by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in the Southeast Region, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **681** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 681 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Explore the leading colleges below: Our analysis found Duke University to be the best college in the Southeast Region. Set in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $83,388. The median student debt is $13,296. The strong outcomes at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #2 place in the Southeast Region. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Early-career graduates earn a median of $83,560. Typical student debt is $24,323. A rank of #3 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top colleges in the Southeast Region. Based in Charlottesville, VA, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $69,126. Graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Out of the 681 colleges in the Southeast Region in this year's ranking, Vanderbilt University landed the #4 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Graduates go on to earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete a degree here.1
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The strong outcomes at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #5 place in the Southeast Region. Set in Chapel Hill, NC, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,361. Typical student debt is $15,117.5
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #6 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school based in Blacksburg, VA. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $60,004. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete a degree here. James Madison University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Harrisonburg, VA, James Madison University is a public institution. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Median early-career earnings reach $52,997. Typical student debt is $21,218. Emory University landed the #8 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Based in Atlanta, GA, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. Emory University posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. Students from in state pay about $64,280 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,840 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete a degree here. Wake Forest University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. In-state tuition and fees average $67,642. Median early-career earnings reach $67,369. Wake Forest University students take on a median of $21,577 in debt.6
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College Of William And Mary came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Williamsburg, VA, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. College Of William And Mary posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,338 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete a degree here.10
University Of Florida came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,388. The median student debt is $17,669. North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #12 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Set in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,622. The median student debt is $22,113. University Of Richmond landed the #13 spot in the Southeast Region this year. University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit school based in University of Richmond, VA. About 85% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $65,230 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $53,815. Graduates carry a median of $21,634 in student loans. George Mason University placed #14 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. George Mason University is a public school based in Fairfax, VA. George Mason University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. George Mason University graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,131. The median student debt is $23,529.11
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Davidson College placed #15 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Set in Davidson, NC, Davidson College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,430. Davidson College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,505. Davidson College students take on a median of $19,906 in debt.15
University Of Georgia placed #16 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Based in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Median early-career earnings reach $53,546. Typical student debt is $21,792. Washington And Lee University placed #17 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Washington And Lee University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lexington, VA. Washington And Lee University graduates 94% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,045. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,810. Graduates carry a median of $20,074 in student loans. Clemson University did well this year, earning the #18 position. This public school is set in Clemson, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,834 early in their careers. Clemson University students take on a median of $23,783 in debt. Auburn University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Auburn, AL. About 82% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $55,422. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete a degree here.16
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Elon University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Elon, NC, Elon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,958. Median early-career earnings reach $50,463. Elon University students take on a median of $21,619 in debt.20
Florida State University placed #21 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. This public school is set in Tallahassee, FL. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Median early-career earnings reach $51,884. Florida State University students take on a median of $20,488 in debt. University Of Miami landed the #22 spot in the Southeast Region this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Coral Gables, FL. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,234. Graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center did well this year, earning the #23 position. Set in Memphis, TN, The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,911, compared with $25,644 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $86,386. Graduates carry a median of $25,679 in student loans. Tulane University Of Louisiana placed #24 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Based in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Students from in state pay about $68,678 in tuition and fees. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,082. Typical student debt is $22,077. Southern College Of Optometry ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Southern College Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit school based in Memphis, TN. Early-career graduates earn a median of $106,728.21
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These colleges also placed among the very best this year:26
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To learn more about the colleges below, just click on their names:Rank College Location 51 University Of Central Florida Orlando, FL 52 Georgia College And State University Milledgeville, GA 53 East Carolina University Greenville, NC 54 Lipscomb University Nashville, TN 55 Centre College Danville, KY 56 Citadel Military College Of South Carolina Charleston, SC 57 Randolph Macon College Ashland, VA 58 University Of Mississippi Main Campus University, MS 59 Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA 60 University Of Louisville Louisville, KY 61 Shenandoah University Winchester, VA 62 Longwood University Farmville, VA 63 Florida Polytechnic University Lakeland, FL 64 Mercer University Macon, GA 65 Berry College Mount Berry, GA
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia | Vienna, VA |
| 92 | Spelman College | Atlanta, GA |
| 93 | Radford University | Radford, VA |
| 94 | Ringling College Of Art And Design | Sarasota, FL |
| 95 | Harding University | Searcy, AR |
| 96 | Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL |
| 97 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA |
| 98 | Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, FL |
| 99 | Union University | Jackson, TN |
| 100 | Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide | Daytona Beach, FL |
| 101 | John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR |
| 102 | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport | Shreveport, LA |
These colleges also performed well in our Best Colleges ranking:Rank College Location 103 Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC 104 Stetson University DeLand, FL 105 Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA 106 Rollins College Winter Park, FL 107 Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA 108 The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN 109 Galen Health Institutes Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach, SC 110 Transylvania University Lexington, KY 111 Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN 112 Presbyterian College Clinton, SC 113 Adventist University Of Health Sciences Orlando, FL 114 University Of Louisiana Lafayette Lafayette, LA 115 Bridgewater College Bridgewater, VA 116 University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts Winston Salem, NC 117 Covenant College Lookout Mountain, GA
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 118 | Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL |
| 119 | Galen Health Institutes Richmond | Richmond, VA |
| 120 | Queens University Of Charlotte | Charlotte, NC |
| 121 | Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, TN |
| 122 | The University Of West Florida | Pensacola, FL |
| 123 | Meredith College | Raleigh, NC |
| 124 | West Coast University Miami | Doral, FL |
| 125 | Chamberlain University North Carolina | Charlotte, NC |
| 126 | Savannah College Of Art And Design | Savannah, GA |
| 127 | University Of North Carolina At Greensboro | Greensboro, NC |
| 128 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA |
| 129 | Augusta University | Augusta, GA |
| 130 | Anderson University Sc | Anderson, SC |
| 131 | Florida Institute Of Technology | Melbourne, FL |
| 132 | University Of The Cumberlands | Williamsburg, KY |
| 133 | Cumberland University | Lebanon, TN |
| 134 | University Of North Georgia | Dahlonega, GA |
| 135 | Edison State College | Fort Myers, FL |
| 136 | Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
