Key takeaways:
- A Southern Ivy is a college in the Southern United States that provides top-rated academic programs to its students.
- They may also have outstanding research, study abroad, or unique job opportunities.
- Some institutions often called Southern Ivies include Rice University, Duke University, and Davidson College.
Flickr user Tom Hart
Southern Ivies is a loose definition for select schools in the Southern United States that have excellent academic programs and outstanding opportunities, often comparable to the eight Ivy Leagues. There is no official list of Southern Ivies and no specific criteria that makes up one. Instead, organizations design their own list. Below, we’ve highlighted what makes these institutions unique and listed top-rated schools that are often considered Southern Ivies.
What is a Southern Ivy?
Southern Ivies are an unofficial collection of Southern colleges and universities that offer comparable educations and experiences to the eight Ivy League institutions – Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University. Ivy Leagues are in the Northeast United States, while Southern Ivies are primarily in the Southeast.
There is no single list or standard criteria of Southern Ivy schools. Instead, organizations make their own designations. Ivy Leagues and Southern Ivies have many things in common, though. They all have top-rated and rigorous academic programs, low acceptance rates, and world-renowned reputations.
Which colleges are considered Southern Ivies?
Here is a list of schools that are commonly named as Southern Ivies by various organizations and publications. We also included schools that are regularly named to the top of our Best Colleges Rankings in the Southeast United States.
DAVIDSON COLLEGE
- Location: Davidson, NC
- Enrollment: 1,869
- Acceptance rate: 13.4%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings: #47
Davidson College is extremely selective – 47.9% of those accepted enroll. Students enjoy an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, with 94% returning after their first year. Nearly 500 Wildcats, or more than 25% of the student body, participate in varsity sports, competing primarily in the Athletic 10 Conference and Pioneer Football League.
DUKE UNIVERSITY
- Location: Durham, NC
- Enrollment: 17,147
- Acceptance rate: 5.7%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings: #12
Duke University is regularly one of the top ranked schools in the country. It was named #12 on College Raptor’s Top 50 Best Schools for 2026, and it’s also known as a Hidden Ivy and Ivy Plus. Some alumni include Richard Nixon, Melinda Gates, Tim Cook, and Ken Jeong. 58.8% of accepted students enroll at Duke.
EMORY UNIVERSITY
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Enrollment: 15,094
- Acceptance rate: 10.3%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings: #35
Emory University offers more than 80 undergraduate majors. Many students choose to study Business Administration and Management, and it’s home to one of the best business schools in the country – Goizueta Business School. Other popular majors include Biology, Neuroscience, and Registered Nursing.
RICE UNIVERSITY
- Location: Houston, TX
- Enrollment: 8,771
- Acceptance rate: 8%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings:#20
Another top rated school, Rice University has been called a New Ivy, Hidden Ivy, and Ivy Plus. Rice was founded in 1912, originally called “William M. Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art.” A NCAA Division I school, the Owls compete in the American Athletic Conference.
TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Enrollment: 12,284
- Acceptance rate: 14%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings: #74
Accepted students at Tulane University of Louisiana tend to have between a 31 and 34 on the ACT or between a 1,400 and 1,510 on the SAT. Its motto is “Non Sibi Sed Suis,” which is Latin for “Not for oneself, but for one’s own.” Tulane’s campus is on the list of National Register of Historic Places.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
- Enrollment: 32,628
- Acceptance rate: 15.3%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings: #53
A New Ivy and Public Ivy, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the oldest public university in the country – it was founded in 1795. Also known as Carolina, the school started waiving tuition and fee costs for in-state undergraduates who make less than $80,000 a year. 85% of students graduate within four years.
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND
- Location: Richmond, VA
- Enrollment: 3,777
- Acceptance rate: 22.2%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings: #61
Virginia students attending University of Richmond who make less than $75,000 receive full scholarships. UR has impressive stats, too, with a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 90% first year retention rate, and 84% four year graduation rate. Business Administration and Management is the most popular major by far.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA – MAIN CAMPUS
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
- Enrollment: 26,213
- Acceptance rate: 16.8%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings: #37
The University of Virginia was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. The 1,135-acre campus is home to Jefferson’s Academical Village. A NCAA Division I school, nearly 800 athletes participate in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In the 21st century, UVA has won more than 20 NCAA championships.
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Enrollment: 13,525
- Acceptance rate: 5.9%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings: #15
80% of undergraduates at Vanderbilt University live on the 330-acre campus for all four years of their education. Students can choose from more than 65 majors, but many opt to create their own major and 62% participate in research. One of the most selective schools in the country, 61.2% of accepted students enrolled at Vanderbilt during the last admissions cycle.
WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
- Location: Winston-Salem, NC
- Enrollment: 9,121
- Acceptance rate: 21.6%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings: #59
Students come from all over the country to attend Wake Forest University – and from 38 different countries. Students can choose from more than 250 organizations, over 50 majors, and 60 minors. With a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 94% return after their first year and 86% graduate in four years.
WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY
- Location: Lexington, VA
- Enrollment: 2,265
- Acceptance rate: 14%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings: #26
One of the oldest schools in the United States, Washington and Lee University was founded in 1749 as the Augusta Academy. Its motto is “Non Incautus Futuri,” which translates to “Not Unmindful of the Future.” Students can pursue up to a Doctorate. Many undergraduates are studying Business Administration and Management.
WILLIAM & MARY
- Location: Williamsburg, VA
- Enrollment: 9,862
- Acceptance rate: 34.1%
- 2026 College Raptor Overall Rankings: #67
William & Mary is the second oldest college in the country. In fact, it predates the founding of the United States, dating back to 1693 following a royal charter from King William III and Queen Mary II. It also established the first Greek-letter society (Phi Beta Kappa). Alumni of W&M include Thomas Jefferson, John Tyler, Glenn Close, and Jon Stewart.
Getting into a Southern Ivy – or any of the Ivies, for that matter – isn’t easy! To get an acceptance letter to one of these schools, you need a standout application. Want to learn more about what these institutions are looking for? Use College Match to explore them and others.
