in the small town of Wilmore.
- SAT Range 1080-1320
- Avg GPA 3.65
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $23,033
Harding University
- Private 4 Year
- Searcy, AR
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
Harding is a private Christian university affiliated with the Churches of Christ and known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. Most students live on the residential campus in the college town of Searcy.
- SAT Range 1050-1290
- Avg GPA 3.71
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $22,806
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
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
Campbell University
- Private 4 Year
- Buies Creek, NC
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Campbell is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate health sciences, business, and PGA golf management. The rural campus anchors the small town of Buies Creek.
- SAT Range 1030-1230
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $25,736
Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Private 4 Year
- West Palm Beach, FL
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Palm Beach Atlantic is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and ministry. The urban campus in West Palm Beach borders the Intracoastal Waterway.
- SAT Range 950-1220
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $31,231
Ouachita Baptist University
- Private 4 Year
- Arkadelphia, AR
-
| 0 reviews
Ouachita Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate music, education, and business. Most students live on the residential campus in the small college town of Arkadelphia.
- SAT Range 1070-1280
- Avg GPA 3.72
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $24,532
St. Mary's University
- Private 4 Year
- San Antonio, TX
-
| 0 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
St. Mary's is a private Marianist Catholic university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits on San Antonio's near West Side.
- SAT Range 900-1310
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $20,412
The University of Tampa
- Private 4 Year
- Tampa, FL
-
2.5 | 13 reviews
University of Tampa is a private university known for undergraduate business, marine science, and nursing. The urban campus centers on historic Plant Hall along the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa.
- SAT Range 1070-1240
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 40%
- Net Price $35,679
William Carey University
- Private 4 Year
- Hattiesburg, MS
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
William Carey is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and music. The main campus is in Hattiesburg in southern Mississippi.
- SAT Range 1040-1290
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.46
- Acceptance Rate 60%
- Net Price $15,469
Mississippi State University
- Public 4 Year
- Mississippi State, MS
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Mississippi State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and architecture. Starkville is a college town centered on the campus.
- SAT Range 1100-1350
- Avg GPA 3.58
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $18,478
Xavier University of Louisiana
- Private 4 Year
- New Orleans, LA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
Xavier University of Louisiana is a private Catholic HBCU known for undergraduate pharmacy, biology, and chemistry. The urban campus sits in New Orleans.
- SAT Range 950-1113
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $17,162
Tennessee Technological University
- Public 4 Year
- Cookeville, TN
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Tennessee Tech is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and technology. The campus sits in the college town of Cookeville on the Cumberland Plateau.
- SAT Range 1048-1310
- Avg GPA 3.63
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $15,336
Radford University
- Public 4 Year
- Radford, VA
-
3.5 | 2 reviews
Radford is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in a small college town in southwestern Virginia's New River Valley.
- SAT Range 940-1160
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $16,749
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
The University of Texas at Tyler
- Public 4 Year
- Tyler, TX
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 24 application deadline
UT Tyler is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and engineering. The campus is in the East Texas city of Tyler.
- SAT Range 1010-1200
- Avg GPA 3.44
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $14,476
Christian Brothers University
- Private 4 Year
- Memphis, TN
-
| 0 reviews
Christian Brothers is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate engineering and business. The urban campus sits in midtown Memphis.
- SAT Range 1020-1380
- Avg GPA 3.67
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $16,754
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