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.
Belmont University
- Private 4 Year
- Nashville, TN
-
4.0 | 4 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
Belmont is a private university known for undergraduate music business, commercial music, and entertainment programs. The urban Nashville campus has long ties to the city's recording and music industry.
- SAT Range 1160-1350
- Avg GPA 3.83
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $38,578
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
- Private 4 Year
- Daytona Beach, FL
-
4.5 | 8 reviews
Embry-Riddle is a private university known for undergraduate aerospace engineering, aeronautical science, and aviation. The Daytona Beach campus adjoins the local airport on Florida's Atlantic coast.
- SAT Range 1160-1360
- Avg GPA 3.88
- Acceptance Rate 65%
- Net Price $42,976
Goucher College
- Private 4 Year
- Baltimore, MD
-
| 0 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Goucher is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate creative writing, dance, and international studies. Every undergraduate completes a required study abroad experience.
- SAT Range 1090-1325
- Avg GPA 3.23
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $26,913
John Brown University
- Private 4 Year
- Siloam Springs, AR
-
| 0 reviews
John Brown is a private Christian university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and business. The residential campus is in the small college town of Siloam Springs in northwest Arkansas.
- SAT Range 1070-1340
- Avg GPA 3.77
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $21,537
LeTourneau University
- Private 4 Year
- Longview, TX
-
4.0 | 3 reviews
LeTourneau is a private Christian university known for undergraduate engineering and aviation. The campus is in Longview in East Texas.
- SAT Range 990-1330
- Avg GPA 3.66
- Acceptance Rate 38%
- Net Price $29,799
Florida Southern College
- Private 4 Year
- Lakeland, FL
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Florida Southern is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The Lakeland campus holds the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
- SAT Range 1150-1330
- Avg GPA 3.73
- Acceptance Rate 64%
- Net Price $29,384
Agnes Scott College
- Private 4 Year
- Decatur, GA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Agnes Scott is a private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, writing, and global learning. The residential campus sits in historic Decatur, just outside Atlanta.
- SAT Range 1160-1330
- Avg GPA 3.77
- Acceptance Rate 62%
- Net Price $27,499
Florida Institute of Technology
- Private 4 Year
- Melbourne, FL
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
Florida Tech is a private university known for undergraduate aerospace engineering, ocean engineering, and aviation. The Melbourne campus sits on Florida's Space Coast near the Atlantic Ocean.
- SAT Range 1120-1320
- Avg GPA 3.72
- Acceptance Rate 58%
- Net Price $37,361
Saint Edward's University
- Private 4 Year
- Austin, TX
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Saint Edward's is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate liberal arts, business, and education. The hilltop campus in South Austin overlooks the downtown skyline.
- SAT Range 970-1240
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $28,766
Eckerd College
- Private 4 Year
- Saint Petersburg, FL
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
Eckerd is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate marine science and environmental studies. The waterfront campus borders Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg.
- SAT Range 1160-1330
- Avg GPA 3.8
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $43,884
Meredith College
- Private 4 Year
- Raleigh, NC
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Meredith is a private women's college known for undergraduate business, education, and design. The residential campus sits in Raleigh near the state's government district.
- SAT Range 1098-1348
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 74%
- Net Price $24,323
Roanoke College
- Private 4 Year
- Salem, VA
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
Roanoke is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, biology, and psychology. The residential campus sits in Salem at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- SAT Range 1090-1300
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $26,044
Mount St. Mary's University
- Private 4 Year
- Emmitsburg, MD
-
4.3 | 3 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Mount St. Mary's is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, education, and the liberal arts. The residential campus sits in rural Emmitsburg near the Catoctin Mountains.
- SAT Range 1046-1280
- Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 74%
- Net Price $23,027
Bellarmine University
- Private 4 Year
- Louisville, KY
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Bellarmine is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and the health sciences. The campus occupies a residential setting in Louisville.
- SAT Range 1030-1250
- Avg GPA 3.42
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $23,165
Berry College
- Private 4 Year
- Mount Berry, GA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 15 application deadline
Berry is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate animal science, business, and education. Most students join a campus work program on the college's 27,000-acre grounds of forests and farmland near Rome.
- SAT Range 1125-1330
- Avg GPA 3.84
- Acceptance Rate 64%
- Net Price $25,363
Stetson University
- Private 4 Year
- DeLand, FL
-
| 0 reviews
Stetson is a private university known for undergraduate business and music. The historic campus sits in the college town of DeLand in Central Florida.
- SAT Range 1060-1270
- Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $20,319
Jacksonville University
- Private 4 Year
- Jacksonville, FL
-
| 0 reviews
Jacksonville University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, aviation, and marine science. The campus sits along the St. Johns River.
- SAT Range 1100-1280
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 57%
- Net Price $24,238
Transylvania University
- Private 4 Year
- Lexington, KY
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Transylvania is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate pre-medicine and the sciences. The historic campus occupies several blocks in downtown Lexington.
- SAT Range 1120-1380
- Avg GPA 3.77
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $25,442