Top Rated Southeast Private Colleges
These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the Southeast. Leading the rankings for 2027 as the highest ranked private college in the Southeast is Duke University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
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
Presbyterian College
- Private 4 Year
- Clinton, SC
-
4.2 | 5 reviews
- Sep 21 application deadline
Presbyterian College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and known for undergraduate business and the sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in the small town of Clinton.
- SAT Range 980-1200
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $20,840
Nova Southeastern University
- Private 4 Year
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
Nova Southeastern is a private university known for undergraduate marine science, health sciences, and psychology. The suburban campus sits in the Fort Lauderdale area of South Florida.
- SAT Range 1030-1300
- Avg GPA 3.99
- Acceptance Rate 73%
- Net Price $31,858
Lincoln Memorial University
- Private 4 Year
- Harrogate, TN
-
| 0 reviews
Lincoln Memorial is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and pre-veterinary studies. The rural campus sits near Cumberland Gap in the Appalachian Mountains.
- SAT Range 1000-1210
- Avg GPA 3.29
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $21,447
Covenant College
- Private 4 Year
- Lookout Mountain, GA
-
| 0 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Covenant is a private Christian liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs taught from a Reformed theological perspective. The mountaintop campus on Lookout Mountain overlooks the Chattanooga valley.
- SAT Range 1160-1380
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $27,926
Asbury University
- Private 4 Year
- Wilmore, KY
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Asbury is a private Christian university known for undergraduate media communications and equestrian studies. Most students live on the residential campus in the small town of Wilmore.
- SAT Range 1080-1320
- Avg GPA 3.65
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $23,033
Harding University
- Private 4 Year
- Searcy, AR
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
Harding is a private Christian university affiliated with the Churches of Christ and known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. Most students live on the residential campus in the college town of Searcy.
- SAT Range 1050-1290
- Avg GPA 3.71
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $22,806
Campbell University
- Private 4 Year
- Buies Creek, NC
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Campbell is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate health sciences, business, and PGA golf management. The rural campus anchors the small town of Buies Creek.
- SAT Range 1030-1230
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $25,736
Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Private 4 Year
- West Palm Beach, FL
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Palm Beach Atlantic is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and ministry. The urban campus in West Palm Beach borders the Intracoastal Waterway.
- SAT Range 950-1220
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $31,231
Ouachita Baptist University
- Private 4 Year
- Arkadelphia, AR
-
| 0 reviews
Ouachita Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate music, education, and business. Most students live on the residential campus in the small college town of Arkadelphia.
- SAT Range 1070-1280
- Avg GPA 3.72
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $24,532
The University of Tampa
- Private 4 Year
- Tampa, FL
-
2.5 | 13 reviews
University of Tampa is a private university known for undergraduate business, marine science, and nursing. The urban campus centers on historic Plant Hall along the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa.
- SAT Range 1070-1240
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 40%
- Net Price $35,679
William Carey University
- Private 4 Year
- Hattiesburg, MS
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
William Carey is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and music. The main campus is in Hattiesburg in southern Mississippi.
- SAT Range 1040-1290
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.46
- Acceptance Rate 60%
- Net Price $15,469
Xavier University of Louisiana
- Private 4 Year
- New Orleans, LA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
Xavier University of Louisiana is a private Catholic HBCU known for undergraduate pharmacy, biology, and chemistry. The urban campus sits in New Orleans.
- SAT Range 950-1113
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $17,162
Randolph Macon College
- Private 4 Year
- Ashland, VA
-
| 0 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Randolph-Macon is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, psychology, and business. Most undergrads live on a historic campus in the small college town of Ashland.
- SAT Range 980-1220
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $28,912