Best Southeastern Colleges

There are 283 ranked four-year colleges in the Southeast, 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 Southeast. The top rated public university is University of Virginia Main Campus. Also highly ranked: Johns Hopkins University, Vanderbilt University and Emory 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.

283 Results
Sort:
Southeast Public Private 4 Year
Georgia State University Campus

credit : w_lemay / license

  • 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

credit : source / license

  • 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

credit : source / license

  • 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
Savannah College of Art and Design Campus

credit : Ken Lund / license

  • 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 New Orleans Campus

credit : source / license

  • 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
Lee University Campus

credit : source / license

  • 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

credit : source / license

  • 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
Saint Leo University Campus

credit : source / license

  • 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
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

credit : wfyurasko / license

  • 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
Wingate University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wingate, NC
  • | 0 reviews

Wingate is a private university known for undergraduate programs in the health sciences, business, and education. The residential campus sits in a small town east of Charlotte.

#13 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $21,282
Details
Coppin State University Campus

credit : Baltimore Heritage / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Coppin State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing and teacher education. The urban campus sits in west Baltimore.

#7 Best Public Universities in Maryland 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1020
  • Avg GPA 2.62
  • Acceptance Rate 46%
  • Net Price $9,831
Details
University of South Carolina Aiken Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Aiken, SC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

USC Aiken is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban campus is located in the smaller city of Aiken near the South Carolina-Georgia border.

#8 Best Public Universities in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1220
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.19
  • Acceptance Rate 79%
  • Net Price $12,236
Details
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

FAMU is a public HBCU known for undergraduate pharmacy, business, and engineering. The campus is located in Florida's capital city of Tallahassee.

#10 Best Public Universities in Florida 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 21%
  • Net Price $13,819
Details
West Virginia University Institute of Technology Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Beckley, WV
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

WVU Tech is a public college known for undergraduate engineering and technology. The campus sits in Beckley in the mountains of southern West Virginia.

#3 Best Colleges in West Virginia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.51
  • Acceptance Rate 37%
  • Net Price $11,281
Details
University of Central Arkansas Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Conway, AR
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews

UCA is a public university known for undergraduate education and nursing programs. The campus sits in Conway, a college town north of Little Rock.

#3 Best Public Universities in Arkansas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $16,546
Details
Carson Newman University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Jefferson City, TN
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Carson-Newman is a private Baptist university with undergraduate strengths in nursing, education, and the liberal arts. Students live on a residential campus in the small East Tennessee town of Jefferson City.

#16 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 955-1215
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $20,895
Details