Lens covers 13 small-town and rural colleges in the South and Southwest, 12 public and 1 private. They range from Oklahoma Baptist University (1,308 undergraduates) to Oklahoma State University (21,773). Acceptance rates run from 41% to 99%, and 10 of the 13 admit at least half of applicants.
Small-town and rural colleges are outside cities and suburbs (NCES locale). In Lens, the South and Southwest means Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
Open these 13 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 13 small-town and rural colleges in the South and Southwest
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, Arkansas | 5,388 | 96% | $8,674 in-state · $14,668 out-of-state |
| East Texas A&M University | Commerce, Texas | 9,912 | 92% | $10,026 in-state · $22,326 out-of-state |
| Grambling State University | Grambling, Louisiana | 4,164 | 45% | $7,683 in-state · $16,706 out-of-state |
| Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, Louisiana | 8,312 | 86% | $10,125 in-state · $16,866 out-of-state |
| Oklahoma Baptist University | Shawnee, Oklahoma | 1,308 | 49% | $35,570 |
| Oklahoma State University | Stillwater, Oklahoma | 21,773 | 75% | $10,234 in-state · $25,754 out-of-state |
| Prairie View A & M University | Prairie View, Texas | 8,877 | 79% | $11,299 in-state · $26,874 out-of-state |
| Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, Texas | 17,743 | 90% | $9,228 in-state · $19,068 out-of-state |
| Stephen F Austin State University | Nacogdoches, Texas | 8,728 | 94% | $11,128 in-state · $23,426 out-of-state |
| Tarleton State University | Stephenville, Texas | 12,673 | 90% | $8,302 in-state · $18,142 out-of-state |
| Texas A&M University–Kingsville | Kingsville, Texas | 4,748 | 91% | $9,892 in-state · $25,746 out-of-state |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Pine Bluff, Arkansas | 1,807 | 41% | $9,412 in-state · $17,992 out-of-state |
| West Texas A & M University | Canyon, Texas | 6,917 | 99% | $9,101 in-state · $10,996 out-of-state |
Sources: IPEDS (fall 2024 enrollment and admissions); College Scorecard (published tuition and fees before aid, about 2023–24). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Related lists
- Small-Town and Rural Colleges
- Small-Town and Rural Colleges in the Northeast
- Small-Town and Rural Colleges in the Southeast
- Small-Town and Rural Colleges in the Midwest
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the South and Southwest
- Large Public Universities in the South and Southwest
- Smaller Public Universities in the South and Southwest
- Smaller Private Universities in the South and Southwest
- HBCUs in the South and Southwest
- Christian Colleges in the South and Southwest
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the South and Southwest
- Division I Colleges in the South and Southwest
FAQ
Which small-town and rural colleges in the South and Southwest admit at least half of applicants? 10 of the 13: Arkansas Tech University, East Texas A&M University, Louisiana Tech University, Oklahoma State University, Prairie View A & M University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F Austin State University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University–Kingsville, West Texas A & M University (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest small-town and rural colleges in the South and Southwest? Oklahoma State University is the largest, with 21,773 undergraduates, and Oklahoma Baptist University is the smallest, with 1,308 (fall 2024).
How many small-town and rural colleges in the South and Southwest are public? 12 of the 13 are public and 1 are private.
Where these numbers come from
Lens covers the 850 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges that receive the most applications, so some smaller colleges are not listed. Enrollment, acceptance rates and degrees come from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education, fall 2024); published prices from the College Scorecard. Each college's page lists its own sources. See the data behind Lens.