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
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Campus

credit : w_lemay / license

  • 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

credit : Jason A G / license

  • 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

credit : hyku / license

  • 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

credit : hectorir / license

  • 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

credit : MPD01605 / license

  • 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

credit : Paul_CK / license

  • 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

credit : source / license

  • 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

credit : source / license

  • 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

credit : mathplourde / license

  • 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

credit : source / license

  • 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
Loyola University Maryland Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Loyola Maryland is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and communications. The wooded residential campus sits in a northern Baltimore neighborhood.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Maryland 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $32,846
Details
Florida State University Campus

credit : J-a-x / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • 5.0 | 6 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

FSU is a large public university known for undergraduate film, criminology, and music. The campus is in Tallahassee, Florida's capital city.

#3 Best Colleges in Florida 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1270-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 24%
  • Net Price $15,815
Details
Union University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Jackson, TN
  • | 0 reviews

Union is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and Christian studies. The residential campus sits in Jackson in West Tennessee.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $28,452
Details
Mercer University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Macon, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

Mercer is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and music. Most undergrads study on the historic main campus in Macon.

#3 Best Value Colleges in Georgia 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.98
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $24,364
Details
Rollins College Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Winter Park, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Rollins is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business and international studies. Most undergrads live on a lakeside campus along Lake Virginia in Winter Park.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 48%
  • Net Price $39,201
Details
University of South Carolina Columbia Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

South Carolina is a large public university known for undergraduate international business and hospitality management. The historic Horseshoe anchors the campus in downtown Columbia.

#2 Best Public Universities in South Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1180-1360
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $24,488
Details
The University of Tennessee Knoxville Campus

credit : xydinesh / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Knoxville, TN
  • 4.8 | 5 reviews

Tennessee is a large public university known for undergraduate supply chain management, business, and nuclear engineering. The campus borders the Tennessee River in Knoxville.

#1 Best Public Universities in Tennessee 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1370
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 42%
  • Net Price $21,648
Details
Citadel Military College of South Carolina Campus

credit : source / license

  • Public 4 Year
  • Charleston, SC
  • | 0 reviews

The Citadel is a public military college known for undergraduate engineering, business, and criminal justice. Most undergrads join the Corps of Cadets and live in barracks under a structured military system on the historic Charleston campus.

#3 Best Public Universities in South Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1085-1285
  • Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 23%
  • Net Price $22,124
Details