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.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Magnolia, AR
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 27 application deadline
SAU is a public university known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The campus is in the small college town of Magnolia.
- SAT Range 875-1105
- Avg GPA 3.46
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $13,442
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
- Public 4 Year
- Durant, OK
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| 0 reviews
Southeastern Oklahoma State is a public university known for undergraduate education and aviation. The small-city campus in Durant lies near the Oklahoma-Texas border.
- SAT Range 980-1186
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $9,075
Austin Peay State University
- Public 4 Year
- Clarksville, TN
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 4 application deadline
Austin Peay is a public university known for undergraduate education and nursing. The Clarksville campus is close to Fort Campbell and draws many military-connected students.
- SAT Range 843-1126
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $9,882
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Public 4 Year
- Edinburg, TX
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| 0 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
UTRGV is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and engineering. Campuses span the Rio Grande Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border.
- SAT Range 880-1090
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $5,282
The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Public 4 Year
- San Antonio, TX
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4.5 | 2 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UTSA is a large public university known for undergraduate cybersecurity and business. The main campus sits in northwest San Antonio near the Texas Hill Country.
- SAT Range 1000-1220
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $10,959
Angelo State University
- Public 4 Year
- San Angelo, TX
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4.0 | 1 reviews
Angelo State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and agriculture. The campus is in the West Texas city of San Angelo.
- SAT Range 910-1150
- Avg GPA 3.71
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $14,048
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
- Public 4 Year
- Pine Bluff, AR
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| 0 reviews
UAPB is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate aquaculture and agriculture. Students study on a residential campus in Pine Bluff in southeastern Arkansas.
- SAT Range 845-1108
- Avg GPA 2.9
- Acceptance Rate 41%
- Net Price $12,373
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
- Public 4 Year
- Natchitoches, LA
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| 0 reviews
Northwestern State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus is in historic Natchitoches, a small city along the Cane River.
- SAT Range 866-1163
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $13,134
Arkansas State University
- Public 4 Year
- Jonesboro, AR
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| 0 reviews
Arkansas State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, agriculture, and business. The campus is located in Jonesboro in northeast Arkansas.
- SAT Range 970-1190
- Avg GPA 3.66
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $12,410
Lamar University
- Public 4 Year
- Beaumont, TX
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1.7 | 3 reviews
Lamar is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and nursing. The campus is located in Beaumont in southeast Texas.
- SAT Range 930-1140
- Avg GPA 3.4
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $9,814
University of Houston Downtown
- Public 4 Year
- Houston, TX
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5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UHD is a public university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in downtown Houston near the city's business district.
- SAT Range 940-1110
- Avg GPA 3.29
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $10,832
Winston Salem State University
- Public 4 Year
- Winston-Salem, NC
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| 0 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Winston-Salem State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The urban campus is part of the University of North Carolina system.
- SAT Range 830-1020
- Avg GPA 3.01
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $12,989
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- Public 4 Year
- Pembroke, NC
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4.0 | 1 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
UNC Pembroke is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and nursing. The campus was founded to serve Native American students and remains closely tied to the Lumbee community.
- SAT Range 970-1200
- Avg GPA 3.44
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $9,723
Troy University
- Public 4 Year
- Troy, AL
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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.
- SAT Range 940-1210
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $12,842
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Public 4 Year
- Princess Anne, MD
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| 0 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UMES is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, aviation science, and hospitality management. The rural campus is located in the small town of Princess Anne on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
- SAT Range 840-1010
- Avg GPA 3.07
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $13,311
Virginia State University
- Public 4 Year
- Petersburg, VA
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| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Virginia State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, education, and business. The historic campus is in Petersburg near Richmond.
- SAT Range 840-1070
- Avg GPA 2.85
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $17,840
Delaware State University
- Public 4 Year
- Dover, DE
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| 0 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Delaware State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate aviation and agriculture. The main campus is in Dover, Delaware's capital city.
- SAT Range 800-1020
- Avg GPA 3.09
- Acceptance Rate 47%
- Net Price $13,953
North Carolina A & T State University
- Public 4 Year
- Greensboro, NC
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4.0 | 1 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
NC A&T is a large public HBCU known for undergraduate engineering and agriculture. The urban campus is in Greensboro.
- SAT Range 1020-1190
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 50%
- Net Price $10,097