Most selective colleges in East South Central
50 colleges ranked by acceptance rate
These 50 most selective colleges in East South Central, ranked by acceptance rate, run from 6% at Vanderbilt University to 73% at University of Mobile. 8 are public and 42 are private.
| # | College | Type | Acceptance | Avg SAT | Net price / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | Private | 6% | 1,550 | $19,040 |
| 2 | Alcorn State University Alcorn State, MS | Public | 25% | 1,039 | $14,040 |
| 3 | Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL | Private | 31% | 1,121 | $32,977 |
| 4 | Berea College Berea, KY | Private | 33% | 1,248 | $4,483 |
| 5 | Brescia University Owensboro, KY | Private | 35% | — | $14,626 |
| 6 | Rust College Holly Springs, MS | Private | 35% | — | $8,751 |
| 7 | United States Sports University Daphne, AL | Private | 35% | — | — |
| 8 | Nossi College of Art and Design Nashville, TN | Private | 43% | — | $23,591 |
| 9 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN | Public | 46% | 1,304 | $18,109 |
| 10 | Union University Jackson, TN | Private | 47% | 1,243 | $26,815 |
| 11 | Mississippi College Clinton, MS | Private | 49% | 1,120 | $20,911 |
| 12 | Millsaps College Jackson, MS | Private | 49% | — | $25,291 |
| 13 | Rhodes College Memphis, TN | Private | 50% | 1,385 | $25,060 |
| 14 | Auburn University Auburn, AL | Public | 50% | 1,318 | $23,897 |
| 15 | Oakwood University Huntsville, AL | Private | 51% | — | $23,384 |
| 16 | The University of the South Sewanee, TN | Private | 51% | 1,336 | $27,498 |
| 17 | Mississippi Valley State University Itta Bena, MS | Public | 51% | 910 | $11,812 |
| 18 | Birmingham-Southern College Birmingham, AL | Private | 52% | 1,197 | $23,351 |
| 19 | Tougaloo College Tougaloo, MS | Private | 53% | — | $15,663 |
| 20 | Belhaven University Jackson, MS | Private | 53% | 1,050 | $22,078 |
| 21 | Johnson University Knoxville, TN | Private | 54% | 1,072 | $20,303 |
| 22 | University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL | Public | 54% | — | $17,053 |
| 23 | Centre College Danville, KY | Private | 54% | 1,345 | $21,497 |
| 24 | King University Bristol, TN | Private | 54% | — | $23,508 |
| 25 | Union Commonwealth University Barbourville, KY | Private | 55% | 965 | $23,906 |
| 26 | Fisk University Nashville, TN | Private | 58% | 1,236 | $26,135 |
| 27 | William Carey University Hattiesburg, MS | Private | 58% | 1,120 | $17,052 |
| 28 | Spring Hill College Mobile, AL | Private | 59% | 1,090 | $19,514 |
| 29 | Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN | Private | 59% | 1,093 | $17,999 |
| 30 | Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, TN | Private | 59% | 1,051 | $14,879 |
| 31 | Tusculum University Greeneville, TN | Private | 60% | — | $22,874 |
| 32 | Kentucky Christian University Grayson, KY | Private | 62% | 1,044 | $22,139 |
| 33 | Asbury University Wilmore, KY | Private | 64% | — | $20,428 |
| 34 | University of South Alabama Mobile, AL | Public | 65% | 1,119 | $15,142 |
| 35 | Maryville College Maryville, TN | Private | 66% | 1,181 | $20,986 |
| 36 | Faulkner University Montgomery, AL | Private | 66% | 1,016 | $21,165 |
| 37 | Alabama A & M University Normal, AL | Public | 66% | 947 | $14,559 |
| 38 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TN | Private | 67% | 1,116 | $24,334 |
| 39 | Lipscomb University Nashville, TN | Private | 67% | 1,248 | $25,610 |
| 40 | Cumberland University Lebanon, TN | Private | 67% | — | $18,292 |
| 41 | Kentucky Wesleyan College Owensboro, KY | Private | 67% | 1,043 | $36,431 |
| 42 | Baptist Health Sciences University Memphis, TN | Private | 68% | 1,050 | $13,401 |
| 43 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN | Public | 68% | 1,119 | $12,599 |
| 44 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, TN | Private | 68% | 1,111 | $18,661 |
| 45 | Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TN | Private | 70% | 1,090 | $14,459 |
| 46 | Milligan University Milligan, TN | Private | 70% | 1,195 | $21,131 |
| 47 | Huntingdon College Montgomery, AL | Private | 71% | 1,148 | $21,401 |
| 48 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, KY | Private | 71% | — | $11,286 |
| 49 | Lee University Cleveland, TN | Private | 72% | 1,144 | $20,399 |
| 50 | University of Mobile Mobile, AL | Private | 73% | 1,220 | $19,603 |