Readers who live in the Southeastern United States, or who are attracted to its stunning natural beauty and vibrant cities, will do very well to peruse this catalog of the region’s 25 Hidden Gems! Here, individuals will find extraordinary schools, each of which provides a distinctive college experience with unique and unparalleled opportunities. Many of these colleges and universities are on the smaller side (concerning total enrollment) and are often much less well-known than the most popular choices throughout the Southeast. However, headcount aside, these campuses provide more space and potential for academic, professional, and social growth than any of the larger state schools, for example.
Methodology:
At OnlineSchoolsCenter.com, the researcher/writers implement strict guidelines when selecting each individual college or university. This catalog was composed utilizing similarly stringent criteria. These outstanding institutions of higher education are most often small liberal arts institutions, with some exceptions. Schools were not included if they were found to lack even one of the following:
- Phenomenal retention and graduation rates, both of which are excellent indicators of academic success and student satisfaction;
- Superb statistical reports from the nation’s top educational resources and research tools;
- Exceptional experiences that take place both inside and outside of the classroom;
- Redundant scholastic and financial resources that provide more than what an individual student needs;
- Esteemed faculty members who are authorities in their fields;
- An active campus life that offers events and opportunities for social growth;
- And points of interest and attributes of the college or university that set it apart from other schools throughout the state and Southeast region.
For more information, please visit the Methodology Page.
SAMFORD UNIVERSITY
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Samford University is a small academic institution that is firmly rooted in the liberal arts. There are ten educational departments that encompass fields in arts and sciences, arts, business, education, divinity, law, health professions, pharmacy, nursing, and public health, all of which can be taken as bachelors, masters, or doctoral programs. The goal of each course is to emphasize individual success and enhance community engagement. Samford has graduated some incredibly high-profile individuals, including sixty members of Congress, two Supreme Court Justices, eight state governors, numerous Pulitzer and Nobel Peace prize winners, and many others of considerable note.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
One particular item of note that makes Samford University shine brighter than many other schools in the Southeastern United States is its absolutely phenomenal job placement rate of 97% just six months after graduation. This level of success cannot easily be found elsewhere, and Samford University maintains an unmated level of distinction throughout the region. The 247-acred campus is made only more beautiful by its Georgian-Colonial style architecture. The school has been recognized for it academic excellence and monetary value by well-respected journalistic resources such as The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
Total Enrollment: 3,453
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- Nursing
- Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Acceptance Rate: 82% Retention Rate: 89% Graduation Rate: 72% Job Placement Rate: 97% (6 months after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT ALABAMA’S HIDDEN GEM: SAMFORD UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE
MOBILE, ALABAMA
The University of Mobile is a devoutly Christ-centered educational community that offers degree programs in the liberal arts and certificates of professionalism that drastically enhance students’ intellectual and spiritual development. The Gospel of Christ is the foundation of every course at this school, and graduates go on to nurture and make greater the Kingdom of God. There more than ninety areas of study available for associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students, including twelve outstanding online programs. The curricula are available throughout seven distinctive schools and colleges, each of which provides unique academic experiences.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
At this phenomenal and pious university, there are always over 200 exciting events scheduled on campus throughout every academic year, such as concerts, community events, a snowman building contest, movie nights, intramural and varsity sports, Tailgates at the Jungle, and mission opportunities that take place worldwide! Most students at the University of Mobile are involved in one of the twenty-plus clubs and organizations, and individuals are free to establish their own groups and unique intramural sports. There are two impressive fitness centers and a fantastic outdoor pool, all of which can be accessed by any student at any time.
Total Enrollment: 1,150
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Nursing
Acceptance Rate: 47% Retention Rate: 73% Graduation Rate: 49% Job Placement Rate: 91% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT ALABAMA’S HIDDEN GEM: THE UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE
JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY
SILOAM SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
John Brown University is an interdenominational Christian institution of higher education founded in 1919 by evangelist Dr. John Brown. There are forty-one undergraduate programs and twenty-one graduate programs at JBU. Many have been given impressive research and grant awards by organizations such as the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the National Endowment for the Arts. There are also a substantial number of minor curricula. Alongside its fantastic physical programs are fully online bachelor’s and master’s degrees that are supported by multiple student service centers established throughout the state to provide as much guidance to distance students as possible.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
JBU is firmly focused on developing students’ education and maintaining and enhancing their spiritual and mental health. The school’s beautiful acreage is a safe and nurturing academic space where students feel free to explore various interests, get involved with the community, participate in service opportunities, and engage in extracurricular activities. Hammocks hang between innumerable trees across campus, where groups of students can be found socializing, studying, and napping! One cool annual event is the Safari on the Quad, during which students get to interact with llamas, snakes, turtles, and other interesting creatures!
Total Enrollment: 1,430
Most Popular Majors:
- Engineering
- Nursing
- Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 77% Retention Rate: 80% Graduation Rate: 64% Job Placement Rate: % (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT ARKANSAS’ HIDDEN GEM: JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY
LYON COLLEGE
BATESVILLE, ARKANSAS
Lyon College is a competitive, selective, and highly rewarding school located in the majestic foothills of the Ozarks Mountains. It has been educating students since just after the Civil War in 1872. Students take part in small class sizes and have incredible access to professors. There are fifteen full degrees available at Lyon and numerous professional and precertification programs, such as those in medicine, law, and physical therapy. There are additional opportunities for high school students through the Upward Bound programs. This school is committed to providing financial assistance to any student in need, of whom 99% receive monetary support through extensive scholarships, athletic grants, federal and state need- and merit-based aid, and more!
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
There is a strong Scottish heritage present on campus at Lyon College. The school even has a unique navy blue and crimson tartan that is officially registered in Scotland! Additionally, the Scottish Heritage Program provides distinctive opportunities to learn, preserve, teach, and celebrate Scotland’s arts and traditions. Lyon partners with exciting organizations such as Teach for America, FutureFuel, and Merchants & Planters Bank to provide students with exciting opportunities that have real-world implications and effects. Many Lyon alumni continue their educations at impressive graduate institutions such as Harvard or the University of Chicago in the United States and King’s College in Great Britain.
Total Enrollment: 649
Most Popular Majors:
- Biology
- Business
- Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 50% Retention Rate: 71% Graduation Rate: 39% Job Placement Rate: 91% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT ARKANSAS’ HIDDEN GEM: LYON COLLEGE
ECKERD COLLEGE
SAINT PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
Eckerd College is an incredibly successful school that graduates a huge percentage of the student body, which is made particularly clear through its noteworthy graduation rate, and 93% finish their undergraduate programs within four years. The Job Placement Rate rivals most other schools in the region, as well. Here, students learn from esteemed faculty members of whom 94% hold terminal degrees in their areas of expertise. Students major in a massively diverse array of undergraduate, graduate, and preprofessional programs. Many are offered as accelerated or dual degrees. Eckerd has been highly ranked on catalogs of Colleges that Change Lives on numerous occasions.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
This college on Florida’s Gulf Coast provides one of the most superbly beautiful campuses in the entire country. From their academic buildings and residential halls, students can take a short walk to end up, quite literally, directly in the ocean. Eckerd owns over 180 acres of waterfront property that ranges from freshwater marshes and ponds to mangrove thickets to white sand beaches. Students are constantly going swimming and kayaking, joining water sports intramurals, doing yoga on the beach, and uncountable other oceanside activities. Given its proximity, Eckerd is a fabulous choice for students of marine sciences, as it provides a living laboratory right at their fingertips!
Total Enrollment: 1,940
Most Popular Majors:
- Biology
- Business
- Environmental Science
Acceptance Rate: 68% Retention Rate: 81% Graduation Rate: 66% Job Placement Rate: 94% (1 year after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT FLORIDA’S HIDDEN GEM: ECKERD COLLEGE
MANATEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
BRANDENTON, FLORIDA
Manatee Technical College is an excellent option for students pursuing professional training and certification. There are more than fifty career prep programs in areas such as Business Technology, Transportation, Public Service, Manufacturing, and more. Each curriculum is geared toward proper training and prepares students to be vital assets to their chosen workforce. There are also classes for adults seeking their GED, English as a Second Language, and other continuing education programs. MTC’s outstanding programs have gained the attention of SkillsUSA, an organization that has given the school multiple consecutive awards annually for its success as a technical educational institution.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
MTC is a great choice for both online and on-campus students. Students are incredibly happy at their alma mater and have given it only the most overwhelming praise. The student life and campus culture are rich with new experiences, events, clubs, and organizations. The virtual campus provides a similarly nurturing educational atmosphere where students feel very supported and cared for. Manatee offers a larger selection of training and certification programs than any other school in Florida, and it is highly focused on the success of each individual. Graduates have access to the school’s impressive array of business partnerships throughout the state and the country when seeking employment.
Total Enrollment: 860
Most Popular Majors:
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic)
- Licensed Practical Nurse Training (LPN)
- Fire Science and Fire Fighting
Acceptance Rate: 100% Retention Rate: 87% Graduation Rate: 89% Job Placement Rate: 91% (6 months after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT FLORIDA’S HIDDEN GEM: THE MANATEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
BERRY COLLEGE
MOUNT BERRY, GEORGIA
Berry College is one of the most phenomenal liberal arts schools in the South. It offers exceptional undergraduate and graduate degrees in teacher education and business, in particular, and there are forty-two majors and thirty-eight minors in total available in the sciences, arts, social sciences, and humanities. The campus contains over forty academic buildings, residence halls, and other facilities, such as the 131,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Steven J. Cage Athletic and Recreation Center, to which all students have access. Berry is consistently ranked as the most beautiful college in the entire United States and has been included as such in publications like Architectural Digest and Travel+Leisure.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
While Berry College maintains a small annual enrollment of around 2,000 students, it is actually the biggest college campus in the entire country at a staggering 27,000 acres. There is a tremendous amount of beautiful, natural spaces that are well-utilized for outdoor recreation and as a living research laboratory. Founded as the Boys Industrial School by Martha Berry in 1902, the college was originally established to provide education to impoverished children of the rural South. It transitioned to a coeducational, four-year institution in 1926. Today, Berry is well-known throughout the US as the school with the largest acreage, for its stunning natural spaces, and for its outstandingly high-quality academics.
Total Enrollment: 1,902
Most Popular Majors:
- Kinesiology and Exercise Science
- Psychology
- Zoology and Entomology
Acceptance Rate: 66% Retention Rate: 84% Graduation Rate: 65% Job Placement Rate: 93% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT GEORGIA’S HIDDEN GEM: BERRY COLLEGE
AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE
DECATUR, GEORGIA
Agnes Scott College has been educating women as a woman’s college for over 130 years. Since 1889, it has developed an innovative approach to liberal arts education that includes global perspectives for intellectually curious students who identify as female. ASC utilizes a distinctive curricular technique called, SUMMIT, wherein students design and implement an individualized course of study geared toward leadership and understanding global dynamics. They work closely with academic mentors, professors, and a personal board of advisors to create their own unique pathway.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
There is such a tremendous amount of exciting aspects at Agnes Scott College, both academically and recreationally, that it is truly impossible to name them all. One exciting example takes place in the week before Spring Break, known as Peak Week. During this time, students stop their normal class progression and participate in hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that revolve around leadership and global development. As a woman’s only school, the academic environment is much different than that of the traditional co-ed atmosphere. Students have only the most outstanding things to say about their school.
Total Enrollment: 985
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- Neuroscience and Neurobiology
- Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 70% Retention Rate: 79% Graduation Rate: 70% Job Placement Rate: 88% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT GEORGIA’S HIDDEN GEM: AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE
BEREA COLLEGE
BEREA, KENTUCKY
Berea College is a fabulous choice for students of high intellect and commanding discipline but without the financial capabilities to attend a top-tier institution. Academics at this school are top-notch, and its professors are deeply committed to the success of each student. Over 90% of individuals enrolled at Berea study abroad, complete a paid internship, engage in high-level research with faculty members, or go on extensive service-learning trips. The breadth of program availability is immense. Students can pursue any interest, no matter how far-reaching it might be.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
One of the biggest reasons Berea College is set so far apart from other schools throughout the entire nation is that it is tuition-free. No student ever pays a cent for their classes. Not only that, but Berea also provides an extensive Work Program that gives students paying jobs alongside their free education! Founded just before the Civil War in 1855, this school was the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Today, it is well-known for its incredible value and its outstanding academic excellence. Prominent resources, such as the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Monthly, have ranked Berea as the number one school for the “best bang for your buck” for four consecutive years.
Total Enrollment: 1,631
Most Popular Majors:
- Biology
- Information Science
- Manufacturing Engineering Technician
Acceptance Rate: 38% Retention Rate: 83% Graduation Rate: 63% Job Placement Rate: 92% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT KENTUCKY’S HIDDEN GEM: BEREA COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS
WILLIAMSBURG, KENTUCKY
At over 125 years old, the University of the Cumberlands has been educating undergraduate and graduate students for over a century-and-a-quarter. In that time, it has developed monumentally successful campuses, both physical and virtual. There are over seventy programs available for associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate students, all of which are unprecedentedly available both on-campus and online. Each curriculum operates under a comprehensive and hyper-focused approach toward professional success. This kind of flexibility is possible at a very limited number of schools of this caliber across the entire globe.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
The online accessibility of the whole of this historic university’s phenomenal curricula alone makes this school a brightly shining Hidden Gem. This is not the first time that the University of the Cumberlands has appeared on an OnlineSchoolsCenter.com ranking. Most of the time it appears here as an excellent choice for distance education students of all kinds, but now we celebrate the school in its entirety! It is a highly affordable choice for all students with an online rate of $199 per credit hour and an on-campus rate of $335 per credit hour. What more is there to say?
Total Enrollment: 1,974
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- Criminal Justice and Safety Studies
- Human Services
Acceptance Rate: 73% Retention Rate: 69% Graduation Rate: 78% Job Placement Rate: 93% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT KENTUCKY’S HIDDEN GEM: THE UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS
FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES OF OUR LADY UNIVERSITY
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is a phenomenal school providing a wide variety of healthcare-focused degrees. There are excellent opportunities available in the field of health for students pursuing associates, bachelors, bachelors of business administration, masters, doctorates, or certificate programs. Fascinating concentrations are offered in a multitude of areas, and there is an exciting array of minors, as well. FMOLU keeps students actively engaged in clinical programs and service opportunities during which they put their sharpened knowledge of healthcare to work.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady established the School of Nursing in 1923 in accordance with the principles of St. Francis of Assisi and the Catholic Church. Today, after nearly 100 years, it maintains its strong academic vision and is quite possibly the region’s most prominent higher education institution of healthcare. It is one of the Carnegie Foundation’s Engaged Campuses for the Advancement of Teaching and has been included on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll six times. FMOLU is actively engaged in solving worldwide healthcare crises, and students of all pathways engage in pivotal research alongside some of the nation’s most brilliant nursing professionals.
Total Enrollment: 523
Most Popular Majors:
- Nursing
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Physical Therapy Technician
Acceptance Rate: 59% Retention Rate: 77% Graduation Rate: 66% Job Placement Rate: 94% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT LOUISIANA’S HIDDEN GEM: FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES OF OUR LADY UNIVERSITY
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
This Southern school has nearly fifty progressive programs available throughout its two Colleges of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Pharmacy that each have been operating for a century. The degrees are exceedingly high-quality academically and give students real-world opportunities for growth through community-based experiences. Students at Xavier University of Louisiana are highly dedicated to their studies and extracurriculars, and the campus is a friendly yet driven environment. Catholicism and black heritage are an integral part of the campus, which is a beloved alma mater for people of color, particularly.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
Xavier University of Louisiana is the only Catholic and Historically Black University in the nation. In 1915, it was initially established as a high school for Natives and African Americans, and into the 1920s and 30s, it opened the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Pharmacy, both of which maintain prominence. To this day, it offers outstanding science-focused degrees and keeps its strong history as a proud black institution of higher education very much alive. Student organizations, Greek Life, clubs, and varsity and intramural sports are all highly active on campus, and individuals can find opportunities that fit any interest. For its students, this campus is a home like no other where unmatched experiences await.
Total Enrollment: 2,537
Most Popular Majors:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 58% Retention Rate: 72% Graduation Rate: 42% Job Placement Rate: 94% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT LOUISIANA’S HIDDEN GEM: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
BELHAVEN UNIVERSITY
jackson, mississippi
At Belhaven University, students take part in high-quality educational programs instructed by top-rated faculty members that include traditional undergraduate, graduate, adult, and professional degrees, as well as online curricula. Studies are incredibly flexible at Belhaven, and individuals are capable of working any professional or personal schedule around their classes. Over 90% of the entire student body accepts some form of financial aid, and the administration is quite generous every year. At the culmination of their degree, graduates can take full advantage of the impressive array of businesses, organizations, nonprofits, and corporations with which Belhaven University is partnered throughout the whole country.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
Proudly educating students since 1883, Belhaven University is one of only thirty-six other schools in the nation to receive accreditation for each major art, including theater, dance, visual art, and music. Additionally, the Belhaven science curriculum is one of only two to have been acknowledged by the White Houses’ STEM Initiative. All of the varsity teams compete at the NCAA Division III level. Belhaven is a Christian school affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, and the campus is a nurturing environment in which students feel free to deeply explore their intellectualism and spiritual relationships with God and Christ.
Total Enrollment: 1,155
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- Healthcare Management
- Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 62% Retention Rate: 66% Graduation Rate: 31% Job Placement Rate: 90% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT MISSISSIPPI’S HIDDEN GEM: BELHAVEN UNIVERSITY
WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY
HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI
William Carey University operates three campuses in Hattiesburg, Biloxi, and Baton Rouge. The main campus (Hattiesburg) has been active and educating students on its 170-acre property since 1892 when it participated in elementary, preparatory, and college work. Today, it is a higher education institution, specifically, and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, specialist programs, and doctoral curricula throughout ten schools and colleges and seventeen departments. Many of the programs are offered completely online and provide the same prestigious education in a state-of-the-art virtual education platform.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
William Carey is deeply beloved by its past and current students, who describe it as an incredibly encouraging, comfortable, challenging, and enlightening environment. WCU encourages intellectual, spiritual, and professional growth, and graduates feel entirely prepared to enter the fast-paced job market upon exiting their degree. Its diverse academic programs are offered at a fraction of the cost compared to many other schools throughout the state of Mississippi without sacrificing any quality of instruction or content whatsoever. It has been recognized for its value time and time again by well-respected statistical databases such as U.S. News and World Report.
Total Enrollment: 1,912
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- Nursing
- Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 68% Retention Rate: 85% Graduation Rate: 75% Job Placement Rate: 87% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT MISSISSIPPI’S HIDDEN GEM: WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY
QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
This small, yet prominent, Southern school provides particularly strong undergraduate degrees with numerous certificate programs and master’s curricula, as well. Queens University of North Carolina is an excellent liberal arts school offering forty-two majors and sixty-three minors with a unique approach to its general education requirements. Students select their gen ed credits utilizing a distinctive, topic-based format, each of which combines in-class learning with real-world experiences outside of the classroom. The classes are grouped to approach one topic from multiple disciplinary perspectives, and topics include those such as race, happiness, and even zombies! The accumulated credits culminate in a senior capstone project.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
Nestled among beautiful hardwoods uptown in one of America’s most historic cities, Queens University of Charlotte provides an academic experience deeply rooted in the surrounding community. Founded pre-Civil War in 1857, this private, seven-year institution has supplied immensely well-respected degree programs emphasizing dynamic learning outside the classroom for nearly 165 years. Among many outstanding attributes that set this excellent school apart from others throughout the Southeast are its fabulous internship opportunities. Students who engaged in such experiences not only received a more involved education but were also 63% more likely to enter major-specific positions of employment immediately after graduation.
Total Enrollment: 1,552
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- Nursing
- Sport and Fitness Management
Acceptance Rate: 79% Retention Rate: 82% Graduation Rate: 53% Job Placement Rate: 93% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA’S HIDDEN GEM: QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE
MEREDITH COLLEGE
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
Meredith College is a beautiful school that was founded over 100 years ago as an educational institution for women and only had about 200 students at the time. Today, it is co-educational and has an annual enrollment of about 1,500-2,000 individuals every year. It is an extremely well-connected college that maintains strong academic partnerships with numerous schools throughout North Carolina. As such, students have stupendous opportunities to expand their intellectual and professional boundaries and access to superb intercollegiate resources. For example, the Dual Degree Engineering program gives enrollees two prestigious bachelor’s degrees in five years or less and is provided in collaboration with NC State University.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
Meredith firmly emphasizes experiences in the classroom and demands concentrated discipline from its students, but it also provides extensive opportunities to not only work hard but play hard! This school has a fun and lively atmosphere where students uphold unique and long-standing traditions that have carried over throughout generations. There are over 100 clubs, organizations, student-led programs, and honors societies available in which almost 100% of students are involved at some level. Another unique aspect of Meredith College is its advising program, wherein mentors act as academic advisors and life coaches. This program has a massive impact on graduates’ financial literacy and post-college plan.
Total Enrollment: 1,531
Most Popular Majors:
- Biology
- Business
- Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 63% Retention Rate: 80% Graduation Rate: 61% Job Placement Rate: 91% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA’S HIDDEN GEM: MEREDITH COLLEGE
PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
CLINTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
This small college in northwestern South Carolina maintains a steadfast tradition of providing rigorous curricula with a strong foundational internal support network. Presbyterian College offers forty-two bachelor’s, one master’s, one doctorate, and nine pre-professional programs. The degrees for future pharmacists, physician’s assistants, and occupational therapists are particularly strong at PC. The school is replete with research opportunities, and the international programs, internships, and career development pathways are absolutely resplendent. Despite their various interests, Presbyterian College provides students’ a nurturing environment for academic exploration.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
Presbyterian College is quite obviously a vastly successful educational institution according to its outstanding graduation rate of 65% and has been for 140 years. It is a highly diverse Southern school that actively incorporates the perspectives of its students, faculty, and the surrounding community to coalesce a more collaborative learning atmosphere. For life outside of the classroom, the campus is lively and outgoing! There are numerous fun and exciting opportunities for students to form lifelong friendships through the school’s sixty clubs and organizations. For example, the Bass Fishing Team attracts students of all walks who participate annually in competitive fishing events and bring home first place trophies from intercollegiate tournaments like the FLW.
Total Enrollment: 994
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- Biology
- Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 69% Retention Rate: 76% Graduation Rate: 65% Job Placement Rate: 96% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA’S HIDDEN GEM: PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
BOB JONES UNIVERSITY
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA
Bob Jones University puts an equally strong focus on faith, outreach, and academia alike. Students attending this Hidden Gem in South Carolina can earn bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees and choose from a massive array of majors and specializations. There are six schools and sixteen divisions providing a wide range of topics, particularly in Business and Health Professions. Located in the beautiful city of Greenville, students take advantage of excellent opportunities to engage with local businesses and organizations through internships, externships, and research projects that have real-world applications and consequences. Many students land fantastic jobs even before graduating!
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
Bob Jones seeks to uphold the Word of God through its intensive educational programs as an Evangelical Christian university. With individuals that hail from over forty different countries worldwide, it is a small but highly diverse school that attracts students across the globe. It has been repeatedly recognized for its amazing value as it provides excellent programs at an affordable tuition rate. Additionally, 94% of students receive some form of financial aid. Bob Jones University offers undergraduate and graduate programs that include a robust Biblical worldview that seeks to enhance students’ educational and professional development, as well as their spiritual perspective.
Total Enrollment: 2,273
Most Popular Majors:
- Accounting
- Business
- Nursing
Acceptance Rate: 82% Retention Rate: 82% Graduation Rate: 60% Job Placement Rate: 90% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA’S HIDDEN GEM: BOB JONES UNIVERSITY
SEWANEE – THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH
SEWANEE, TENNESSEE
The academic programs at The University of the South are absolutely superb. Students and professors form strong relationships in small classes, many of which are held outside in the shade or at teachers’ lovely homes on campus! This magnanimous school employs incredibly well-respected faculty members and has a large enough endowment to provide the most top-quality, far-reaching, and highly abundant resources of any school in the Southeastern United States. Sewanee is deeply beloved by its students, teachers, faculty members, and residents, all of who work together to create a peaceful and supportive community of learners and doers. The campus itself is like a dream and contains, for example, one of the most awe-inspiringly beautiful Episcopal Chapels in the nation, known as All Saints.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
Sewanee has been ranked as the most beautiful college in the entire nation time and time again. On the Cumberland Plateau at the tail end of the Appalachian Mountains, this gorgeous school peaks through the tree tops with some of the grandest architecture on any campus in the world. Hewn from the very sandstone rock upon which it stands, the academic buildings provide learning and living spaces not unlike something out of a fantasy story where students walk to class trailing long, black academic robes. Sequestered from the hustle and bustle of modern society in the small town from which it gets its name, Sewanee is the second-largest college campus in the country at 13,000 acres of magnificent forestland.
Total Enrollment: 1,678
Most Popular Majors:
- Economics
- English
- Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 65% Retention Rate: 89% Graduation Rate: 82% Job Placement Rate: 93% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT TENNESSEE’S HIDDEN GEM: SEWANEE – THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH
LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
With over 176 undergraduate majors and minors and sixty-three graduate programs, including three doctorates, there are a considerable number of degrees available at Lipscomb University. It is an academically rigorous research institution with national recognition that has ties to worldwide organizations. There is a well-designed virtual campus with prestigious online programs available, as well, for working adult students juggling professional and personal lives who require immense flexibility to accommodate their educational pursuits. Lipscomb provides just that, and more, such as its fabulous academic and career resources that cement students’ abilities to compete in fast-paced job markets throughout the country.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
If one were seeking reasons why Lipscomb University stands out among so many schools throughout the Southeast, they need only look toward its massively successful job placement rate of 96% just six months after graduation. Students in every single major benefit from this percentage and are happily employed in a position that is specific to their major very shortly after graduation. Located in the heart of Music City, this school is incredibly well-connected to an internationally renowned hub of civilization. As a Christian college of strong faith, it has a mission to uphold a history of future-focused and faith-based coursework for a student body of diverse and complex belief structures.
Total Enrollment: 2,738
Most Popular Majors:
- Biology
- Human Resources
- Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 60% Retention Rate: 82% Graduation Rate: 58% Job Placement Rate: 96% (6 months after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT TENNESSEE’S HIDDEN GEM: LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY
UNION UNIVERSITY
JACKSON, TENNESSEE
Union University is a warm, welcoming, faith-based community of learners and teachers who have a profound respect for God and each other. It is an environment of exuberantly involved individuals who have more than 100 programs from which to choose, as well as over ninety clubs and organizations. Union provides esteemed adult studies and graduate degrees in a wide variety of areas, and many of these are some of the most popular on campus. There are six fraternities and sororities that are very actively service-oriented, and the dorms have been rated some of the best of any school in the United States!
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
Located between Memphis and Nashville, Union University sustains an incredibly impressive job placement rate of 95% six months after graduation, which, among many other reasons, makes it one of the best regional universities in the South. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Church and offering Christ-centered educational programs, Union is also well-known as one of the greatest among Christian colleges in the U.S. It has been recognized as such by respected research resources and statistical databases, such as The Princeton Review, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, and U.S. News and World Report. Founded in 1823, it is one of the oldest schools in the country.
Total Enrollment: 1,778
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- Nursing
- Social Work and Youth Services
Acceptance Rate: 57% Retention Rate: 86% Graduation Rate: 73% Job Placement Rate: 95% (6 months after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT TENNESSEE’S HIDDEN GEM: UNION UNIVERSITY
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VIRGINIA
At Hampden-Sydney, the educational programs take young men far beyond the traditional classroom experience and into the real world, giving them an outstanding advantage when competing for high-paying jobs. As one of the countries most historic universities, its prestigious degrees are highly respected by all. Hampden-Sydney is a small school with about twenty-seven undergraduate majors and twenty-two minors. It utilizes a unique academic approach known as Compass that strongly emphasizes hands-on learning. The academia at HSC has withstood the test of time by maintaining unmatched levels of excellence throughout America’s entire history.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
Established in 1775, Hampden-Sydney College was founded before the signing of the Declaration of Independence and is one of the very oldest schools in the country. It is one of the last private, men’s colleges left in the U.S. where today’s students walk in the literal footsteps of our forefathers. Here, students learn the true nature of brotherhood as they work together through challenging, rigorous, and highly rewarding liberal arts degrees of all kinds. Institutes like the Wall Street Journal and Forbes have ranked this school as the second-best in the entire nation for internships, one of the most exceptional returns on investment, and in the top ten for career preparation.
Total Enrollment: 1,070
Most Popular Majors:
- Biology
- Economics
- Managerial Economics
Acceptance Rate: 59% Retention Rate: 81% Graduation Rate: 66% Job Placement Rate: 96% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT VIRGINIA’S HIDDEN GEM: HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE
ROANOKE COLLEGE
SALEM, VIRGINIA
Affiliated with the Lutheran Church and established in 1842, Roanoke College is the second-oldest college of its denomination. It nurtures holistically by enhancing students intellectually, creatively, socially, morally, and spiritually. Roanoke is a home for the impassioned who seek the most out of a prestigious education. It supports a 93% alumni satisfaction rate, which is an excellent indicator of the school’s incredible value, both academically and monetarily. There are 101 various majors, minors, and concentrations, as well as highly esteemed pre-professional programs, each of which includes a personalized core curriculum exploring fundamental concepts that apply to individual students.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
On a beautiful campus in the historic South where the architecture brings to mind images of individuals who shaped this country, sits the long-standing Roanoke College. Here, students become deeply enmeshed with the school’s storied traditions, which are far too many to number, such as The Kicking Post or the painting of The Rock. 95% of the 131 professors hold terminal degrees in their fields of expertise. Students work and research alongside these professionals who are some of the most brilliant in the nation, not to mention the Southeast.
Total Enrollment: 1,956
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- Communications
- Psychology
Acceptance Rate: 72% Retention Rate: 78% Graduation Rate: 63% Job Placement Rate: 95% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT VIRGINIA’S HIDDEN GEM: ROANOKE COLLEGE
WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
BUCKHANNON, WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia Wesleyan University is and has been home to an astounding total of fourteen Fulbright Scholars. In terms of career preparation, it is one of the most successful educational institutions of all, according to its phenomenal job placement rate of 97% six months after graduation. The total enrollment is small, with a student-to-teacher ratio of only 13:1, which is far narrower than most others. The most popular programs cross a wide range of interests, and all fifty majors and thirty-three minors provide students with an immense amount of support and career potential.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
This school flies under the radar for many college applicants but is an excellent interactive learning space that encourages students to achieve their absolute best. It supplies numerous special programs, such as the West Virginia Wesleyan Honors Society or the Summer Gifted Program, which provide students of distinction opportunities to further expand their knowledge and expertise by taking advantage of their educational experience more fully. As far as life on campus is concerned, WVWC has an active and inclusive Greek Life, a huge amount of student organizations, and well-instituted community engagement opportunities.
Total Enrollment: 1,162
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- Kinesiology and Exercise Science
- Nursing
Acceptance Rate: 70% Retention Rate: 70% Graduation Rate: 49% Job Placement Rate: 97% (6 months after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA’S HIDDEN GEM: WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
WHEELING UNIVERSITY
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA
Wheeling University keeps its standards for education extremely high and drives students to pursue the dreams. There are ten departments offering eight bachelor’s majors of all kinds, as well as three master’s degrees in Business Administration, Nursing, and Education, one doctorate in Physical Therapy, and four certificates. Many students choose to take advantage of Wheeling’s accelerated and online learning programs, many of which allow them to earn two degrees simultaneously, such as the BA in Criminal Justice 2+2 Program.
Why Is It A Hidden Gem?
During the week at Wheeling, students are in study groups, corrals, common spaces, and in the shade with their noses buried in books. On the weekend, the entire campus lets down its hair and, instead, can be found in the school pub, attending concerts, climbing inflatable houses, racing through obstacle courses, dancing, singing, rafting down Wheeling Creek, and going to theme parties. The student body is super healthy and on any day can also be found in the 107,000 square-foot Wheeling Health Club, where there are racquetball courts, basketball courts, tracks, a weight-training facility, and an Olympic size swimming pool.
Total Enrollment: 755
Most Popular Majors:
- Business
- High School Education
- Nursing
Acceptance Rate: 86% Retention Rate: 68% Graduation Rate: 58% Job Placement Rate: 93% (2 years after graduation)
LEARN MORE ABOUT WEST VIRGINIAS’ HIDDEN GEM: WHEELING UNIVERSITY