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
Southeastern University Campus

credit : lorenkerns / license

  • 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

credit : source / license

  • 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

credit : source / license

  • 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

credit : source / license

  • 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

credit : source / license

  • 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
Toccoa Falls College Campus

credit : source / license

  • 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

credit : source / license

  • 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
Austin Peay State University Campus

credit : source / license

  • 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
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Pine Bluff, AR
  • | 0 reviews

UAPB is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate aquaculture and agriculture. Students study on a residential campus in Pine Bluff in southeastern Arkansas.

#5 Best Public Universities in Arkansas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 845-1108
  • Avg GPA 2.9
  • Acceptance Rate 41%
  • Net Price $12,373
Details
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Campus

credit : source / license

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

Northwestern State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus is in historic Natchitoches, a small city along the Cane River.

#9 Best Public Universities in Louisiana 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 866-1163
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $13,134
Details
Limestone University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Gaffney, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Limestone is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus is in the small town of Gaffney in upstate South Carolina.

#8 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $19,369
Details
Arkansas State University Campus

credit : The Arkansas National Guard / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Jonesboro, AR
  • | 0 reviews

Arkansas State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, agriculture, and business. The campus is located in Jonesboro in northeast Arkansas.

#6 Best Public Universities in Arkansas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $12,410
Details
Shorter University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Rome, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 25 application deadline

Shorter is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. The campus sits in the small city of Rome in northwest Georgia.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.25
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $16,821
Details
Columbia College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Columbia College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and nursing. Students study on an urban campus in South Carolina's capital.

#9 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $18,790
Details
Winston Salem State University Campus

credit : Kevin Coles / license

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

Winston-Salem State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The urban campus is part of the University of North Carolina system.

#11 Best Public Universities in North Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 830-1020
  • Avg GPA 3.01
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $12,989
Details
St. Thomas University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Miami Gardens, FL
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews

St. Thomas is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and sports administration. The suburban campus lies in Miami Gardens just north of Miami.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Florida 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $27,844
Details
Midway University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Midway, KY
  • | 0 reviews

Midway is a private university known for undergraduate equestrian studies, nursing, and teacher education. The residential campus is in the small town of Midway in central Kentucky.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $30,679
Details