Getting compared to Harvard might be the ultimate sign of a school’s prestige. If a college is known as the Harvard of anything — for instance, the Harvard of liberal arts colleges, the Harvard of HBCUs, or the Harvard of a particular region of the country — it’s a sign that the school is tops in that particular category.
When it comes to the Southern states, several colleges have been called the Harvard of the South. The title is most commonly applied to Duke University. However, Vanderbilt, Emory, Southern Methodist, Sewanee, and Davidson have also been given it at one time or another.
Table of Contents
- Which Schools Have Been Called the Harvard of the South?
- Duke University
- Vanderbilt University
- Emory University
- Southern Methodist University
- Sewanee: The University of the South
- Davidson College
Which Schools Have Been Called the Harvard of the South?
There’s only one Harvard, and it’s located in the northeastern part of the country outside of Boston. In fact, all of the Ivy League schools are up north. The Ivy campus that’s the farthest south is the University of Pennsylvania, which is right across the Schuylkill River from Center City Philadelphia.
For decades, top schools in other parts of the country have vied for the right to be called the Harvard of their region. That includes Southern schools. But what makes a school the Harvard of the South?
For starters, for a school to be compared to Harvard, it needs to have top academics. That goes without saying. Harvard is the hardest school in the country to get into. Its acceptance rate is only 3.2 percent, and that number falls every year.
Harvard students also have top SAT and ACT scores (although the school implemented a test-optional policy to run until at least 2026 in the wake of the pandemic). They almost always rank at the top of their high school class and have a long list of accolades both in and out of the classroom.
A college also needs national or at least regional prestige to draw a comparison to Harvard. It needs to be a school people hear the name of and immediately say, “Wow, you got in there? You must be smart!”
Finally, for a school to be its region’s Harvard, it needs to look and feel the part. That means having a pristine, picturesque campus, stunning architecture, and green manicured lawns.
Here are the six southern schools that most often get compared to Harvard:
Duke University
- Location: Durham, NC
- Acceptance rate: 6%
- Graduation rate: 96%
- Middle 50% SAT range: 1,490-1,570
- Middle 50% ACT range: 34-35
- U.S. News ranking: #7 in National Universities
The term “Harvard of the South” is used more often to describe Duke than any other school in the South. This is because Duke has the closest reputation of any Southern school to Harvard when it comes to academics.
Both schools are known not only for their rigorous academic programs and their high-achieving students but for being among the most selective institutions in the country. Duke’s acceptance rate, while higher than Harvard’s record-low 3%, is only 6%.
Like Harvard, Duke has a massive endowment (though not nearly as large as many of the Ivy League schools). As of 2021, Duke’s endowment was $12.7 billion while Harvard’s was $53.2 billion. This means that both schools have a lot of money to invest in their students and academic programs.
Duke is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). The association consists of 62 research universities considered to be the best in the country. This membership gives Duke access to many resources enjoyed by top universities such as Harvard.
Finally, Duke’s ranking in U.S. News is closer to Harvard’s than any other school in the South. In fact, they are only four spots apart. The most recent rankings put Harvard at #3 (behind Princeton and MIT) and Duke at #7.
Vanderbilt University
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Acceptance rate: 7%
- Graduation rate: 93%
- Middle 50% SAT range: 1,490-1,570
- Middle 50% ACT range: 34-35
- U.S. News ranking: #18 in National Universities
Vanderbilt is similar to Harvard in several ways. It’s an elite private university in a large metro area, and it has a brutally low acceptance rate.
A quarter-century ago, Vandy admitted nearly half its applicants, but that isn’t close to being the case anymore. Its acceptance rate is now 7% and falling every year. Getting into Vandy isn’t as difficult as getting into Harvard, but it’s close.
Like Harvard, Vanderbilt has a large endowment. It’s valued at $10.9 billion as of 2021.
Finally, both Vanderbilt and Harvard boast stratospheric graduation rates and strong job placement rates after graduation. Vandy graduates 93% of its students in six years and has a job placement rate of over 98% (measured by the percentage of graduates who have full-time jobs or are enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation).
Emory University
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Acceptance rate: 11%
- Graduation rate: 90%
- Middle 50% SAT range: 1,430-1,550
- Middle 50% ACT range: 32-34
- U.S. News ranking: #24 in National Universities
Emory University, located in Atlanta, is another school that often gets called the Harvard of the South. Emory was founded in 1836 and is one of the oldest private universities in the United States.
The university is known for its rigorous academic programs and competitive admissions process. Its pre-med and health science programs are particularly elite, often ranked on par with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Like Harvard, Emory has a picturesque campus in a suburban area just outside a major metro area. In Emory’s case, the school is located in Druid Hills, a desirable enclave just southeast of downtown Atlanta. The campus gives students easy access to the city not just for fun and recreation but for networking, internship, and job opportunities.
Emory is also the third-highest ranked school in the Southeastern United States, according to U.S. News. It has also been ranked as the #1 value-added university in the nation by The Economist.
Southern Methodist University
- Location: Dallas, TX
- Acceptance rate: 52%
- Graduation rate: 81%
- Middle 50% SAT range: 1,370-1,510
- Middle 50% ACT range: 31-34
- U.S. News ranking: #89 in National Universities
Another so-called southern iteration of Harvard is located in Dallas. Southern Methodist University is a selective, highly ranked private research university with an endowment of $2 billion as of 2021.
SMU has been ranked as one of the best universities in the nation by various publications, including U.S. News, Forbes, and Times Higher Education. While the school has a highly prestigious and recognizable name nationwide, it carries a particular cachet in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. A degree from SMU practically confers you a royal title in that region!
SMU has a strong reputation in academics and research. The school has produced two Nobel laureates, seven Rhodes Scholars, and three Marshall Scholars. Additionally, SMU faculty members have been awarded six Pulitzer Prizes and eight MacArthur Fellowships (commonly known as “genius grants”).
Sewanee: The University of the South
- Location: Sewanee, TN
- Acceptance rate: 51%
- Graduation rate: 83%
- Middle 50% SAT range: 1,233-1,380
- Middle 50% ACT range: 27-32
- U.S. News ranking: #51 in National Liberal Arts Colleges
Sewanee is the smallest so-called Harvard of the South on this list. Unless you live in the South or are a member of the Episcopal church, which actually owns the university, you might not be familiar with it. But it has drawn many comparisons to Harvard over the years, for a number of reasons.
Sewanee has rigorous academic standards, a competitive admissions process, and a reputation for producing successful alumni. Sewanee isn’t the most selective college on this list — its most recent acceptance rate is 51% — but it has a self-selective applicant pool, meaning kids don’t typically apply if they don’t think they have what it takes to get in.
In addition to its academic excellence, Sewanee is known for its beautiful campus, which is located on 13,000 acres in the Tennessee mountains. The school’s Gothic-style buildings are iconic, and students have access to a variety of outdoor activities.
Sewanee offers a unique educational experience that combines rigorous academics with a strong sense of community. But the Sewanee experience isn’t for everyone. The campus is isolated, and the student body is small — under 2,000 students. Most students live on campus at Sewanee for at least three years, usually four.
This can create a “bubble” environment, and students who don’t thrive in that kind of setting might find it constricting, especially after two or three years.
That said, most students who attend Sewanee love the school and develop a deep, long-lasting affinity for it. This is evidenced by Sewanee’s alumni giving rate, which ranks among the highest of any liberal arts college in America.
Davidson College
- Location: Davidson, NC
- Acceptance rate: 17%
- Graduation rate: 92%
- Middle 50% SAT range: 1,350-1,500
- Middle 50% ACT range: 31-33
- U.S. News ranking: #16 in National Liberal Arts Colleges
Davidson College is a highly selective liberal arts school located in Davidson, North Carolina. It’s considered by most to be the top LAC in the South.
Davidson has high admissions standards and less than a 20% acceptance rate. It’s also need-blind, meaning it doesn’t take an applicant’s financial situation or need for financial aid into consideration when making an admissions decision. This allows for a very diverse student body, which is one of the things many students and prospective students love about Davidson.
Another reason Davidson is a top-notch school is its faculty. The student-to-faculty ratio is only 10:1, so students have the opportunity to form close relationships with their professors. With an average class size of fewer than 20 students, professors at Davidson are able to give each student the attention they deserve.
Davidson also has a desirable location in Davidson, North Carolina, about a half-hour outside of Charlotte. The area is beautiful and there are always plenty of things to do. There are also many opportunities for students to travel abroad during their time at Davidson.
