by our College Data Analytics TeamDuke University ranks #1 of 1,288 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best 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 $85,059 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, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **1288** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 1288 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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Duke University leads the 1,288 ranked colleges in the Southeast Region, followed by University Of Virginia Main Campus (#2) and Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
Duke University tops our 2027 ranking of the best colleges 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.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking 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.
The strong outcomes at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned it the #3 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.
Out of the 1288 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.
A rank of #5 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top colleges 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.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University did well this year, earning the #6 position. 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 landed the #7 spot in the Southeast Region this year. 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.
Wake Forest University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. 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.
College Of William And Mary ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. 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.
Emory University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. 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.
University Of Richmond placed #11 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. 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.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. 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 Florida ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. 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.
George Mason University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. 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.
University Of Georgia came in at #15 in this year's ranking. 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.
Davidson College did well this year, earning the #16 position. 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.
Clemson University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. 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.
Washington And Lee University placed #18 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.
Auburn University ranked #19 on our 2027 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.
University Of Miami did well this year, earning the #20 position. 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.
Florida State University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. 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.
Elon University came in at #22 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.
The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center placed #23 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,507 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,077.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Columbia, SC. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,623. Typical student debt is $24,537.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 1,288 in the Southeast Region. These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
These 144 colleges rank #51 through #194 of 1,288 in the Southeast Region. To learn more about the colleges below, just click on their names:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 176 | University Of West Georgia | Carrollton, GA |
| 177 | Galen School Of Nursing Tampa Bay | Saint Petersburg, FL |
| 178 | Saint Thomas University | Miami Gardens, FL |
| 179 | University Of North Alabama | Florence, AL |
| 180 | Valencia College | Orlando, FL |
| 181 | University Of South Alabama | Mobile, AL |
| 182 | Gardner Webb University | Boiling Springs, NC |
| 183 | Shepherd University | Shepherdstown, WV |
| 184 | Berea College | Berea, KY |
| 185 | Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL |
| 186 | Florida State College At Jacksonville | Jacksonville, FL |
| 187 | Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA |
| 188 | Arkansas State University Newport | Newport, AR |
| 189 | Emory And Henry College | Emory, VA |
| 190 | Indian River State College | Fort Pierce, FL |
| 191 | Arkansas State University Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR |
| 192 | Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach, FL |
| 193 | University Of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR |
| 194 | American Public University System | Charles Town, WV |
These 64 colleges rank #195 through #258 of 1,288 in the Southeast Region. These colleges also performed well in our Best Colleges ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 245 | Georgetown College | Georgetown, KY |
| 246 | William Carey University | Hattiesburg, MS |
| 247 | River Parishes Community College | Gonzales, LA |
| 248 | John A Gupton College | Nashville, TN |
| 249 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome, GA |
| 250 | Owensboro Community And Technical College | Owensboro, KY |
| 251 | Averett University | Danville, VA |
| 252 | Georgia Southwestern State University | Americus, GA |
| 253 | Maryville College | Maryville, TN |
| 254 | State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota | Bradenton, FL |
| 255 | Saint John Vianney College Seminary | Miami, FL |
| 256 | Germanna Community College | Locust Grove, VA |
| 257 | Xavier University Of Louisiana | New Orleans, LA |
| 258 | Galen Health Institutes Nashville Campus | Nashville, TN |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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.
