Top Rated South Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the South for 2023

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the South as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2023 as the best public college in the South is University of Virginia Main Campus. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


180 results

University of North Carolina at Wilmington
N
Wilmington, NC

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 18,030enrollment
  • $17,946net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1330SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

The University of Alabama
A
Tuscaloosa, AL

The University of Alabama

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#1 Best Value Colleges in Alabama

  • 38,316enrollment
  • $20,518net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1370SAT range
  • 21-31ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

University of South Florida Main Campus
S
Tampa, FL

University of South Florida Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 49,708enrollment
  • $10,004net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

College of Charleston
C
Charleston, SC

College of Charleston

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 10,941enrollment
  • $20,351net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Christopher Newport University
C
Newport News, VA

Christopher Newport University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 4,584enrollment
  • $25,393net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Arkansas
A
Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Arkansas

  • 29,068enrollment
  • $16,759net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1220SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Texas Tech University
T
Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University

Public 4 Year

8 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 40,542enrollment
  • $15,452net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1280SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

University of Alabama at Birmingham
A
Birmingham, AL

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Alabama

  • 22,289enrollment
  • $16,978net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1173-1388SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

University of Houston
H
Houston, TX

University of Houston

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 47,031enrollment
  • $14,480net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due May 31

Virginia Commonwealth University
V
Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 28,594enrollment
  • $20,566net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1300SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 18

Towson University
T
Towson, MD

Towson University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 20,856enrollment
  • $16,082net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1220SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

Mississippi State University
M
Mississippi State, MS

Mississippi State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Mississippi

  • 23,086enrollment
  • $16,402net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1280SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

The University of Texas at Tyler
T
Tyler, TX
 

The University of Texas at Tyler

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 9,687enrollment
  • $11,658net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1250SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 24

University of North Carolina at Asheville
N
Asheville, NC

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 3,233enrollment
  • $13,854net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1330SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

University of Alabama at Huntsville
A
Huntsville, AL

University of Alabama at Huntsville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Alabama

  • 9,636enrollment
  • $16,990net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1420SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
N
Charlotte, NC

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 30,448enrollment
  • $16,029net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1320SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

West Virginia University
W
Morgantown, WV

West Virginia University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Value in West Virginia

  • 25,474enrollment
  • $13,087net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
T
Odessa, TX

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 5,534enrollment
  • $7,424net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 920-1140SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.27Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 23