Southern Indian states like Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have always fared better in comparison to other states, in terms of overall higher education system. The zone has established a benchmark in terms of globally renowned private and to be deemed universities in the country.
Private and Deemed-to-be-Universities Ranking 2019
| University | City | State | Rank |
| Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT University) | Vellore | Tamil Nadu | AAAAA |
| Manipal University | Manipal | Karnataka | AAAAA |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu | AAAAA |
| Indian Institute of Science | Bengaluru | Karnataka | AAAAA |
| Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology |
Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala | AAAAA |
| International Institute of Information Technology |
Bengaluru | Karnataka | AAAAA |
| S.R.M University | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | AAAAA |
| Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute |
Chennai | Tamil Nadu | AAAAA |
| PES University | Bengaluru | Karnataka | AAAAA |
| SASTRA Deemed University | Thanjavur | Tamil Nadu | AAAAA |
| ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education | Hyderabad | Telangana | AAAAA |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Higher Education |
Virudhunagar | Tamil Nadu | AAAAA |
| M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences | Bengaluru | Karnataka | AAAAA |
| Chennai Mathematical Institute | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | AAAAA |
| Shanmugha Arts Science Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) |
Thanjavur | Tamil Nadu | AAAA+ |
| Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth Mahatma Gandhi Medical College Campus |
Pillaiyarkuppam | Puducherry | AAAA+ |
| Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE) |
Chennai | Tamil Nadu | AAAA+ |
| GITAM University | Visakhapatnam | Andhra Pradesh | AAAA+ |
| Karunya University | Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu | AAAA+ |
| Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (K L University) |
Guntur | Andhra Pradesh | AAAA+ |
| Vel Tech Dr.RR & Dr.SR Technical University | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | AAAA+ |
| Azim Premji University | Bengaluru | Karnataka | AAAA+ |
| Alliance University | Bengaluru | Karnataka | AAAA |
| CMR University | Bengaluru | Karnataka | AAAA |
| Jagadgura Sri Shivarathreeswara University, Mysore |
Mysore | Karnataka | AAAA |
| Jawahar lal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research |
Bengaluru | Karnataka | AAAA |
| NITTE University | Mangalore | Karnataka | AAAA |
| Reva University | Bengaluru | Karnataka | AAAA |
| Vinayaka Mission Research Foundation | Salem | Tamil Nadu | AAAA |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences |
Chennai | Tamil Nadu | AAAA |
| Sri Devraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research |
Kolar | Karnataka | AAAA |
| Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning | Anantapur | Andhra Pradesh | AAAA |
| Karunya University | Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu | AAAA |
| Gandhigram Rural Institute | Gandhigram | Tamil Nadu | AAA+ |
| Kerala Kalamandalam | Thrissur | Kerala | AAA+ |
| M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | AAA+ |
| Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research |
Chennai | Tamil Nadu | AAA+ |
| Periyar Manaimmai University | Thanjavur | Tamil Nadu | AAA+ |
| Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development |
Sriperrumbudur | Tamil Nadu | AAA+ |
| St. Peter’s University | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | AAA+ |
| Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana |
Bengaluru | Karnataka | AAA+ |
| Yenepoya University | Mangalore | Karnataka | AAA+ |
| Academy of Maritime Education and Training | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | AAA |
| B.S. Abdur Rahman Institute of Science and Technology |
Chennai | Tamil Nadu | AAA |
| International Institute of Information Technology |
Hyderabad | Telangana | AAA |
