2023 Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 343 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones offered the best bachelor's degree programs for students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Duke University to be the best school for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Southeast Region .
The average tuition and fees at Duke is $60,244. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,049 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Duke does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 99% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Washington and Lee University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list.
If you want to attend Washington and Lee, expect to pay an average of $59,380 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $19,229 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list.
Full-time students from Georgia pay an average of $12,852 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Georgia Tech. Out-of-state students pay an average of $33,964. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,699 in student loans.
Georgia Tech does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Wake Forest University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
If you want to attend Wake Forest University, expect to pay an average of $59,770 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,222 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Wake Forest University. In fact, around 98% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Vanderbilt University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average tuition and fees at Vanderbilt is $56,966. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,392 in student loans.
Vanderbilt does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 98% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #6, University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Students from Virginia who attend University of Virginia full time pay an average of $19,785 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $54,438. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $18,266 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since University of Virginia does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Elon University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
Elon does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $38,725. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Elon accumulate an average of $17,558 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Virginia Military Institute ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at VMI is $19,670. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $48,324. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,707 in student loans.
Columbia Southern University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
If you want to attend Columbia Southern University, expect to pay an average of $5,775 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Columbia Southern University accumulate an average of $30,528 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, Columbia Southern University is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Virginia Tech came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
Full-time students from Virginia pay an average of $14,174 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Virginia Tech. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $33,857. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $21,875 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Virginia Tech. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $9,028 in tuition and fees if they attend UNC Chapel Hill full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $36,891. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,347 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that UNC Chapel Hill does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 99% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
American Public University System came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $7,360 to cover tuition and fees at American Military University. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $28,030 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, American Military University is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Emory University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list.
Emory does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $55,468. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $19,081 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Emory. In fact, around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
University of Charleston ranked #14 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $21,450 to cover tuition and fees at UC. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UC accumulate an average of $22,923 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 80% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
William & Mary landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at William & Mary is $23,812. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $47,038. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $18,131 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at William & Mary, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 97% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #16, University of Richmond did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $20,430 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Sewanee - The University of the South landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
If you want to attend Sewanee, expect to pay an average of $49,418 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Sewanee does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 86% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #18, James Madison University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Students from Virginia who attend JMU full time pay an average of $12,638 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $29,564. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $20,564 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at JMU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 98% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Randolph - Macon College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #19 on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $45,150 to cover tuition and fees at Randolph - Macon. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,303 in student loans.
Herzing University - Birmingham did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list.
Herzing University - Birmingham does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $14,200. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $41,451 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Herzing University - Birmingham does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
North Carolina State University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $9,131 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NC State. Out-of-state students pay an average of $29,916. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,305 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NC State. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Florida landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UF is $6,381. Out-of-state students pay an average of $28,659. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UF accumulate an average of $18,875 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UF does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 99% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
University of Florida-Online landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
Students from Florida who attend UF Online full time pay an average of $3,876 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $16,579. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,514 in student loans.
Since UF Online is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Herzing University - Kenner ranked #24 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list.
The average tuition and fees at Herzing University - Kenner is $14,200. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $41,451 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Herzing University - Kenner does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 92% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Georgia landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
Full-time students from Georgia pay an average of $12,068 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UGA. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $31,108. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $21,296 in loans while pursuing their degree.
UGA does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 15% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of South Carolina - Columbia | Columbia, SC |
| 52 | Spelman College | Atlanta, GA |
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL |
| 54 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL |
| 55 | Thomas More University | Crestview Hills, KY |
| 56 | Harding University | Searcy, AR |
| 57 | Samford University | Birmingham, AL |
| 58 | Strayer University - Virginia | Arlington, VA |
| 59 | Lipscomb University | Nashville, TN |
| 60 | University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, GA |
| 61 | Covenant College | Lookout Mountain, GA |
| 62 | Florida Institute of Technology - Online | Melbourne, FL |
| 63 | Strayer University - North Carolina | Morrisville, NC |
| 64 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC |
| 65 | Florida Polytechnic University | Lakeland, FL |
| 66 | Athens State University | Athens, AL |
| 67 | John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR |
| 68 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | Baton Rouge, LA |
| 69 | West Virginia University Institute of Technology | Beckley, WV |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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