The Consensus Best Regional Universities-South uses the College Consensus method to guide students to the regional institutions that have made their mark, in both published rankings, and in students’ reviews. As an aggregate ranking, the Consensus helps students see the big picture, pulling together rankings and reviews from all over the internet to rank the South’s most-loved and most trusted universities.
How Do We Rank the Best Regional Universities in the South?
The College Consensus is made up of two broad categories. For the Publisher Rating, we gather all of a school’s published rankings from sites including The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, and Wallethub, for a full picture of rankings. For the Student Review Rating, we comb reputable review sites like Unigo and Niche for all of the reviews a school has earned. We then combine those scores for the overall College Consensus.
The Consensus Best Regional Universities-South applies this method to the Southern universities classified as having a regional mission. These are Carnegie Classification master’s universities that offer undergraduate and graduate programs that have a primarily regional, rather than national, reach. These are the universities training the South’s professional workforce, from healthcare to business, and often doing it at an affordable cost. The best regional universities are a crucial part of life in the South, especially for rural areas.
What’s Different About the College Consensus Ranking?
Since the College Consensus gets its numbers from a variety of sources, a Consensus ranking is the most comprehensive, least biased out there. Our method makes sure that all the players in higher education get their say – not just administrators, faculty, and expert observers, but the students on the ground and online actually experiencing it. That means the College Consensus is a ranking all its own, giving future and current students a unique perspective on the higher education scene. Read more about our rankings methodology and sources at our about page.
The Consensus Best Regional Universities-South are listed in descending order by their Consensus score. In the event of ties, schools are ranked in alphabetical order with the same rank number.
1
Rollins College
75.8
College Consensus
77.8
Publisher Consensus
73.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
2
Elon University
75.2
College Consensus
72.7
Publisher Consensus
77.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
3
Samford University
71.8
College Consensus
68.7
Publisher Consensus
74.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
4
James Madison University
71.7
College Consensus
65.1
Publisher Consensus
78.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
5
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
71.1
College Consensus
72.6
Publisher Consensus
69.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
6
Stetson University
71.1
College Consensus
70
Publisher Consensus
72.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
7
John Brown University
71
College Consensus
61.9
Publisher Consensus
80.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
8
Loyola University New Orleans
69.5
College Consensus
60.7
Publisher Consensus
78.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
9
Appalachian State University
69.1
College Consensus
60.6
Publisher Consensus
77.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
10
Berry College
68.8
College Consensus
63.2
Publisher Consensus
74.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
11
Christopher Newport University
67
College Consensus
60.7
Publisher Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
12
Belmont University
66.9
College Consensus
61.6
Publisher Consensus
72.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
13
College of Charleston
66.8
College Consensus
59.3
Publisher Consensus
74.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
14
Asbury University
66.7
College Consensus
57.1
Publisher Consensus
76.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
15
University of North Carolina Wilmington
66.2
College Consensus
57
Publisher Consensus
75.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
16
Converse College
65.6
College Consensus
60.8
Publisher Consensus
70.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
17
Harding University
65.6
College Consensus
56.9
Publisher Consensus
74.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
18
Columbia International University
65.1
College Consensus
57.3
Publisher Consensus
72.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
19
Eastern Mennonite University
64.9
College Consensus
55.6
Publisher Consensus
74.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
20
The University of Tampa
64.7
College Consensus
56.2
Publisher Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
21
Western Carolina University
64.6
College Consensus
53.1
Publisher Consensus
76.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
22
Bryan College-Dayton
64.5
College Consensus
52.1
Publisher Consensus
76.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
23
Florida Southern College
64.4
College Consensus
57.2
Publisher Consensus
71.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
24
Mississippi University for Women
64.4
College Consensus
51.7
Publisher Consensus
77.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
25
Xavier University of Louisiana
64.2
College Consensus
57.5
Publisher Consensus
70.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
26
Bellarmine University
64.1
College Consensus
59
Publisher Consensus
69.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
27
Queens University of Charlotte
64
College Consensus
58.1
Publisher Consensus
70
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
28
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
63.9
College Consensus
66.6
Publisher Consensus
61.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
29
Piedmont College
63.7
College Consensus
54.3
Publisher Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
30
Columbia College (SC)
63.6
College Consensus
52.7
Publisher Consensus
74.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
31
William Carey University
63.5
College Consensus
53
Publisher Consensus
74
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
32
Lincoln Memorial University
63.4
College Consensus
53.6
Publisher Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
33
University of Mary Washington
63
College Consensus
55.6
Publisher Consensus
70.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
34
Brenau University
62.9
College Consensus
54.4
Publisher Consensus
71.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
35
University of West Alabama
62.7
College Consensus
51.7
Publisher Consensus
73.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
36
University of Lynchburg
62.6
College Consensus
55
Publisher Consensus
70.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
37
Campbell University
62.6
College Consensus
55.5
Publisher Consensus
69.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
38
Longwood University
62.2
College Consensus
53.2
Publisher Consensus
71.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
39
Wheeling Jesuit University
62.1
College Consensus
57.8
Publisher Consensus
66.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
40
Winthrop University
62
College Consensus
53.4
Publisher Consensus
70.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
41
University of North Florida
61.7
College Consensus
51.8
Publisher Consensus
71.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
42
Mississippi College
61.6
College Consensus
54.4
Publisher Consensus
68.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
43
University of South Florida-St Petersburg
61.5
College Consensus
44.8
Publisher Consensus
78.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
44
Georgia College & State University
61.3
College Consensus
50.7
Publisher Consensus
71.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
45
West Virginia Wesleyan College
61.2
College Consensus
50.6
Publisher Consensus
71.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
46
Mary Baldwin University
61.1
College Consensus
55.8
Publisher Consensus
66.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
47
Western Kentucky University
61.1
College Consensus
50.1
Publisher Consensus
72
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
48
Hampton University
60.9
College Consensus
58.5
Publisher Consensus
63.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
49
Freed-Hardeman University
60.9
College Consensus
50.3
Publisher Consensus
71.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
50
Radford University
60.8
College Consensus
48.8
Publisher Consensus
72.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
51
Thomas More College
60.7
College Consensus
47
Publisher Consensus
74.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
52
Murray State University
60.7
College Consensus
47.7
Publisher Consensus
73.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
53
Wingate University
60.7
College Consensus
49.9
Publisher Consensus
71.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
54
The University of Tennessee-Martin
60.6
College Consensus
44.4
Publisher Consensus
76.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
55
Palm Beach Atlantic University
60.5
College Consensus
48.6
Publisher Consensus
72.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
56
Carson-Newman University
60.5
College Consensus
50
Publisher Consensus
71
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
57
Lee University
60.5
College Consensus
45.9
Publisher Consensus
75.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
58
Alcorn State University
60.2
College Consensus
44.7
Publisher Consensus
75.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
59
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
60.2
College Consensus
44.8
Publisher Consensus
75.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
60
Montreat College
60
College Consensus
43.7
Publisher Consensus
76.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
61
University of Montevallo
59.9
College Consensus
48.4
Publisher Consensus
71.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
62
Jacksonville State University
59.8
College Consensus
42.6
Publisher Consensus
77
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
63
Anderson University (SC)
59.8
College Consensus
43.7
Publisher Consensus
75.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
64
St Thomas University
59.5
College Consensus
49.5
Publisher Consensus
69.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
65
Coastal Carolina University
59.5
College Consensus
45.4
Publisher Consensus
73.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
66
University of North Georgia
59.4
College Consensus
51.8
Publisher Consensus
67.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
67
Elizabeth City State University
59.4
College Consensus
50.1
Publisher Consensus
68.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
68
North Greenville University
59.2
College Consensus
44.2
Publisher Consensus
74.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
69
Florida Gulf Coast University
59.1
College Consensus
46.3
Publisher Consensus
71.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
70
University of North Alabama
58.8
College Consensus
43.9
Publisher Consensus
73.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
71
Southern Adventist University
58.8
College Consensus
47.7
Publisher Consensus
69.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
72
University of Charleston
58.7
College Consensus
47.6
Publisher Consensus
69.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
73
Lenoir-Rhyne University
58.6
College Consensus
44.3
Publisher Consensus
73
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
74
Arkansas State University-Main Campus
58.5
College Consensus
41.7
Publisher Consensus
75.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
75
Nicholls State University
58.4
College Consensus
39.6
Publisher Consensus
77.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
76
Tuskegee University
58.4
College Consensus
47.4
Publisher Consensus
69.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
77
Marshall University
57.9
College Consensus
46.8
Publisher Consensus
69
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
78
Morehead State University
57.7
College Consensus
43.7
Publisher Consensus
71.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
79
Marymount University
57.6
College Consensus
50.9
Publisher Consensus
64.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
80
Southeastern University
57.5
College Consensus
40.3
Publisher Consensus
74.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
81
North Carolina Central University
57.5
College Consensus
46
Publisher Consensus
68.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
82
Eastern Kentucky University
56.9
College Consensus
43.4
Publisher Consensus
70.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
83
Pfeiffer University
56.8
College Consensus
47.4
Publisher Consensus
66.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
84
University of Central Arkansas
56.8
College Consensus
42.7
Publisher Consensus
70.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
85
Virginia State University
56.8
College Consensus
43.5
Publisher Consensus
70.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
86
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
56.7
College Consensus
39.5
Publisher Consensus
73.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
87
Francis Marion University
56.3
College Consensus
42.7
Publisher Consensus
70
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
88
Henderson State University
56.3
College Consensus
38.7
Publisher Consensus
73.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
89
Winston-Salem State University
56
College Consensus
45.4
Publisher Consensus
66.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
90
Delta State University
55.9
College Consensus
40.1
Publisher Consensus
71.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
91
McNeese State University
55.7
College Consensus
42.1
Publisher Consensus
69.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
92
Austin Peay State University
55.6
College Consensus
41.3
Publisher Consensus
70
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
93
Northern Kentucky University
55.6
College Consensus
42.1
Publisher Consensus
69
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
94
Louisiana College
55.5
College Consensus
46.6
Publisher Consensus
64.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
95
Lynn University
55.3
College Consensus
41.1
Publisher Consensus
69.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
96
Methodist University
55.2
College Consensus
44.2
Publisher Consensus
66.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
97
Norfolk State University
54.8
College Consensus
38.3
Publisher Consensus
71.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
98
Auburn University at Montgomery
54.7
College Consensus
39.6
Publisher Consensus
69.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
99
Savannah State University
54.6
College Consensus
38.6
Publisher Consensus
70.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
100
Armstrong State University
54.5
College Consensus
39.9
Publisher Consensus
69.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
101
Charleston Southern University
54.5
College Consensus
41.7
Publisher Consensus
67.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
102
Fairmont State University
54.1
College Consensus
40.9
Publisher Consensus
67.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
103
Tusculum College
54.1
College Consensus
43.3
Publisher Consensus
64.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
104
Southern University and A & M College
53.9
College Consensus
41.4
Publisher Consensus
66.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
105
Alabama State University
53.7
College Consensus
36.2
Publisher Consensus
71.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
106
Albany State University
53.4
College Consensus
40.8
Publisher Consensus
66
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
107
Arkansas Tech University
53.3
College Consensus
34.4
Publisher Consensus
72.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
108
Cumberland University
52.7
College Consensus
41.1
Publisher Consensus
64.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
109
Columbus State University
52.5
College Consensus
40.6
Publisher Consensus
64.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
110
Concord University
52.5
College Consensus
39.1
Publisher Consensus
65.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
111
Fayetteville State University
52.4
College Consensus
41
Publisher Consensus
63.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
112
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
52.4
College Consensus
40.2
Publisher Consensus
64.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
113
Alabama A & M University
50.7
College Consensus
36.5
Publisher Consensus
65
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019