The Best Southern Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the South for 2023

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the South as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2023 is Washington and Lee University. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


123 results

Washington and Lee University
W
Lexington, VA

Washington and Lee University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 2,238enrollment
  • $27,148net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1530SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Davidson College
D
Davidson, NC

Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,973enrollment
  • $28,615net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

Trinity University
T
San Antonio, TX

Trinity University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Texas

  • 2,704enrollment
  • $31,141net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1468SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Sewanee The University of the South
S
Sewanee, TN

Sewanee The University of the South

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,820enrollment
  • $36,244net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Furman University
F
Greenville, SC

Furman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 2,463enrollment
  • $37,761net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1422SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Rhodes College
R
Memphis, TN

Rhodes College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,073enrollment
  • $29,852net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1490SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Wofford College
W
Spartanburg, SC

Wofford College

Private 4 Year

8 reviews

#1 Best Value in South Carolina

  • 1,765enrollment
  • $30,431net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1185-1330SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

St Mary's College of Maryland
S
St. Mary's City, MD

St Mary's College of Maryland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Public Universities in America

  • 1,544enrollment
  • $20,237net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1135-1340SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Virginia Military Institute
V
Lexington, VA

Virginia Military Institute

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 1,652enrollment
  • $18,969net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1300SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Centre College
C
Danville, KY

Centre College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Kentucky

  • 1,320enrollment
  • $22,748net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1235-1465SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Union University
U
Jackson, TN

Union University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,930enrollment
  • $26,906net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1330SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Southwestern University
S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,504enrollment
  • $29,830net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Austin College
A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Texas

  • 1,228enrollment
  • $24,085net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

University of Dallas
D
Irving, TX

University of Dallas

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,538enrollment
  • $27,450net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1390SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Oklahoma City University
O
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Oklahoma

  • 2,551enrollment
  • $25,072net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1233SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Eastern Mennonite University
E
Harrisonburg, VA

Eastern Mennonite University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,342enrollment
  • $22,766net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1590SAT range
  • 25-34ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

John Brown University
J
Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Arkansas

  • 2,459enrollment
  • $21,578net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

University of North Carolina School of the Arts
N
Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,119enrollment
  • $11,940net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1380SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15