The Best Southern Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the South for 2024

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 2024 is Washington and Lee University. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


131 results

Tuskegee University
T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 2,570enrollment
  • $35,596net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 970-1215SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

Catawba College
C
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,172enrollment
  • $19,701net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1210SAT range
  • 18-27ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Piedmont College
P
Demorest, GA

Piedmont College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,843enrollment
  • $18,792net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 990-1200SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

Flagler College St Augustine
F
Saint Augustine, FL

Flagler College St Augustine

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 2,623enrollment
  • $26,547net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1230SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.38Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Wayland Baptist University
W
Plainview, TX

Wayland Baptist University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,978enrollment
  • $22,663net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 900-1090SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Southern Adventist University
S
Collegedale, TN
 

Southern Adventist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,903enrollment
  • $24,332net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 980-1280SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

University of Lynchburg
L
Lynchburg, VA

University of Lynchburg

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 2,394enrollment
  • $23,256net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1230SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

Converse College
C
Spartanburg, SC

Converse College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $19,653net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1235SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Ave Maria University
A
Ave Maria, FL

Ave Maria University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,310enrollment
  • $21,078net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1018-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Christian Brothers University
C
Memphis, TN
 

Christian Brothers University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,934enrollment
  • $18,612net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1280SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Our Lady of the Lake College
O
Baton Rouge, LA
 

Our Lady of the Lake College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana

  • 1,228enrollment
  • $15,916net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Tennessee Wesleyan College
T
Athens, TN
 

Tennessee Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,052enrollment
  • $13,591net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 950-1150SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Texas Lutheran University
T
Seguin, TX

Texas Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,369enrollment
  • $21,442net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1220SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Pfeiffer University
P
Misenheimer, NC

Pfeiffer University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,076enrollment
  • $21,575net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 891-1165SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Fisk University
F
HBCU
Nashville, TN

Fisk University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,055enrollment
  • $20,578net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1450SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Virginia Wesleyan College
V
Norfolk, VA

Virginia Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,538enrollment
  • $23,046net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1365SAT range
  • 27-29ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

King College
K
Bristol, TN
 

King College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,357enrollment
  • $22,626net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

University of Montevallo
M
Montevallo, AL

University of Montevallo

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 2,586enrollment
  • $17,421net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 970-1200SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15