rollins

Best Regional Universities – South
Top Consensus Ranked Schools 2019

May 28, 2019
Best Regional Universities South 2019

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
Winter Park, FL

rollins
75.8
College Consensus
77.8
Publisher Consensus
73.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

2

Elon University
Elon, NC

Elon University
75.2
College Consensus
72.7
Publisher Consensus
77.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

3

Samford University
Birmingham, AL

Samford
71.8
College Consensus
68.7
Publisher Consensus
74.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

4

James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

james madison university office
71.7
College Consensus
65.1
Publisher Consensus
78.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

5

Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC

Citadel Military College
71.1
College Consensus
72.6
Publisher Consensus
69.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

6

Stetson University
DeLand, FL

stetson
71.1
College Consensus
70
Publisher Consensus
72.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

7

John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University
71
College Consensus
61.9
Publisher Consensus
80.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

8

Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, LA

Loyola NOLA
69.5
College Consensus
60.7
Publisher Consensus
78.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

9

Appalachian State University
Boone, NC

App state
69.1
College Consensus
60.6
Publisher Consensus
77.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

10

Berry College
Mount Berry, GA

berry
68.8
College Consensus
63.2
Publisher Consensus
74.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

11

Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA

Christopher Newport University
67
College Consensus
60.7
Publisher Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

12

Belmont University
Nashville, TN

Belmont University
66.9
College Consensus
61.6
Publisher Consensus
72.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

13

College of Charleston
Charleston, SC

College of Charleston
66.8
College Consensus
59.3
Publisher Consensus
74.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

14

Asbury University
Wilmore, KY

Asbury University
66.7
College Consensus
57.1
Publisher Consensus
76.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

15

University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC

unc Wilmington
66.2
College Consensus
57
Publisher Consensus
75.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

16

Converse College
Spartanburg, SC

Converse College
65.6
College Consensus
60.8
Publisher Consensus
70.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

17

Harding University
Searcy, AR

Harding U
65.6
College Consensus
56.9
Publisher Consensus
74.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

18

Columbia International University
Columbia, SC

CIU library
65.1
College Consensus
57.3
Publisher Consensus
72.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

19

Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA

Eastern Mennonite University
64.9
College Consensus
55.6
Publisher Consensus
74.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

20

The University of Tampa
Tampa, FL

University of Tampa
64.7
College Consensus
56.2
Publisher Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

21

Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC

WCU
64.6
College Consensus
53.1
Publisher Consensus
76.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

22

Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton, TN

Bryan College Dayton
64.5
College Consensus
52.1
Publisher Consensus
76.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

23

Florida Southern College
Lakeland, FL

florida southern
64.4
College Consensus
57.2
Publisher Consensus
71.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

24

Mississippi University for Women
Columbus, MS

Mississippi University Women
64.4
College Consensus
51.7
Publisher Consensus
77.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

25

Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, LA

Xavier University Louisiana
64.2
College Consensus
57.5
Publisher Consensus
70.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

26

Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY

Bellarmine University
64.1
College Consensus
59
Publisher Consensus
69.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

27

Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC

Queens University Charlotte
64
College Consensus
58.1
Publisher Consensus
70
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

28

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, FL

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
63.9
College Consensus
66.6
Publisher Consensus
61.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

29

Piedmont College
Demorest, GA

Daniel Hall Piedmont College 3
63.7
College Consensus
54.3
Publisher Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

30

Columbia College (SC)
Columbia, SC

columbia sc
63.6
College Consensus
52.7
Publisher Consensus
74.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

31

William Carey University
Hattiesburg, MS

William Carey University
63.5
College Consensus
53
Publisher Consensus
74
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

32

Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN

Lincoln Memorial University
63.4
College Consensus
53.6
Publisher Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

33

University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA

UMW
63
College Consensus
55.6
Publisher Consensus
70.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

34

Brenau University
Gainesville, GA

Brenau University
62.9
College Consensus
54.4
Publisher Consensus
71.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

35

University of West Alabama
Livingston, AL

university west alabama
62.7
College Consensus
51.7
Publisher Consensus
73.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

36

University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, VA

Lynchburg college campus
62.6
College Consensus
55
Publisher Consensus
70.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

37

Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC

Campbell University
62.6
College Consensus
55.5
Publisher Consensus
69.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

38

Longwood University
Farmville, VA

Longwood University
62.2
College Consensus
53.2
Publisher Consensus
71.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

39

Wheeling Jesuit University
Wheeling, WV

Wheeling Jesuit University
62.1
College Consensus
57.8
Publisher Consensus
66.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

40

Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC

Winthrop
62
College Consensus
53.4
Publisher Consensus
70.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

41

University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL

University North Florida
61.7
College Consensus
51.8
Publisher Consensus
71.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

42

Mississippi College
Clinton, MS

Mississippi College
61.6
College Consensus
54.4
Publisher Consensus
68.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

43

University of South Florida-St Petersburg
St. Petersburg, FL

usf st petersburg
61.5
College Consensus
44.8
Publisher Consensus
78.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

44

Georgia College & State University
Milledgeville, GA

GCSU
61.3
College Consensus
50.7
Publisher Consensus
71.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

45

West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, WV

West Virginia Wesleyan College
61.2
College Consensus
50.6
Publisher Consensus
71.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

46

Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, VA

Mary Baldwin College
61.1
College Consensus
55.8
Publisher Consensus
66.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

47

Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY

WKU
61.1
College Consensus
50.1
Publisher Consensus
72
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

48

Hampton University
Hampton, VA

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
60.9
College Consensus
58.5
Publisher Consensus
63.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

49

Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN

Freed Hardeman University
60.9
College Consensus
50.3
Publisher Consensus
71.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

50

Radford University
Radford, VA

60.8
College Consensus
48.8
Publisher Consensus
72.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

51

Thomas More College
Crestview Hills, KY

Thomas More college
60.7
College Consensus
47
Publisher Consensus
74.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

52

Murray State University
Murray, KY

Murray State University
60.7
College Consensus
47.7
Publisher Consensus
73.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

53

Wingate University
Wingate, NC

wingate
60.7
College Consensus
49.9
Publisher Consensus
71.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

54

The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN

UT Martin
60.6
College Consensus
44.4
Publisher Consensus
76.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

55

Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach, FL

Palm Beach Atlantic University
60.5
College Consensus
48.6
Publisher Consensus
72.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

56

Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN

Carson Newman University
60.5
College Consensus
50
Publisher Consensus
71
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

57

Lee University
Cleveland, TN

Lee University
60.5
College Consensus
45.9
Publisher Consensus
75.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

58

Alcorn State University
Alcorn State, MS

Alcorn State University
60.2
College Consensus
44.7
Publisher Consensus
75.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

59

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN

University Tennessee Chattanooga
60.2
College Consensus
44.8
Publisher Consensus
75.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

60

Montreat College
Montreat, NC

montreat
60
College Consensus
43.7
Publisher Consensus
76.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

61

University of Montevallo
Montevallo, AL

University Montevallo
59.9
College Consensus
48.4
Publisher Consensus
71.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

62

Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, AL

Jacksonville State University
59.8
College Consensus
42.6
Publisher Consensus
77
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

63

Anderson University (SC)
Anderson, SC

Anderson University sc
59.8
College Consensus
43.7
Publisher Consensus
75.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

64

St Thomas University
Miami Gardens, FL

St Thomas University
59.5
College Consensus
49.5
Publisher Consensus
69.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

65

Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC

Coastal Carolina University
59.5
College Consensus
45.4
Publisher Consensus
73.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

66

University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA

UNGjpg
59.4
College Consensus
51.8
Publisher Consensus
67.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

67

Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC

ECSU
59.4
College Consensus
50.1
Publisher Consensus
68.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

68

North Greenville University
Tigerville, SC

North Greenville University
59.2
College Consensus
44.2
Publisher Consensus
74.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

69

Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL

Florida Gulf Coast University
59.1
College Consensus
46.3
Publisher Consensus
71.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

70

University of North Alabama
Florence, AL

University of North Alabama
58.8
College Consensus
43.9
Publisher Consensus
73.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

71

Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN

58.8
College Consensus
47.7
Publisher Consensus
69.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

72

University of Charleston
Charleston, WV

university charleston wv
58.7
College Consensus
47.6
Publisher Consensus
69.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

73

Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC

lenoir rhyne university
58.6
College Consensus
44.3
Publisher Consensus
73
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

74

Arkansas State University-Main Campus
Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas State University
58.5
College Consensus
41.7
Publisher Consensus
75.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

75

Nicholls State University
Thibodaux, LA

nicholls state
58.4
College Consensus
39.6
Publisher Consensus
77.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

76

Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University
58.4
College Consensus
47.4
Publisher Consensus
69.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

77

Marshall University
Huntington, WV

Marshall University
57.9
College Consensus
46.8
Publisher Consensus
69
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

78

Morehead State University
Morehead, KY

Morehead State University
57.7
College Consensus
43.7
Publisher Consensus
71.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

79

Marymount University
Arlington, VA

Marymount
57.6
College Consensus
50.9
Publisher Consensus
64.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

80

Southeastern University
Lakeland, FL

57.5
College Consensus
40.3
Publisher Consensus
74.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

81

North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC

NC Central
57.5
College Consensus
46
Publisher Consensus
68.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

82

Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY

Eastern Kentucky University
56.9
College Consensus
43.4
Publisher Consensus
70.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

83

Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, NC

Pfeiffer University
56.8
College Consensus
47.4
Publisher Consensus
66.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

84

University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR

University central arkansas
56.8
College Consensus
42.7
Publisher Consensus
70.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

85

Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA

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
Pembroke, NC

UNC pembroke
56.7
College Consensus
39.5
Publisher Consensus
73.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

87

Francis Marion University
Florence, SC

Francis Marion University
56.3
College Consensus
42.7
Publisher Consensus
70
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

88

Henderson State University
Arkadelphia, AR

Henderson State
56.3
College Consensus
38.7
Publisher Consensus
73.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

89

Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem, NC

Winston Salem State University
56
College Consensus
45.4
Publisher Consensus
66.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

90

Delta State University
Cleveland, MS

delta state university
55.9
College Consensus
40.1
Publisher Consensus
71.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

91

McNeese State University
Lake Charles, LA

mcneese
55.7
College Consensus
42.1
Publisher Consensus
69.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

92

Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN

Austin Peay State University
55.6
College Consensus
41.3
Publisher Consensus
70
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

93

Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY

Northern Kentucky University
55.6
College Consensus
42.1
Publisher Consensus
69
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

94

Louisiana College
Pineville, LA

Louisiana College
55.5
College Consensus
46.6
Publisher Consensus
64.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

95

Lynn University
Boca Raton, FL

Lynn University
55.3
College Consensus
41.1
Publisher Consensus
69.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

96

Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC

Methodist University
55.2
College Consensus
44.2
Publisher Consensus
66.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

97

Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VA

54.8
College Consensus
38.3
Publisher Consensus
71.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

98

Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery, AL

Auburn University Montgomery
54.7
College Consensus
39.6
Publisher Consensus
69.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

99

Savannah State University
Savannah, GA

savannah state
54.6
College Consensus
38.6
Publisher Consensus
70.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

100

Armstrong State University
Savannah, GA

armstrong state university
54.5
College Consensus
39.9
Publisher Consensus
69.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

101

Charleston Southern University
Charleston, SC

Charleston Southern University
54.5
College Consensus
41.7
Publisher Consensus
67.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

102

Fairmont State University
Fairmont, WV

54.1
College Consensus
40.9
Publisher Consensus
67.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

103

Tusculum College
Greeneville, TN

Tusculum College
54.1
College Consensus
43.3
Publisher Consensus
64.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

104

Southern University and A & M College
Baton Rouge, LA

southern university a m college
53.9
College Consensus
41.4
Publisher Consensus
66.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

105

Alabama State University
Montgomery, AL

alabama state university
53.7
College Consensus
36.2
Publisher Consensus
71.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

106

Albany State University
Albany, GA

Albany State University
53.4
College Consensus
40.8
Publisher Consensus
66
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

107

Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR

arkansas tech university
53.3
College Consensus
34.4
Publisher Consensus
72.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

108

Cumberland University
Lebanon, TN

Cumberland University
52.7
College Consensus
41.1
Publisher Consensus
64.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

109

Columbus State University
Columbus, GA

Columbus State University
52.5
College Consensus
40.6
Publisher Consensus
64.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

110

Concord University
Athens, WV

52.5
College Consensus
39.1
Publisher Consensus
65.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

111

Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, NC

52.4
College Consensus
41
Publisher Consensus
63.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

112

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Magnolia, AR

southern arkansas university
52.4
College Consensus
40.2
Publisher Consensus
64.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

113

Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL

AAMU ChambersScibldg
50.7
College Consensus
36.5
Publisher Consensus
65
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019