by our College Data Analytics TeamDuke University ranks #1 of 513 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in the Southeast Region ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 87% six-year graduation rate and $83,623 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in the Southeast Region, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **513** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 513 colleges using more than 20 objective factors 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.
Duke University leads the 513 ranked colleges in the Southeast Region, followed by Vanderbilt University (#2) and University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Our analysis found Duke University to be the best college in the Southeast Region. Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. The median student debt is $13,296.
A rank of #2 makes Vanderbilt University one of the top colleges in the Southeast Region. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Early-career graduates earn a median of $77,997. Typical student debt is $13,975.
A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top colleges in the Southeast Region. This public school is set in Chapel Hill, NC. About 91% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,361. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete a degree here.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Southeast Region. Based in Charlottesville, VA, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. The median student debt is $18,627.
Out of the 513 colleges in the Southeast Region in this year's ranking, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus landed the #5 spot. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public school based in Atlanta, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Early-career graduates earn a median of $83,560. The median student debt is $24,323.
Wake Forest University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,642. Early-career graduates earn a median of $67,369. The median student debt is $21,577.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #7 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. This public school is set in Blacksburg, VA. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,004. Graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
James Madison University did well this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Harrisonburg, VA. About 80% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,997 early in their careers. James Madison University students take on a median of $21,218 in debt.
College Of William And Mary did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Williamsburg, VA, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. College Of William And Mary graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,338. Graduates carry a median of $18,935 in student loans.
University Of Richmond came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in University of Richmond, VA, University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Richmond posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. Students from in state pay about $65,230 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,815 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $21,634 in student loans.
Emory University placed #11 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Emory University is a private not-for-profit school based in Atlanta, GA. Emory University graduates 91% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $64,280 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,840. The median student debt is $19,431.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. About 85% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,622. Typical student debt is $22,113.
Washington And Lee University placed #13 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Based in Lexington, VA, Washington And Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,045. Median early-career earnings reach $76,810. Students borrow a median of $20,074 to complete a degree here.
University Of Florida ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. University Of Florida graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,388. Graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
University Of Georgia came in at #15 in this year's ranking. University Of Georgia is a public school based in Athens, GA. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,546. The median student debt is $21,792.
George Mason University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Fairfax, VA. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $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.
Clemson University placed #17 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Clemson University is a public school based in Clemson, SC. Clemson University posts a six-year graduation rate of 87%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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.
Davidson College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Davidson, NC. Davidson College graduates 91% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,430. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,505 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete a degree here.
Elon University came in at #19 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. In-state tuition and fees average $46,958. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,463 early in their careers. The median student debt is $21,619.
Florida State University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Median early-career earnings reach $51,884. Graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans.
University Of Miami ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit school based in Coral Gables, FL. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $62,616. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,234. The median student debt is $17,750.
Auburn University landed the #22 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Located in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,422. The median student debt is $22,803.
Tulane University Of Louisiana did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,678. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,507. Students borrow a median of $22,077 to complete a degree here.
University Of South Carolina Columbia did well this year, earning the #24 position. This public school is set in Columbia, SC. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,623. University Of South Carolina Columbia students take on a median of $24,537 in debt.
Samford University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Birmingham, AL, Samford University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,150. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,132 early in their careers. The median student debt is $21,039.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 513 in the Southeast Region. Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
These 27 colleges rank #51 through #77 of 513 in the Southeast Region. To learn more about the colleges below, just click on their names:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville, TN |
| 77 | Bellarmine University | Louisville, KY |
These 26 colleges rank #78 through #103 of 513 in the Southeast Region. These colleges also performed well in our Best Colleges ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 103 | Rollins College | Winter Park, FL |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
