by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. This list highlights 1397 schools by economic diversity in Southeast, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the economic backgrounds of the student body (the mix of income levels). To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 1397 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Diversity means different things to different students. Narrow your list by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? Try our tool College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Learn more about these economically diverse colleges below:
Blue Mountain Christian University earned the #1 spot in this year's Most Economically Diverse Colleges ranking in Southeast. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 49.2, with a gender-diversity score of 99.1.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock came in at #2 on this year's Most Economically Diverse Colleges ranking in Southeast. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 64.0, alongside a 95.6 gender-diversity score.
Arkansas Tech University came in at #3 on this year's Most Economically Diverse Colleges ranking in Southeast. Arkansas Tech University scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 45.3, with a gender-diversity score of 98.0.
Lotus Professional College earned the #4 place in Southeast. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 59.6, with a gender-diversity score of 30.1.
Out of the 1397 colleges in Southeast in this year's ranking, Guilford College landed the #5 spot. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 67.8, and gender diversity 100.0.
UR Beauty & Barber Academy placed #6 among the most economically diverse colleges in Southeast. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100.
Charleston Cosmetology Institute ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 53.5, alongside a 24.7 gender-diversity score.
Florida Gateway College landed the #8 spot in Southeast this year. Florida Gateway College scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 44.1, alongside a 92.1 gender-diversity score.
Luther Rice College & Seminary came in at #9 in this year's ranking. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 46.8, and gender diversity 89.7.
Galen Health Institutes-Sarasota earned the #10 position in Southeast. Galen Health Institutes-Sarasota scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 66.8, and gender diversity 46.9.
Galen Health Institutes-Myrtle Beach placed #11 among the most economically diverse colleges in Southeast. Galen Health Institutes-Myrtle Beach scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 59.9, and gender diversity 39.5.
Mississippi University for Women came in at #12 in this year's ranking. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 43.3, with a gender-diversity score of 74.3.
Empire Beauty School-Nashville came in at #13 in this year's ranking. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 64.0, with a gender-diversity score of 16.3.
Kentucky Christian University landed the #14 spot in Southeast this year. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 54.4, and gender diversity 95.7.
Gateway Community and Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 38.6, and gender diversity 98.5.
Virginia Western Community College earned the #16 position in Southeast. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 54.0, with a gender-diversity score of 99.2.
West Virginia University at Parkersburg ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 17.8, with a gender-diversity score of 96.3.
West Virginia State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 52.1, with a gender-diversity score of 97.5.
Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design landed the #19 spot in Southeast this year. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100.
JT's Cuts Academy ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100.
Southern Wesleyan University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 46.9, alongside a 89.4 gender-diversity score.
Eastern Virginia Career College landed the #22 spot in Southeast this year. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 61.6, and gender diversity 35.9.
Arkansas Northeastern College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 45.8, alongside a 92.6 gender-diversity score.
Toccoa Falls College earned the #24 position in Southeast. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 52.0, alongside a 95.1 gender-diversity score.
Brunswick Community College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 47.6, alongside a 94.8 gender-diversity score.
Not far behind, these colleges also rank among the most economically diverse this year:
Click any college name below to learn more:
| Rank | College | Economic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Florida Institute of Technology-Online | 100.0 |
| 52 | Paul Mitchell the School Arkansas | 100.0 |
| 53 | Pensacola State College | 100.0 |
| 54 | Paul Mitchell the School Lexington | 100.0 |
| 55 | Baton Rouge General School of Nursing | 100.0 |
| 56 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | 100.0 |
| 57 | Pfeiffer University | 100.0 |
| 58 | St. Andrews University | 100.0 |
| 59 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College | 100.0 |
| 60 | Jefferson Community and Technical College | 100.0 |
| 61 | Morehead State University | 100.0 |
| 62 | South College | 100.0 |
| 63 | University of Memphis | 100.0 |
| 64 | Tusculum University | 100.0 |
| 65 | Louisiana State University-Eunice | 100.0 |
| Rank | College | Economic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 191 | Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus | 99.5 |
| 192 | Bridges Christian College | 99.5 |
| 193 | Chancellor Institute | 99.5 |
| 194 | Central Alabama Community College | 99.5 |
| 195 | Auburn University at Montgomery | 99.5 |
| 196 | Marion Military Institute | 99.5 |
| 197 | United States Sports University | 99.5 |
| 198 | William Carey University | 99.5 |
| 199 | Tom P Haney Technical Center | 99.5 |
| 200 | Rudy & Kelly Academy - A Paul Mitchell Partner School | 99.5 |
| 201 | Chamberlain University-Florida | 99.5 |
| 202 | South University-High Point | 99.5 |
| 203 | Trinity Baptist College | 99.5 |
| 204 | Warner University | 99.5 |
| 205 | Augusta Technical College | 99.5 |
| 206 | College of Coastal Georgia | 99.5 |
| 207 | Georgia Highlands College | 99.5 |
| 208 | Gwinnett Technical College | 99.5 |
| 209 | Piedmont Community College | 99.5 |
| 210 | Randolph Community College | 99.5 |
These colleges narrowly missed the top tiers:
| Rank | College | Economic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 211 | Sandhills Community College | 99.5 |
| 212 | Wayne Community College | 99.5 |
| 213 | Clear Creek Baptist Bible College | 99.5 |
| 214 | King University | 99.5 |
| 215 | Louisiana State University-Shreveport | 99.5 |
| 216 | Louisiana Christian University | 99.5 |
| 217 | National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay | 99.5 |
| 218 | The Salon Professional Academy - Melbourne | 99.5 |
| 219 | Sarasota School of Massage Therapy | 99.5 |
| 220 | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Lafayette-Arlington | 99.5 |
| 221 | Ben Franklin Career Center | 99.5 |
| 222 | Paul Mitchell the School Esani | 99.5 |
| 223 | Paul Mitchell the School Charleston | 99.5 |
| 224 | Boca Beauty Academy - Parkland | 99.5 |
| 225 | Technical College of the Lowcountry | 99.5 |
| Rank | College | Economic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 226 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | 99.5 |
| 227 | Meridian College | 99.5 |
| 228 | Georgia State University-Perimeter College | 99.5 |
| 229 | ECPI University | 99.5 |
| 230 | River Parishes Community College | 99.5 |
| 231 | Chester Career College | 99.5 |
| 232 | Arkansas State University-Beebe | 99.3 |
| 233 | Williams Baptist University | 99.3 |
| 234 | South Arkansas College | 99.3 |
| 235 | Thomas University | 99.3 |
| 236 | Valdosta State University | 99.3 |
| 237 | University of West Georgia | 99.3 |
| 238 | Blue Ridge Community College | 99.3 |
| 239 | Central Carolina Community College | 99.3 |
| 240 | Gaston College | 99.3 |
| 241 | Guilford Technical Community College | 99.3 |
| 242 | Heritage Bible College | 99.3 |
| 243 | Nash Community College | 99.3 |
| 244 | Ogeechee Technical College | 99.3 |
| 245 | Centura College-Norfolk | 99.3 |
| Rank | College | Economic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 246 | Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill | 99.3 |
| 247 | Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound | 99.3 |
| 248 | Summit Salon Academy - Gainesville | 99.3 |
| 249 | Florida Institute of Recording Sound and Technology | 99.3 |
| 250 | The Salon Professional Academy - Huntsville | 99.3 |
| 251 | The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics | 99.3 |
| 252 | Academy of Cosmetology | 99.3 |
| 253 | Barry University | 99.3 |
| 254 | Florida SouthWestern State College | 99.3 |
| 255 | Indian River State College | 99.3 |
| 256 | Athens State University | 99.3 |
| 257 | Oakwood University | 99.3 |
| 258 | Holmes Community College | 99.3 |
| 259 | Southeastern Baptist College | 99.3 |
| 260 | George T Baker Aviation Technical College | 99.3 |
| 261 | Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers | 99.3 |
| 262 | Loraines Academy & Spa | 99.3 |
| 263 | LeGrand Institute of Cosmetology Inc | 99.3 |
| 264 | Georgia Gwinnett College | 99.3 |
| 265 | Miami Dade College | 99.3 |
| Rank | College | Economic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 266 | Palm Beach State College | 99.3 |
| 267 | St. Thomas University | 99.3 |
| 268 | Dalton State College | 99.3 |
| 269 | Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service | 99.3 |
| 270 | Morehouse College | 99.3 |
| 271 | Pineville Beauty School | 99.3 |
| 272 | Alamance Community College | 99.3 |
| 273 | Vance-Granville Community College | 99.3 |
| 274 | Eastern Kentucky University | 99.3 |
| 275 | Southwest Tennessee Community College | 99.3 |
| 276 | Centenary College of Louisiana | 99.3 |
| 277 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 99.3 |
| 278 | Xavier University of Louisiana | 99.3 |
| 279 | Marshall University | 99.3 |
| 280 | Potomac State College of West Virginia University | 99.3 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the economic backgrounds of the student body (the mix of income levels). The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
