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.

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Southeast Private 4 Year
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Baton Rouge, LA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

FranU is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The compact Baton Rouge campus is tied to the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady health system.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $16,432

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

Spalding is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and education. The urban campus sits in downtown Louisville.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 875-1038
  • Avg GPA 3.87
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $25,999
Tennessee Wesleyan University Campus
 

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

Tennessee Wesleyan is a small private Methodist university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus sits in the small town of Athens in East Tennessee.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $15,125

  • Private 4 Year
  • Savannah, GA
  • 4.2 | 4 reviews

SCAD is a private art and design college known for undergraduate fashion, graphic design, and animation. The campus occupies renovated historic buildings in downtown Savannah.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $50,821

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

Lee is a private Christian university known for undergraduate music and education. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Cleveland, Tennessee.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $20,416

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Leo, FL
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Saint Leo is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate criminal justice, business, and education. The campus adjoins a Benedictine abbey in a small central Florida town north of Tampa.

#16 Best Private Colleges in Florida 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,599
Johnson & Wales University Charlotte Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Charlotte, NC
  • | 0 reviews

Johnson & Wales Charlotte is a private university known for undergraduate culinary arts, hospitality management, and business. The urban campus is located in uptown Charlotte.

#12 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1130
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $28,084

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wingate, NC
  • | 0 reviews

Wingate is a private university known for undergraduate programs in the health sciences, business, and education. The residential campus sits in a small town east of Charlotte.

#13 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $21,282
Carson Newman University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Jefferson City, TN
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Carson-Newman is a private Baptist university with undergraduate strengths in nursing, education, and the liberal arts. Students live on a residential campus in the small East Tennessee town of Jefferson City.

#16 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 955-1215
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $20,895
Columbia International University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

CIU is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies and intercultural studies. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Columbia.

#7 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1195
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $26,056

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lynchburg, VA
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews

Liberty is a private Christian university known for undergraduate aviation, nursing, and business. The Lynchburg campus sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Virginia
  • SAT Range 1040-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $29,532

  • Private 4 Year
  • Belmont, NC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Belmont Abbey is a private Benedictine Catholic college known for undergraduate business and the liberal arts. The historic campus adjoins Belmont Abbey monastery in the Charlotte metro area.

#14 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.32
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $24,726

  • Private 4 Year
  • Montgomery, AL
  • | 0 reviews

Faulkner is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, ministry, and business. The Montgomery campus is affiliated with the Churches of Christ and keeps a residential college focus.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Alabama 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 886-1135
  • Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $19,920

  • Private 4 Year
  • Virginia Beach, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Regent is a private Christian university known for undergraduate communication, government, and the arts. The suburban campus is in Virginia Beach near the Atlantic coast.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.34
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $20,512

  • 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

  • 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
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

  • 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