As with other trending “Ivy adjacent” categories (New Ivies, Public Ivies, etc.), there is no consensus on a definitive list of “Southern Ivies.” However, there are a few clear standout private universities in the South that offer similarly high-caliber educational opportunities in appealing locations. This admissions cycle has made clear just how selective these colleges have become.
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SPOTLIGHT ON THE “SOUTHERN IVIES”
Here are five schools that many consider “Southern Ivies”:
- Duke University (Durham, North Carolina)
- Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee)
- Rice University (Houston, Texas)
- Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia)
- Tulane University (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Duke University
We have covered Duke’s recent admissions updates and their 2028 acceptance rate. At 5.1% overall, Duke’s acceptance rate is even lower than some Ivy League universities.
Vanderbilt University
Meanwhile in Nashville, Vanderbilt also reported a 5.1% overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028. Just 3.7% of students were admitted through Regular Decision due to the university’s increasing yield rate (up around 17% in the last 10 admissions cycles). The combined early round acceptance rate was much more forgiving at 15.2%.
Approximately 8-10% of the incoming class will be admitted from the waitlist according to Vice Provost for University Enrollment Affairs and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Doug Christiansen. Likewise, 10% of the Class of 2028 will be made up of deferred students. Christiansen said the university doesn’t usually waitlist deferred students, however, this year, three deferred students were waitlisted for “unique” reasons. Christiansen said around half of the applicant pool submitted standardized test scores, similar to previous years. The university’s test-optional policy will continue through Fall 2027.
Recent data highlighted a gender disparity in acceptance rates at Vanderbilt — women have a harder time getting into the university than men. Vanderbilt also made headlines recently regarding the rising cost of college tuition as some students will have total expenses hitting $100,000.
Rice University
As colleges continue to get more selective, Rice has seen a record-low 7.5% overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028. Rice’s ED acceptance rate was 15.3%. There was also a 4.5% uptick in application numbers. However, unlike some peer universities, Rice is endeavoring to expand its undergraduate enrollment to 4,800 by Fall 2024 while constructing two new residential colleges.
Rice will continue its test-optional policy for the Fall 2025 admissions cycle, although it’s important to note that just 22% of admitted students applied without submitting test scores.
Emory University
In total, Emory admitted 5,058 students to the Class of 2028, 1,187 of which were admitted to both the Emory College of Arts and Sciences (ECAS) and the separate Oxford College campus and may choose which to attend. The overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 14.5%.
The overall EDI acceptance rate was 32%, while during Emory’s EDII round, ECAS had a 12% acceptance rate and Oxford College boasted an 11% acceptance rate. Emory announced it will remain test-optional for the Class of 2029.
Tulane University
After receiving over 30,000 applications, Tulane announced an overall acceptance rate of around 13%. The admitted Class of 2028 reported an average SAT score of 1490 and an average ACT score of 33, although the university emphasized that the majority of students did not submit test scores. Tulane will be test-optional again for Fall 2025 admission.
Meanwhile, 13% of admitted students are from Louisiana, 16% are international and 14% are first-generation college students. Interestingly, Tulane announced it was looking to decrease the percentage of the first-year class being admitted through early rounds. In fact, about 50% more students in the Class of 2028 were admitted through RD compared to the Class of 2027. Additionally, around 4,000 students were waitlisted.
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TTA Takeaway: All five of the “Southern Ivies” will be test-optional for at least one more admissions cycle, although based on the data above, some applicants will be more competitive if they submit high scores. We generally recommend that all students study for and take the SAT or ACT, as colleges are constantly changing their testing policies and continue to offer only vague reassurances about their truly “optional” nature. Summer test prep starts now, so don’t wait to book with one of our experienced tutors to boost your scores ahead of the fall test dates!
At Top Tier Admissions, we are committed to making the college admissions process more transparent. Easy access to clear data helps families understand trends in college admissions to make more informed decisions. We’re collecting acceptance rate data at selective schools and providing insight and analysis of our own. For historical data, see our collection of Ivy League and Top College Acceptance Rates and Admissions Statistics, including the Class of 2028 Ivy League admissions data and admissions stats for a range of additional selective schools.
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Want To Read More About Selective Schools?
- Standardized Testing Policies: A Shifting Landscape
- What Are the Little Ivies?
- Introducing the New Ivies
- What Are the “Public Ivies”?
- Ivy Plus Acceptance Rates
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