Top Rated South Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the South for 2025

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the South as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2025 as the best public college in the South is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
South Public 4 year

186 results

Georgia College & State University
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G
Milledgeville, GA

Georgia College & State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 6,811enrollment
  • $19,769net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1240SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Frostburg State University
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F
Frostburg, MD

Frostburg State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 4,075enrollment
  • $16,521net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 17-25ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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East Tennessee State University
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E
Johnson City, TN

East Tennessee State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Tennessee

  • 13,586enrollment
  • $16,033net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 950-1170SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.33Estimated Avg GPA

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Murray State University
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M
Murray, KY

Murray State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Kentucky

  • 9,841enrollment
  • $9,738net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 950-1190SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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University of Louisiana at Lafayette
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L
Lafayette, LA

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 15,345enrollment
  • $13,443net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1255SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Georgia State University
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G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 34,974enrollment
  • $16,390net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1280SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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The University of Texas at Arlington
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T
Arlington, TX

The University of Texas at Arlington

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 43,992enrollment
  • $14,956net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 990-1230SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.43Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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New Mexico State University Main Campus
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N
Las Cruces, NM

New Mexico State University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in New Mexico

  • 14,779enrollment
  • $8,353net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 885-1110SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

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Winthrop University
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W
Rock Hill, SC

Winthrop University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 4,694enrollment
  • $16,838net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1220SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

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The University of West Florida
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W
Pensacola, FL

The University of West Florida

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 14,371enrollment
  • $8,908net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Western Carolina University
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W
Cullowhee, NC

Western Carolina University

Public 4 Year

10 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 11,628enrollment
  • $12,252net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Sam Houston State University
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S
Huntsville, TX

Sam Houston State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 21,403enrollment
  • $14,556net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 940-1140SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.25Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of South Alabama
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S
Mobile, AL

University of South Alabama

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 13,768enrollment
  • $13,613net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1015-1200SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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The University of Virginia's College at Wise
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V
Wise, VA

The University of Virginia's College at Wise

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 1,911enrollment
  • $10,409net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 935-1175SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Coastal Carolina University
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C
Conway, SC

Coastal Carolina University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 10,829enrollment
  • $14,453net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1210SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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University of South Carolina Upstate
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S
Spartanburg, SC
 

University of South Carolina Upstate

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 4,946enrollment
  • $13,794net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1170SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 2.53Avg GPA

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

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 5,899enrollment
  • $10,143net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 910-1110SAT range
  • 16-20ACT range
  • 3.27Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 23

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University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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A
Little Rock, AR

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Arkansas

  • 8,158enrollment
  • $11,225net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 890-1170SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 17

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