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

Tuskegee University
T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 2,654enrollment
  • $36,528net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 920-1130SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

Southern Adventist University
S
Collegedale, TN
 

Southern Adventist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,719enrollment
  • $24,491net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 970-1250SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Catawba College
C
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,207enrollment
  • $18,657net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 990-1150SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Pfeiffer University
P
Misenheimer, NC

Pfeiffer University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,122enrollment
  • $22,121net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 891-1165SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Tennessee Wesleyan College
T
Athens, TN
 

Tennessee Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,086enrollment
  • $13,183net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 930-1180SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Maryville College
M
Maryville, TN

Maryville College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,046enrollment
  • $19,548net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 19-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Virginia Wesleyan College
V
Norfolk, VA

Virginia Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,324enrollment
  • $23,512net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1380SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Bridgewater College
B
Bridgewater, VA

Bridgewater College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,463enrollment
  • $20,318net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1065-1250SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

King College
K
Bristol, TN
 

King College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,656enrollment
  • $22,020net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Flagler College St Augustine
F
Saint Augustine, FL

Flagler College St Augustine

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 2,652enrollment
  • $25,324net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 990-1180SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.38Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Ave Maria University
A
Ave Maria, FL

Ave Maria University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,302enrollment
  • $19,226net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1018-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

The University of Virginia's College at Wise
V
Wise, VA

The University of Virginia's College at Wise

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 1,814enrollment
  • $9,418net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 990-1230SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Methodist University
M
Fayetteville, NC
 

Methodist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,916enrollment
  • $31,730net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1230SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Christian Brothers University
C
Memphis, TN
 

Christian Brothers University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,794enrollment
  • $17,830net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1280SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

University of Charleston
C
Charleston, WV

University of Charleston

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in West Virginia

  • 2,926enrollment
  • $20,598net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 985-1160SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.13Estimated Avg GPA

McMurry University
M
Abilene, TX

McMurry University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,145enrollment
  • $20,963net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Guilford College
G
Greensboro, NC

Guilford College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,198enrollment
  • $24,640net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 950-1200SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

Averett University
A
Danville, VA

Averett University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,336enrollment
  • $23,855net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 910-1155SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA