Best Colleges in the South (2023 Rankings)

The South is home to some of the top colleges in the United States, from prestigious private schools to large public schools with a solid record for academic excellence. Whether you're a high school student looking for the best place to earn a bachelor's degree or a graduate student who wants to continue on your higher education journey, you've come to the right place.

We're about to introduce you to the best colleges in the South (in no particular order) and what each has to offer. Along the way, we'll also point you toward other schools with top college rankings that are also worth adding to your list.

Duke University

Location: Durham, North Carolina

Tuition: $57,633

Fast facts:

• 6,717 undergraduate students
• 8% admission rate
• 4-year graduation rate: 88% 

Duke University, a private Methodist university, is largely considered the best school in the South and routinely ranks among the top colleges in the nation. Duke is so prestigious that it often outranks many actual Ivy League schools!

Set on a sprawling campus of nearly 9,000 acres, Duke University offers over 50 undergraduate majors, and 83% of students choose to pursue more than one. The liberal arts college is also renowned for its stellar graduate and professional schools, which offer programs in Business, Law, Medicine, Divinity, and more.

Duke also offers a huge variety of Ph.D. programs in everything from Medical Physics to Marine Science. The university's Blue Devils teams are a great draw for sports lovers - particularly the men's basketball team, which has racked up five NCAA Division I championships.

You might also like: Davidson University; Davidson, North Carolina

Vanderbilt University

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Tuition: $54,158

Fast facts:

• 7,057 undergraduate students
• 12% acceptance rate
• 4-year graduation rate: 88%

Founded in 1873, Nashville's Vanderbilt University is a private research university set on a campus so beautiful, it's been officially dubbed an accredited arboretum. While getting accepted for enrollment is no small feat, Vanderbilt's students enjoy a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a choice of over 70 bachelor's degree programs.

Vanderbilt also offers 80 graduate degrees and 60 doctoral degrees, complete with first-rate research opportunities. Not only is the university right next to one of the country's biggest music scenes, but it also offers over 475 student organizations and a great collection of varsity sports teams.

You might also like: Texas A&M, College Station, Texas

Washington University

Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Tuition: $57,386

Fast facts:

• 7,653 undergraduate students
• 16% acceptance rate
• 4-year graduation rate: 88%

Set in the heart of St. Louis, Washington University, or Wash U, is a private research university that offers over 100 fields of study to choose from. It's also a great place for graduate or professional students who are interested in studying anything from Law or Medicine to Engineering or Architecture.

Like many prestigious private schools, Wash U is notoriously picky. But those who make the cut enjoy a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, international study opportunities, and the chance to study at a school affiliated with 26 Nobel Laureates.

You might also like: Furman University; Greenville, South Carolina

Rice University

Location: Houston, Texas

Tuition: $51,107

Fast facts:

• 4,076 undergraduate students
• 11% acceptance rate
• 4-year graduation rate: 85%

Rice University is a private research university that offers over 50 undergraduate majors and pre-professional programs. You'll also find plenty of great graduate and doctoral programs at Rice, not to mention the chance to collaborate with impressive organizations, including NASA.

Much like other prestigious Southern colleges, Rice only offers enrollment to a select pool of students. But if you manage to be one of the lucky few to be admitted, you'll get a top-ranking education whether you're into economics, engineering, or anything in between.

You might also like: University of Texas at Austin; Austin, Texas

Emory University

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Tuition: $53,868

Fast facts:

• 7,010 undergraduate students
• 19% acceptance rate
• 4-year graduation rate: 82%

Emory University is a private Methodist research college that offers over 80 different majors and 60+ minors. Emory also offers exceptional master's and doctoral programs, which is why it's one of the few schools where you'll find almost as many grad students as undergrads.

At Emory University, you'll find a diverse student body, a sustainable campus with 28 LEED-certified buildings, and one of the nation's most comprehensive academic healthcare programs. Get involved with one of the school's Greek chapters or join one of over 480 on-campus clubs and organizations.

You might also like: Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech); Atlanta, Georgia

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

In-state Tuition: $8,980

Out-of-state Tuition: $36,159

Fast facts:

• 19,395 undergraduate students
• 25% acceptance rate
• 4-year graduation rate: 85%

Not only is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the first public university on our list, but it was also the first public university in the U.S.! Dating back to the 1700s, UNC-Chapel Hill is among a collection of the best colleges in the South.

Home of the Tar Heels, UNC-Chapel Hill still maintains its reputation for academic excellence, with 78 bachelor's degree programs to choose from. The university also offers 113 master's degrees, 66 doctoral degrees, and seven professional degree programs.

You might also like: Wake Forest University; Winston-Salem, North Carolina

University of Virginia

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

In-state Tuition: $18,960

Out-of-state Tuition: $52,843

Fast facts:

• 17,310 undergraduate students
• 23% acceptance rate
• 4-year graduation rate: 89%

The University of Virginia has a lot going for it, including the fun fact that it was founded by Thomas Jefferson (yep, that Thomas Jefferson) in 1819. Over 200 years later, UVA is still doing the founding father proud, with an outstanding academic track record, not to mention boasting one of the best academic medical centers in America.

Choose from a diverse selection of undergraduate majors, from Aerospace Engineering or Neuroscience to Drama or Dance. The University of Virginia also offers nearly 70 graduate programs to choose from and 55 doctoral degrees.

You might also like: College of William & Mary; Williamsburg, Virginia

University of Florida

Location: Gainesville, Florida

In-state Tuition: $6,381

Out-of-state Tuition: $28,659

Fast facts:

• 34,931 undergraduate students
• 31% acceptance rate
• 4-year graduation rate: 67%

No matter what you want to study, you'll almost certainly find a program for it at the University of Florida. Home of the Florida Gators, UF offers over 300 undergraduate and graduate degree options.

Want to major in African Languages, Entomology & Nematology, or Sports Management? No problem! The University of Florida has you covered whether you're interested in Astrophysics, Art, or Animal Science.

You might also like: Auburn University; Auburn, Alabama

Washington and Lee University

Location: Lexington, Virginia

Tuition: $57,285

Fast facts:

• 1,822 undergraduate students
• 25% acceptance rate
• 4-year graduation rate: 91%

Washington and Lee University is a small private liberal arts college with a killer financial aid department that can help you avoid racking up student debt. Founded in 1749, W&L is the 9th oldest higher education institute in the U.S.

The tight-knit university offers 36 majors and is particularly renowned for its high-ranking graduate law school. With an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a hands-on learning methodology, you'll find plenty of support no matter what you decide to study.

You might also like: University of Richmond; Richmond, Virginia  

Tulane University of Louisiana

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Tuition: $58,852

Fast facts:

• 8,537 undergraduate students
• 11% acceptance rate
• 4-year graduation rate: 77%

Tulane University of Louisiana was first founded as a small medical school in 1834 to train local doctors in the fight against yellow fever and cholera. Today, the private New Orleans university offers students such a flexible range of study opportunities that many students choose to double or triple major.

First-year students all begin their journey with the Tulane Interdisciplinary Experience Seminar program (TIDES), which offers 125+ courses to explore. Choose from fun topics like New Orleans cemetery architecture, New Orleans as a D&D campaign, the archeology of Mardi Gras, and more!

You might also like: Clemson University; Clemson, South Carolina

Find the perfect school in the South with College Rover

Want to see how other Southern universities match up? College Rover has got you covered with a comprehensive breakdown of the best American colleges and universities.

Use our easy search tools to find the perfect choice for you or compare your top choices side by side. Our goal is to help you create your own list of top colleges by finding the best schools for your unique goals.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.