If you love warm weather and good food, the Southeast United States may be the perfect location for you to pursue your higher education! Already home to some of the oldest and most impressive schools in the country, these Southeast states are also home to some of the best “hidden gem” colleges we could find. Keep reading to see these amazing schools that tend to fall under the radar and find out why they may just be the perfect college for you.
What Is a “Hidden Gem?”
Every school on this “hidden gem” college rankings list meets the following criteria:
- Receive fewer than 5,000 applications per year
- Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students
- Offer 5 or more unique majors
- Have a 10% acceptance rate or higher
The Southeast hidden gem colleges below comes from one of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
2025 Hidden Gem Colleges in the Southeast
ALABAMA
Founded in 1841, Samford University was originally called Howard College and was converted to a military hospital during the Civil War. Today the school has an 82% acceptance rate and 91% first year retention rate. Samford offers over 60 majors, the top three of which are Registered Nursing, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Marketing.
Location
Birmingham, AL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
5,682
Spring Hill College was founded in 1830, making it the oldest college or university in Alabama, and it still resides on the same land. A number of buildings, including the Sodality Chapel, are on the National Register of Historic Places. The school is also home to the Avenue of the Oaks, an 18-hole golf course, and over 70 student clubs and organizations.
Location
Mobile, AL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,046
Alabama’s first private liberal arts HBCU, Talladega College has been serving students for over 150 years. The school’s 50-acre campus is home to several historic landmarks, one being Swayne Hall (1852). Students have over 50 clubs and organizations to choose from. Business Administration and Management is the most popular area of study.
Location
Talladega, AL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
903
ARKANSAS
Eckerd College is a liberal arts school that sits on a mile long waterfront on the Gulf Coast. The school has a 79% acceptance rate and 77% first year retention rate. Top majors for students are Marine Biology, Biological Oceanography, and Environmental Students.
Location
Saint Petersburg, FL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,993
Florida College is a liberal arts college near the heart of Tampa. The school has over 100 student events every year and 35 student organizations. 66% of applicants are accepted to the school and many will go on to major in Business Administration, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Communications.
Location
Temple Terrace, FL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
622
Ave Maria, a newer university decreed in 2003, is affiliated with the Catholic Church. The university boasts a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio as well as a 72% first year retention rate. All students who attend are offered institutional grant aid ($17,114 on average). It costs $0 to apply and 45% of applicants are accepted.
Location
Boca Raton, FL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,310
FLORIDA
Eckerd College is a liberal arts school that sits on a mile long waterfront on the Gulf Coast. The school has a 79% acceptance rate and 77% first year retention rate. Top majors for students are Marine Biology, Biological Oceanography, and Environmental Students.
Location
Saint Petersburg, FL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,993
Florida College is a liberal arts college near the heart of Tampa. The school has over 100 student events every year and 35 student organizations. 66% of applicants are accepted to the school and many will go on to major in Business Administration, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Communications.
Location
Temple Terrace, FL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
622
Ave Maria, a newer university decreed in 2003, is affiliated with the Catholic Church. The university boasts a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio as well as a 72% first year retention rate. All students who attend are offered institutional grant aid ($17,114 on average). It costs $0 to apply and 45% of applicants are accepted.
Location
Boca Raton, FL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,310
GEORGIA
One of the Seven Sisters, Agnes Scott College is a women’s undergraduate school but offers co-educational graduate programs as well. The school underwent many name changes since it was founded in 1889, starting with the Decatur Female Seminary. The school has a number of interesting long-standing traditions including Class Colors, Pestle Board, and Black Cat.
Location
Decatur, GA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,114
Affiliated with The Presbyterian Church in America, Covenant College’s motto is “In All Things Christ Preeminent.” Nearly 90% of the faculty have terminal degrees in their field and the school has a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Only about 35% of those attending the college are from Georgia, with many others coming from Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida.
Location
Lookout Mountain, GA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
886
Oglethorpe University is a small liberal arts college in the heart of Atlanta. The school boasts its "Flagship 50," a program that matches flagship tuition for every state. Oglethorpe has a 60% acceptance rate, 76% first year retention rate, and 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Location
Atlanta, GA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,491
KENTUCKY
Centre College’s motto is “Doctrina Lux Mentis,” or “Learning is the Light of the Mind.” The college accepts 54% of applicants and there is a $0 application fee. The school's top majors are Economics, Psychology, Biology, Physiological Psychology, and International/Global Studies.
Location
Danville, KY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,357
It may not surprise you that Transylvania University’s school color is crimson or that its mascot is a bat. Additionally, Halloween is a big deal at this school ending in a tradition called Pumpkinmania. This liberal arts college has a Latin motto, “In Lumine Illo Tradimus Lumen” which means “In That Light, We Pass on the Light.” The school has an 85% acceptance rate and it is free to apply.
Location
Lexington, KY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
979
Bellarmine University, a liberal arts college, offers students over 50 undergraduate majors, the most popular of which is Registered Nursing. The school accepts 94% of applicants and there is a $0 application fee. Almost all students who attend will receive institutional aid.
Location
Louisville, KY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,970
LOUISIANA
The Centenary College of Louisiana is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River, having been founded in 1885 originally as the College of Louisiana. Students get to experience the 65-acre campus which has over 300 species of plant life. Top majors for students include Biology, Business Administration, and Psychology.
Location
Shreveport, LA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
556
Just under 82% of the student body at the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University are women. Founded as Our Lady of the Lake School of Nursing in 1923, the school has held onto its roots – almost all majors are rooted in nursing, medical sciences, and health sciences. The most popular major by far is Registered Nursing.
Location
Baton Rouge, LA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,228
Located along the Bayou Lafourche, Nicholls State University was founded in 1948. A whopping 92% of incoming students are from Louisiana. Alumni of NSU have gone on to become notable professional athletes, politicians, entertainers, and academics. Red and gray are the official colors of the NSU Colonels sports teams.
Location
Thibodaux, LA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
5,883
MISSISSIPPI
A very small school, Millsaps College was founded in 1890. The college has produced several notable alumni including Johnny Carson, Vic Roby, and Gary Burghoff, among others. Students attending Millsaps will often visit “The Bowl” where Homecoming activities, concerts, and other events are held. Offering over 40 majors, Business Administration and Biology are the most popular.
Location
Jackson, MS
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
661
Mississippi College is the second oldest Baptist-affiliated higher education school in the United States. It’s also the oldest college in the state, predating the Civil War. The school accepts 49% of applicants and it is free to apply. The top two majors for students are Registered Nursing and Kinesiology and Exercise Science.
Location
Clinton, MS
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,946
This liberal arts university was founded in 1892 as a boarding school but became a coeducational school in 1954. Today it offers up to doctoral degrees. William Carey University, set on 170 acres, has a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and 79% first year retention rate, and 58% acceptance rate. Registered Nursing, Elementary Education and Teaching, and Biology are the most popular majors at WCU.
Location
Hattiesburg, MS
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
5,662
NORTH CAROLINA
A women’s college, Meredith offers nearly 40 different majors. Biology, Psychology, and Interior Design are the most popular of them. Just under 80% of the incoming class call North Carolina home, with other students coming from neighboring states. Meredith College also has a whole range of traditions, mentoring opportunities, and programs.
Location
Raleigh, NC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,587
Queens University of Charlotte was originally an all female school when founded in 1857. Today, a majority of students are women (64% of undergraduates). 99% of those who attend receive institutional grants from the school ($27,121 on average per student). The university also offers scholarships, including athletic scholarships for the Royals.
Location
Charlotte, NC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,873
Salem College is an all women's college founded in 1772. The school accepts 87% of applicants and it costs $0 to apply. Salem College has a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and top major for students are Biology, Business Administration, and Biochemistry.
Location
Winston-Salem, NC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
469
SOUTH CAROLINA
Founded in 1854, Wofford College is one of the few southeastern schools that was founded prior to the American Civil War that still exists today. The school has an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an 89% freshman retention rate. Wofford has a terrier for a mascot and students wear old gold and black in support of Wofford.
Location
Spartanburg, SC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,823
Often referred to as simply the Citadel, this school has a patriotic motto of “Honor, Duty, Respect.” Its campus is located on the Ashley River. Though a military college, the most popular majors include Business/Commerce, Intelligence, Mechanical Engineering, and Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. The school colors are Citadel blue, navy, and white.
Location
Charleston, SC
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
3,721
Anderson University, a Christian college, focuses on four pillars of distinction - great academics, great faith, great hospitality, and great purpose. The school has a 53% acceptance rate, 81% first year retention rate, and 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Top majors for students are Registered Nursing and Business Administration.
Location
Anderson, SC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
4,121
TENNESSEE
Cardinal and Cream aren’t just Union University’s colors; it’s the name of the campus paper. The university accepts 47% of students, a majority of which are from Tennessee (62%). Union has an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 84% first year retention rate. Almost all students attending the university receive institutional financial aid.
Location
Jackson, TN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,731
Freed-Hardeman University is a 150-year-old Christian based institution whose motto is “Truth, Beauty, and Wisdom”. The school has a 91% acceptance rate and it costs $0 to apply. Registered Nursing is by far the most sought-after major followed by Bible/Biblical Studies and Health and Physical Education/Fitness
Location
Henderson, TN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,330
Lipscomb University is an NCAA Division I college and part of the ASUN Conference. The school has a 67% acceptance rate, 84% first year retention rate, and 13:1 student-to-faculty ration. Top majors for students include Registered Nursing, Psychology, and Business Administration.
Location
Nashville, TN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
4,704
VIRGINIA
A newer school, founded in 2000, Patrick Henry College follows a Christian Liberal Arts approach to its curriculum. PHC has an 82% acceptance rate and it costs $50 to apply. 98% of attending students receive some sort of grant or institutional aid. Political Science and Government and Strategic Intelligence are the most popular majors.
Location
Purcellville, VA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
409
Abraham Lincoln once called VMI the “West Point of the South.” This military college is located on the Maury River in the Shenandoah Valley. Red, yellow, and white make up the official colors of the VMI Keydets sports teams. VMI has an acceptance rate of 82% (and $0 application fee), a first-year retention rate of 82%, and a six-year graduation rate of 82%.
Location
Lexington, VA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
1,512
Randolph-Macon College is located right outside the capital city of Virginia, Richmond. The school accepts 83% of students and 99% of those who attend will receive institutional grants ($28,093 per student on average). Almost 500 athletes are known as the Yellow Jackets (appropriately wearing black and lemon) and compete in the NCAA Division III with football.
Location
Ashland, VA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,490
WEST VIRGINIA
Offering over 60 undergraduate programs, the most popular majors at West Liberty University include Business Administration and Management, General Studies, and Biology. It is actually the oldest institution of higher education in West Virginia – founded in 1837. Black and gold are the colors of the WLU Hilltoppers. A majority of students come from its home state (61%), but many others are from surrounding states.
Location
West Liberty, WV
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
2,315
Shepherd University is set on 323-acres by the Potomac River. Students can choose from over 80 majors or mix and match to customize their education. The school offers a variety of internship, job, study abroad opportunities. The most popular majors are Business Administration and Management, General Studies, and Registered Nursing.
Location
Shepherdstown, WV
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
3,235
West Virginia Wesleyan College is a liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The school has a 95% acceptance rate and 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The top two majors among students are Kinesiology and Exercise Science and Registered Nursing.
Location
Buckhannon, WV
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
951
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Why Consider Going to a Hidden Gem?
Almost all Hidden Gem schools are pulled from the top 33% of our own overall rankings, which takes into account things like diversity, endowment, graduation rates, and more. As a result, most of these schools on our Hidden Gems list will have solid statistics backing them up.
Here are a few reasons why these Hidden Gem schools should be on your radar:
- They tend to be less expensive, especially if you are considering a school that has a reciprocity agreement with your home state.
- They’re a sweet spot for students who want a small to mid-sized school with smaller class sizes and campuses.
- Over half the schools on this list have over a 70% acceptance rate, and only four schools on the list have under a 50% acceptance rate. That means they could be easier for your to get into!
- Not only are these in the top third of overall rankings, but 15 of the Southeast Hidden Gem colleges have $0 application fees!
- They each have at least five solid majors you can choose from.
Why is the Southeast a Great Place to Go to School?
From comfort food to warm weather to history, the Southeast has plenty to offer visitors – and students! Do you want to walk to classes in flip-flops year-round? This is the place for you. Students can study outside almost all year thanks to the pleasant weather and sunny skies.
Have some off time? Plan a trip during downtime to one of the area’s theme parks, or beautiful beaches. Or explore the many hiking trails (including the Appalachian Trail). Come winter, there is even an option of skiing in the Smoky Mountains.
For students interested in nature, marine archaeology, and history, studying in the Southeast region is one of the best locations in the US – especially for marine biology studies.
Methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
