Southern Public Colleges

There are 627 public colleges and universities in the South enrolling 6,002,882 students. Explore the list below to find the public college match for you. Public college tend to be larger in size and more affordable than private schools when attended by students with South state residency. The  South is home to popular public schools like University of Florida, The University of Texas at Austin, Florida State University and Clemson University.

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South Public 4 Year 2 Year

  • Public 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

UMBC is a public university known for undergraduate computer science, information systems, and engineering. The suburban campus sits in Baltimore County just outside the city.

#3 Best Public Universities in Maryland 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $18,770
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Columbus, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 30 application deadline

Columbus State is a public university known for undergraduate music through the Schwob School of Music, plus nursing and theater. Arts programs also use a downtown RiverPark campus along the Chattahoochee River.

#11 Best Public Universities in Georgia 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 800-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.07
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $12,420
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Norfolk, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 31 application deadline

Norfolk State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing, social work, and communications. The urban campus sits in Norfolk near downtown and the Elizabeth River.

#15 Best Public Universities in Virginia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 823-1030
  • Avg GPA 2.9
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $9,124
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Fort Valley, GA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jun 15 application deadline

Fort Valley State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate agriculture and animal science. The residential campus is in the small city of Fort Valley in central Georgia.

#10 Best Public Universities in Georgia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1070
  • Avg GPA 2.87
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $10,047
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Orangeburg, SC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 31 application deadline

SC State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate education, business, and biological sciences. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in the small city of Orangeburg.

#12 Best Public Universities in South Carolina 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 800-1050
  • Avg GPA 3.17
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $17,965
Details

  • Public 2 Year
  • Atlanta, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Atlanta Metropolitan is a public state college known for undergraduate business administration and criminal justice. Most students commute to the urban campus in southwest Atlanta.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $4,630
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Mobile, AL
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

South Alabama is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The campus is in the coastal city of Mobile near Mobile Bay.

#6 Best Public Universities in Alabama 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $16,074
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Lexington, VA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

VMI is a public military college known for undergraduate engineering and the sciences. All students join the Corps of Cadets and live in barracks under a military regimen on the historic Lexington campus.

#22 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $18,825
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Denton, TX
  • 4.7 | 3 reviews

TWU is a public university primarily for women, known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and education. The main campus is in Denton, a college town north of Dallas-Fort Worth.

#15 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $11,636
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Beaumont, TX
  • 1.7 | 3 reviews

Lamar is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and nursing. The campus is located in Beaumont in southeast Texas.

#24 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $9,814
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Jackson, MS
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Jackson State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate business, education, and public health. The urban campus sits in Mississippi's capital city.

#5 Best Public Universities in Mississippi 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 820-1070
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $23,450
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • | 0 reviews

Tennessee State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate nursing, business, and engineering. The urban campus is in Nashville.

#9 Best Public Universities in Tennessee
  • SAT Range 880-1050
  • Avg GPA 3.22
  • Acceptance Rate 70%
  • Net Price $14,586
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Troy, AL
  • 5.0 | 4 reviews

Troy is a public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. The main campus is a residential college-town setting in southeastern Alabama.

#9 Best Public Universities in Alabama 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $12,842
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Greensboro, NC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

UNCG is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the performing arts. The urban campus is located in Greensboro.

#9 Best Public Universities in North Carolina 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1355
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $11,404
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Fredericksburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Mary Washington is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate historic preservation and education. The historic campus sits in Fredericksburg near the Rappahannock River.

#7 Best Public Universities in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $21,800
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bowie, MD
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews
  • May 15 application deadline

Bowie State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate education and nursing. The suburban campus sits between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

#8 Best Public Universities in Maryland 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 796-1083
  • Avg GPA 3.12
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $17,287
Details

  • Public 2 Year
  • McKinney, TX
  • | 0 reviews

Collin College is a public community college known for undergraduate transfer pathways, nursing, and workforce programs. Its multi-campus system serves suburban Collin County north of Dallas, including McKinney.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $6,970
Details

  • Public 2 Year
  • Atlanta, GA
  • | 0 reviews

Atlanta Technical College is a public technical college known for associate degrees and certificates in health sciences, industrial technology, and business. Students attend an urban campus in Atlanta.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price -
Details