Top Rated South Public Colleges
These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the South as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2027 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.
Frostburg State University
- Public 4 Year
- Frostburg, MD
-
3.0 | 1 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Frostburg State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The residential campus sits in the Appalachian mountain town of Frostburg in western Maryland.
- SAT Range 980-1200
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $17,669
University of South Carolina Upstate
- Public 4 Year
- Spartanburg, SC
-
| 0 reviews
USC Upstate is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus is in Spartanburg in South Carolina's Upstate region.
- SAT Range 1005-1175
- Avg GPA 2.53
- Acceptance Rate 67%
- Net Price $13,999
Western Carolina University
- Public 4 Year
- Cullowhee, NC
-
4.6 | 10 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Western Carolina is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and criminal justice. The campus sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Cullowhee.
- SAT Range 1080-1270
- Avg GPA 3.44
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $13,767
Murray State University
- Public 4 Year
- Murray, KY
-
| 0 reviews
Murray State is a public university known for undergraduate education, agriculture, and nursing. Murray is a small college town in western Kentucky built around the campus.
- SAT Range 940-1170
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $10,182
Georgia College & State University
- Public 4 Year
- Milledgeville, GA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Apr 1 application deadline
Georgia College is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the arts and sciences. The residential campus occupies historic grounds in downtown Milledgeville, Georgia's former capital.
- SAT Range 1070-1230
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $21,632
University of Louisiana at Monroe
- Public 4 Year
- Monroe, LA
-
| 0 reviews
ULM is a public university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and health sciences. The campus borders Bayou DeSiard in Monroe.
- SAT Range 1160-1360
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $13,648
Mississippi University for Women
- Public 4 Year
- Columbus, MS
-
| 0 reviews
Mississippi University for Women is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and education. Historically the first public women's college in the United States, the Columbus campus is now coeducational.
- SAT Range 850-1180
- Avg GPA 3.49
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $12,487
University of West Florida
- Public 4 Year
- Pensacola, FL
-
| 0 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UWF is a public university known for undergraduate marine biology, archaeology, and nursing. The wooded Pensacola campus includes a large nature preserve.
- SAT Range 1020-1230
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 58%
- Net Price $10,092
University of Virginia's College at Wise
- Public 4 Year
- Wise, VA
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
UVA Wise is a public liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing and teacher education. The rural campus sits in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia.
- SAT Range 945-1120
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 29%
- Net Price $14,378
Winthrop University
- Public 4 Year
- Rock Hill, SC
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
Winthrop is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, visual and performing arts, and business. The historic campus sits in Rock Hill, near the Charlotte metro area.
- SAT Range 1010-1220
- Avg GPA 4.0
- Acceptance Rate 79%
- Net Price $16,108
Texas State University
- Public 4 Year
- San Marcos, TX
-
3.8 | 9 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
Texas State is a large public university known for undergraduate geography, education, and mass communication. The campus in the college town of San Marcos sits along the spring-fed San Marcos River.
- SAT Range 980-1200
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.38
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $15,716
Florida Gulf Coast University
- Public 4 Year
- Fort Myers, FL
-
3.0 | 3 reviews
- Nov 1 application deadline
FGCU is a public university known for undergraduate environmental science, marine science, and hospitality management. The Fort Myers campus includes nature preserves and sits near the Gulf Coast.
- SAT Range 1040-1200
- Avg GPA 4.0
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $12,863
Georgia State University
- Public 4 Year
- Atlanta, GA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Apr 1 application deadline
Georgia State is a large public university known for undergraduate business, public health, and public policy. The urban campus sits in downtown Atlanta.
- SAT Range 940-1180
- Avg GPA 3.54
- Acceptance Rate 55%
- Net Price $16,854
University of South Alabama
- 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.
- SAT Range 970-1190
- Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $16,074
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
- Public 4 Year
- Little Rock, AR
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 17 application deadline
UA Little Rock is a public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and criminal justice. The urban campus is located in Arkansas's capital city.
- SAT Range 960-1210
- Avg GPA 3.42
- Acceptance Rate 59%
- Net Price $12,033
University of New Orleans
- Public 4 Year
- New Orleans, LA
-
3.5 | 2 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
UNO is a public university known for undergraduate naval architecture, marine engineering, and hospitality. The urban campus sits on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
- SAT Range 935-1241
- Avg GPA 3.21
- Acceptance Rate 74%
- Net Price $12,258
New Mexico State University Main Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Las Cruces, NM
-
| 0 reviews
New Mexico State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture and engineering. The main campus lies in Las Cruces near the Organ Mountains.
- SAT Range 870-1110
- Avg GPA 3.55
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $10,719
The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
- Public 4 Year
- Chattanooga, TN
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
UTC is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and nursing. The urban campus borders the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga.
- SAT Range 1013-1210
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $15,347