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Do you dream of a school known for its academic rigor, where excellence is prized and the faculty is top-notch? Perhaps you also dream of sunny skies, mild temperatures, and a lush, scenic campus. If so, you might be looking to attend a Southern Ivy. If you’ve never heard this term, don’t worry—you’re in luck. We’re here today to give you a list of schools in the South that you might consider adding to your college admissions list—the Southern Ivy League. Let’s get started!

Southern Ivy? Hidden Ivy? Public Ivy?

The original “Ivy League” term came about in the 1950s to refer to an athletic conference between eight private schools in the Northeast. Those schools include Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, and Yale. Over time, the Ivy League came to define much more than those eight schools’ sports teams. Today, you’ll often hear those words used as a shorthand to talk about universities of particular academic excellence and prestige. While it’s true that these eight institutions are prestigious, boasting low admission rates and stellar facilities, it’s important to remember that many elite universities, from MIT to Stanford to Duke (part of the Southern Ivy League), are not included in that limited classification of “Ivies.”

The Ivy League’s prestige derives from its reputation (where are our Swifties at?), historical significance, broad social impact, and extensive alumni network. These are universities with multibillion-dollar endowments and rich histories, replete with influential alumni who help to continue enhancing the schools’ images through time. All this has enabled the Ivy League to thrive, drawing top professors, research funding, and students. Given all this, it probably comes as no surprise that the Ivy League has some of the lowest admissions rates of any school of higher education. Accordingly, when crafting your college list, you’ll want to ensure that you have plenty of options—both Ivy League schools (if that’s your thing) and schools that are not. But where else should you be looking? That’s the exact question we’re here to help answer today.

What are Hidden Ivies?

The term “Hidden Ivies” was initially coined by authors Howard Greene and Matthew Greene in the book Hidden Ivies, where they delve into a review of the country’s top overlooked schools. The point, they stress, is that there are many schools out there that might not be on someone’s radar but may actually be the most appropriate choice for a student in terms of location, fit, student-to-faculty ratio, financial aid packages, and more. Schools often considered “Hidden Ivies” include liberal arts colleges such as Williams College, Amherst College, Middlebury College, Vassar College, and Bowdoin College, as well as universities like Washington University in St. Louis, Georgetown University, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago.

What are the Public Ivies?

Public Ivies refer to state schools that offer educations comparative to those found at traditional Ivy League schools (often for a fraction of the cost). These schools’ large size means they attract students and faculties from all walks of life. Additionally, these schools are significantly cheaper than private institutions. A Public Ivy presents the best of both worlds for a student who believes they’d thrive in a larger setting. Some schools that make our non-exhaustive Public Ivy list include the University of California schools, the University of Michigan, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and more.

Note that many of these schools have specific admissions requirements that may differ for in-state versus out-of-state applicants. Additionally, remember that these schools’ selectivity can vary widely. For instance, UC Berkeley and Georgia Tech accept 11% and 16% of students respectively, whereas many other state schools have higher acceptance rates (for comparison, the University of Arizona has an 85.6% acceptance rate).

What are the Southern Ivies?

The Southern Ivy League comprises southern schools that fit the criteria we outlined above: a robust and vibrant campus, devoted and high-performing faculty, competitive acceptance rates, and the promise of an outstanding education. One of the benefits of each of these schools is that they all boast a beautiful campus, even those in the urban settings of Atlanta or Houston. So, if you’re dreaming of a bustling quad surrounded by picturesque buildings, you’re in luck! Without further ado, we present our list of the best Southern Ivies.

1) Duke University

Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina, whose campus spans an impressive 8,600 acres (which includes the three sub-campuses). Duke is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, though it is considered an independent institution. It is also known for its athletic prowess and research initiatives, particularly in the sciences. . For all you Blue Devil hopefuls out there, you’ll need top test scores and grades, as this is one of the most competitive universities. Only 5.4% of applicants to the Class of 2028 were accepted.

2) Vanderbilt University

Coming in second place, we have Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt is known for its strong programs in engineering, biology, economics, education, and music as well as its excellent post-graduate outcomes—Vandy students are regularly employed by top companies and accepted by elite graduate institutions. Undergraduate enrollment here is over 7,000, and tuition is $65,008.

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3) Rice University

Another school with a stellar reputation is Rice University, located in Houston, Texas. Rice defines itself as a comprehensive research university focused on innovation. This makes sense, as Rice’s campus is right next to the Texas Medical Center and the Houston Museum District, offering students opportunities for hands-on internships in a wide variety of fields.  Total undergraduate enrollment is 4,574, and the campus is 300 acres. Tuition at Rice costs $62,874. Rice is particularly well-known for its engineering program. If you’re looking to apply here, know that the acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 came in at an all-time low of 7.8%.

4) Emory University

Next up, we have Emory University, located in Atlanta, Georgia. If you’re looking for a school that offers both the conveniences of city living and the benefits of traditional campus life, Emory might be the school for you. Emory enjoys a stellar reputation, particularly in business and medicine. Its total undergraduate enrollment is over 7,000 and the campus is 631 acres. Tuition at this prestigious university comes in at $63,400. Unfortunately, we aren’t the only ones who’ve caught onto Emory’s excellence, as applications to this school have steadily risen year after year. For the 2023-2024 cycle, the Emory College acceptance rate was 10.6%. Note that Emory has two campuses: Emory College and Oxford College.

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5) University of Virginia

Another one of the Public Ivies, the University of Virginia, located in Charlottesville, VA, is a public research institution that is renowned worldwide. In particular, the McIntire School of Commerce and the School of Engineering and Applied Science are some of the best in the country. Programs in economics, policy, and political science are quite strong as well. In-state tuition starts at $16,258 (it varies by department), while out-of-state tuition starts at $55,436. Total undergraduate enrollment is 17,618.

6) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC-Chapel Hill is the second North Carolina school on our list. That’s right, this prestigious school is a public university, making it a perfect choice for North Carolina residents who can take advantage of that in-state tuition of $7,020. For out-of-state residents, tuition will run $39,228, which, given UNC’s reputation, is still quite reasonable! Business, chemistry, journalism, psychology, and public policy programs are the cream of the crop. The total enrollment here is 20,880, and the acceptance rate is 18.7%.

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7) University of Texas at Austin

Hook’em Horns! This large public research university in Austin, Texas has everything: business, arts, sciences—you name it. The University of Texas at Austin enjoys a stellar reputation, and it’s easy to see why. Austin, Texas consistently ranks among the top places to attend colleges in the country. It’s a bustling city (and a tech magnet!) where Longhorns have access to myriad opportunities in almost every field. In-state tuition starts at $10,858 (it varies by department), while out-of-state tuition is $42,554. Total undergraduate enrollment is 42,444, making it one of the largest options on our list.

8) Davidson College

Located in Davidson, North Carolina, this private liberal arts college is sometimes called the “Princeton of the South.” Its top programs include political science, chemistry, and English. Davidson enrolls just over 1,900 undergraduates, 95% of whom live on campus. For the class of 2027, Davidson College had an acceptance rate of 14.5%. What’s more, NBA champion Steph Curry is an alum! Yes, that’s right, Davidson College is in the NCAA Division 1 athletics conference. Tuition for Davidson runs about $68,450.

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9) University of Richmond

Sometimes called a Little Ivy, the University of Richmond is located in Richmond, Virginia. It’s a private institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of just around 3,000. Tuition costs $67,840. Richmond is known for its integrated liberal arts core, as well as its well-respected business school. The international relations, political science, and history departments have excellent reputations. Richmond is also highly regarded for its pre-professional programs, particularly pre-med; in a typical year, close to 85% of students applying to medical school are accepted.

10) Tulane University

Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, Tulane is perfect for all you foodies. This private institution offers one of the smaller campuses on our list, with an urban setting and an undergraduate enrollment of 7,295. Moreover, Tulane boasts particularly strong offerings in business, architecture, biology, and neuroscience. Tuition runs around $68,678. Before you get too excited about living life in NOLA, know that the acceptance rate for Tulane’s Class of 2027 was a record low of 14.6%.

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11) 

Southern Methodist University, also known as SMU, was founded in 1911. Located in Dallas, Texas with a secondary satellite campus in Taos, New Mexico, SMU is known for its Division I athletic teams, Cox School of Business, and performing arts programs, particularly dance. While the school does have the word “Methodist” in its name, it considers itself nonsectarian. Tuition costs $61,880, and total undergraduate enrollment is around 7,000. The good news is that SMU has a much higher acceptance rate than some other universities on our list, with an admissions rate of around 63%. Due to its urban setting in Dallas, SMU offers students many opportunities in and around the city, particularly regarding research and the arts.

More questions? Check out the links below.

• Ivy League Schools Ranked
• 50 Most Applied-To Colleges
• 25 Best Christian Colleges
• 25 Most Conservative Colleges