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

  • Private 4 Year
  • Newberry, SC
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews

Newberry is a private liberal arts college with undergraduate programs in education and business. The residential campus sits in the small town of Newberry and has long ties to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

#13 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 820-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $21,943

  • Private 4 Year
  • Barbourville, KY
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews

Union Commonwealth is a small private university with undergraduate programs in education, business, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the Appalachian college town of Barbourville.

#9 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 920-1105
  • Avg GPA 3.15
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $17,124

  • Private 4 Year
  • Williamsburg, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 31 application deadline

University of the Cumberlands is a private Christian university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. Students live on a residential campus in the small Appalachian town of Williamsburg.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $14,743
Truett McConnell University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Cleveland, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Truett McConnell is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate Christian studies and education. The campus is in the North Georgia mountains near Cleveland.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,179

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

Tusculum is a small private university with undergraduate programs in business, education, and nursing. The historic Greeneville campus is Tennessee's oldest college and retains a Presbyterian affiliation.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1110
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.18
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $20,355

  • Private 4 Year
  • Daytona Beach, FL
  • | 0 reviews

Bethune-Cookman is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in Daytona Beach near Florida's Atlantic coast.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Florida 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 830-990
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $12,476
Brewton Parker College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Mount Vernon, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Brewton-Parker is a small private Baptist college with undergraduate programs in education, business, and Christian studies. The rural campus is located in the small town of Mount Vernon in southeast Georgia.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1010
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $25,613
Benedict College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Benedict is a private historically Black college known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in South Carolina's capital city of Columbia.

#14 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina
  • SAT Range 820-1010
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $18,665

  • Private 4 Year
  • Richmond, VA
  • | 0 reviews

Virginia Union is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate programs in business, education, and social work. The historic urban campus sits on Richmond's North Side.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 1/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-885
  • Avg GPA 2.71
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $11,483

  • Private 4 Year
  • Orlando, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

AdventHealth University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The urban Orlando campus is closely tied to the AdventHealth hospital system.

#20 Best Private Colleges in Florida
  • SAT Range 1010-1140
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $29,658
King University Campus
 

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

King is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and business. The campus is in Bristol on the Tennessee-Virginia border.

#20 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $22,748

  • Private 4 Year
  • Harrisonburg, VA
  • | 0 reviews

Eastern Mennonite is a private Mennonite university known for undergraduate peacebuilding and nursing. Students attend a residential campus in Harrisonburg in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

#16 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1590
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $25,021

  • Private 4 Year
  • Staunton, VA
  • | 0 reviews

Mary Baldwin is a private university known for undergraduate liberal arts programs and the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership. The residential campus is in the historic Shenandoah Valley city of Staunton.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Virginia
  • SAT Range 940-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $17,810