Top Rated South Private Colleges

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the South. Leading the rankings for 2027 as the highest ranked private college in the South is Duke University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.

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South Private 4 Year

  • 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

  • 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

  • Private 4 Year
  • Waco, TX
  • 4.2 | 14 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Baylor is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and prehealth programs. The residential campus sits along the Brazos River in Waco.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1400
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 51%
  • Net Price $47,001
Details

  • 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

  • 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

  • Private 4 Year
  • Georgetown, TX
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Southwestern is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate study in the arts and sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in historic Georgetown, north of Austin.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $32,228
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Sherman, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 31 application deadline

Austin College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and international studies. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Sherman, north of Dallas.

#3 Best Value Colleges in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 48%
  • Net Price $23,462
Details

  • 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

  • Private 4 Year
  • Irving, TX
  • 4.2 | 5 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

University of Dallas is a private Catholic university known for a Great Books core curriculum and undergraduate work in philosophy, politics, and the humanities. The suburban campus sits in Irving just outside Dallas.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Texas 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.9
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $29,209
Details

  • 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

  • Private 4 Year
  • Birmingham, AL
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Samford is a private Christian university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and business. The Georgian-style campus sits in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood.

#1 Best Private Colleges in Alabama 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.84
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $34,926
Details

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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