The 20 Best Colleges in the South in 2025
What’s Covered:
Temperate weather, southern hospitality, and gorgeous landscapes encompassing everything from sandy beaches to pastoral countryside to rugged mountains are just a few reasons why people love the South. Another reason: the region’s schools, which include a handful of CollegeVine’s best public schools along with a collection of prestigious institutions known as the “Southern Ivies.”
Our Ranking Methodology
Below is a list of the 20 best colleges in the South. The list was constructed with a focus on school quality, outcomes, and return on investment (ROI), along with considering a host of other factors such as retention rate, selectivity, endowment per student, student-faculty ratio, median earnings, and cost of attendance. You can find CollegeVine’s rankings in their entirety here.
20 Best Colleges in the South
1. Duke University
Location: Durham, NC
Acceptance Rate: 5.4%
Middle 50% SAT: 1510-1560
Middle 50% ACT: 34-35
Undergrad Enrollment: 7,000
Rigorous academics, a well-known study abroad program, and incredible access to the “Research Triangle” (Duke, North Carolina State University, and UNC-Chapel Hill) is appealing to many high schoolers hopeful to attend Duke. Another draw is the university’s basketball team, the Blue Devils, who have taken home five NCAA championships.
Learn more about Duke University and what it takes to get accepted.
2. Rice University
Location: Houston, TX
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Middle 50% SAT: 1510-1560
Middle 50% ACT: 34-35
Undergrad Enrollment: 4,000
Located in Houston, Texas, Rice University is home to one of the most diverse student bodies in the country—USA Today ranks the university 23rd on its list of inclusive student bodies. They also have a generous financial aid policy; Rice practices need-blind admissions and meets 100% of demonstrated need for domestic applicants. Rice is also known for its OpenStax Program, an initiative based at the university to create peer-reviewed, openly licensed textbooks available in free digital formats.
Learn more about Rice University and what it takes to get accepted.
3. Vanderbilt University
Location: Nashville, TN
Acceptance Rate: 3.3%
Middle 50% SAT: 1510-1560
Middle 50% ACT: 34-35
Undergrad Enrollment: 7,200
A Vanderbilt education is best described as excellent, affordable, and accessible. The university’s reputation for academic excellence is well deserved and it is commonly grouped among a collection of prestigious colleges in the southern U.S. known as the “Southern Ivies.” Helping Vanderbilt remain affordable and accessible are its student-friendly admissions and financial aid policies.
Learn more about Vanderbilt University and what it takes to get accepted.
4. Washington & Lee University
Location: Lexington, VA
Acceptance Rate: 17%
Middle 50% SAT: 1440-1520
Middle 50% ACT: 33-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,000
One of the defining traits of Washington & Lee University is its unique academic calendar – two 13-week terms and a 4-week Spring Term, which provides students the opportunity to explore a topic in depth. It’s hard to have a discussion about Washington & Lee University without mentioning its problematic name: the school is named after George Washington and Robert E. Lee—both of whom were slave owners and one the commander of the Confederate Army. Despite this controversy, the school voted to keep its name in June 2021.
Learn more about Washington & Lee University and what it takes to get accepted.
5. Emory University
Location: Atlanta, GA
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Middle 50% SAT: 1490-1570
Middle 50% ACT: 33-35
Undergrad Enrollment: 7,100
Emory offers its students the unique opportunity to attend both a small liberal arts college and a major metropolitan university. The university’s Oxford College, in Oxford, Georgia, (about 45 minutes from Atlanta) is a liberal-arts-focused two-year residential college known for its small class sizes and close student-faculty relationships. After two years at Oxford College, students head to the university’s main campus for their junior and senior years.
Learn more about Emory University and what it takes to get accepted.
6. Davidson College
Location: Davidson, NC
Acceptance Rate: 13.4%
Middle 50% SAT: 1410-1560
Middle 50% ACT: 31-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,000
Davidson’s Honor Code is at the foundation of everything from the classroom to campus life, and is one reason the school is among the best colleges in the South. There is a deep trust between students, staff, and faculty. The school also places a large emphasis on giving back to the community, with students completing over 70,000 community service hours per year.
Learn more about Davidson College and what it takes to get accepted.
7. University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Acceptance Rate: 19%
Middle 50% SAT: 1370-1536
Middle 50% ACT: 30-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 20,681
UNC has earned a reputation as one of the finest public universities in the nation and one of the best colleges in the South. UNC is often grouped among a collection of colleges known for their superb academics and sterling reputations called the “Public Ivies.” UNC’s excellence is nothing new—it has the distinction of being the U.S.’s first public university (officially holding classes in 1795) and the only one to award degrees in the 18th century.
Learn more about UNC-Chapel Hill and what it takes to get accepted.
8. Wake Forest University
Location: Winston Salem, NC
Acceptance Rate: 22%
Middle 50% SAT: 1390-1510
Middle 50% ACT: 32-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 5,490
Wake Forest’s motto is “Pro Humanitate” (For Humanity) and something the university takes very seriously—more than half of Wake Forest students actively volunteer in the community. The school is also known for its commitment to the undergraduate study abroad experience, having its own residential houses in countries across Europe.
Learn more about Wake Forest University and what it takes to get accepted.
9. University of Virginia (UVA)
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Acceptance Rate: 15.3%
Middle 50% SAT: 1410-1540
Middle 50% ACT: 32-35
Undergrad Enrollment: 17,618
Founded by Thomas Jefferson, this school in Virginia is surrounded by lush hills and greenery. An interesting remnant of Jefferson’s influence on UVA is that students are referred to as first-years, second-years, and so on, rather than freshman, sophomores, etc. This is because Jefferson believed an education at UVA is just the beginning—people never stop learning.
Learn more about UVA and what it takes to get accepted.
10. Tulane University
Location: New Orleans, LA
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Middle 50% SAT: 1410-1500
Middle 50% ACT: 31-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 9,000
Located in the heart of New Orleans, Tulane offers unrivaled access to “one best big cities in the U.S., renowned for its music, food, and events. Tulane is also tightly connected with the New Orleans community and was the first research university in the nation to make community service a degree requirement. Last year, Tulane students performed more than 780,000 hours of community service in New Orleans.
Learn more about Tulane and what it takes to get accepted.
11. University of Richmond
Location: Richmond, VA
Acceptance Rate: 26%
Middle 50% SAT: 1460-1530
Middle 50% ACT: 33-35
Undergrad Enrollment: 3,000
The inclusion of the University of Richmond among the best colleges in the south is in part thanks in part to programs like the “Richmond Guarantee,” a commitment of up to $4,000 to undergraduates for an unpaid or underpaid summer internship or faculty-mentored research project. Other programs at the university, like Richmond’s “Promise to Virginia” (which provides grant-based financial aid equal to full-time tuition, room, and an unlimited meal plan to Virginia residents), ensure that students of all backgrounds are represented on campus.
Learn more about the University of Richmond and what it takes to get accepted.
12. William & Mary
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Acceptance Rate: 34%
Middle 50% SAT: 1400-1530
Middle 50% ACT: 32-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 6,887
Founded in 1693, William and Mary is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the country—it’s named after the British monarchs ruling at the time and is the first and only American institution of higher education to receive a coat of arms from the College of Heralds. Today, William and Mary maintains its traditional title of “College,” despite it actually being a highly rated research university.
Learn more about William & Mary and what it takes to get accepted.
13. University of Florida
Location: Gainesville, FL
Acceptance Rate: 24%
Middle 50% SAT: 1380-1510
Middle 50% ACT: 31-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 43, 197
The University of Florida is home to the largest student-run paper in the nation, The Independent Florida Alligator, serving more than 50,000 readers. Its alumni are employed in newsrooms across the country and include four Pulitzer Prize winners. In 2019, the University of Florida was the only school in the nation on the list of top 10 baccalaureate origin institutions both for Black and Hispanic PhDs in the natural sciences and engineering.
Learn more about the University of Florida and what it takes to get accepted.
14. Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Middle 50% SAT: 1330-1530
Middle 50% ACT: 28-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 12,414
Life at Georgia Tech has changed a lot since its founding as an all-male industrial school in 1885. For example, the school’s inaugural class of 84 male students has grown to 16,000 undergraduates today, and in 1890, the first two engineers to receive their degrees from the school flipped a coin for the honor of going first. Despite not admitting women until 1952, females now make up over 30% of the student population.
Learn more about the Georgia Institute of Technology and what it takes to get accepted.
15. University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)
Location: Austin, TX
Acceptance Rate: 29%
Middle 50% SAT: 1310-1520
Middle 50% ACT: 29-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 42,444
UT Austin is one of the largest schools in the nation—50,476 students (40,000+ of which are undergraduates) call the university home. They say everything is big in Texas, and that includes UT Austin’s undergraduate offerings. The University of Texas – Austin offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 170 fields—ranging from Architecture to Women’s and Gender Studies—through its 12 undergraduate colleges and schools.
Learn more about the University of Texas – Austin and what it takes to get accepted.
16. University of Miami
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Acceptance Rate: 19%
Middle 50% SAT: 1360-1490
Middle 50% ACT: 31-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 13,000
Located in Coral Gables, the University of Miami campus is surrounded by the rich beauty of Southern Florida. The University is known for many of its programs, most notably their marine biology program. Also boasting a diverse student body and impressive football team, students have a range of extracurricular experiences at their fingertips.
Learn more about the University of Miami and what it takes to get accepted.
17. Trinity University (Texas)
Location: San Antonio, TX
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Middle 50% SAT: 1370-1490
Middle 50% ACT: 31-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 3,000
A smaller liberal arts college in Texas, Trinity University is known for its “Pathways” curriculum, which allows students to acquire an interdisciplinary education. Its strong Business, Engineering, and Communications programs are just the start of the rigorous academics at Trinity. The school also has a strong commitment to community service.
Learn more about Trinity University and what it takes to get accepted.
18. University of Georgia
Location: Athens, GA
Acceptance Rate: 32.9%
Middle 50% SAT: 1300-1470
Middle 50% ACT: 30-34
Undergrad Enrollment: 31,514
The University of Georgia is one of the oldest public universities in the nation, with a reputation as a well-known research university. Its historic campus is a draw for many students, as well as its strong academic programs and competitive sports teams. The “Double Dawgs” program allows students to earn their Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in five years, an incentive for students who want to fast-track their education.
Learn more about the University of Georgia and what it takes to get accepted.
19. North Carolina State University (NC State)
Location: Raleigh, NC
Acceptance Rate: 40%
Middle 50% SAT: 1300-1460
Middle 50% ACT: 28-32
Undergrad Enrollment: 26,000
A member of the “Research Triangle” along with Duke and UNC Chapel Hill, NC State has multiple prestigious science programs, providing undergraduate students with an abundance of research opportunities. Another school with well-known sports teams, students also have many clubs and organizations to choose from.
Learn more about North Carolina State University and what it takes to get accepted.
20. Texas Christian University (TCU)
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Acceptance Rate: 43%
Middle 50% SAT: 1150-1375
Middle 50% ACT: 26-31
Undergrad Enrollment: 10,584
If you’re interested in Greek life, TCU may be a good fit for you as around 40% of its undergraduates are members of fraternities or sororities. Known for its business, communication, and nursing programs, TCU also offers students a low student-faculty ratio, allowing for in-depth learning and hands-on experiences.
Learn more about Texas Christian University and what it takes to get accepted.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Wondering what your odds of acceptance are at one of these great Southern schools? CollegeVine can help! Our free chancing engine considers factors like grades and standardized test scores along with elements such as extracurricular activities, awards, and achievements to predict your odds of acceptance at hundreds of schools in the South and across the country.
Remember to build a balanced school list including safety, target, and reach schools to put yourself in the best position to find the perfect school for you. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!
