Top Rated Southeast Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the Southeast for 2023

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


140 results

University of Virginia Main Campus
V
Charlottesville, VA

University of Virginia Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,005enrollment
  • $19,043net price
  • 21%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1500SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

College of William and Mary
W
Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in America

  • 9,517enrollment
  • $18,588net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
N
Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 31,641enrollment
  • $10,038net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1380SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.83Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Florida
F
Gainesville, FL

University of Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in America

  • 55,781enrollment
  • $10,075net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

University of Maryland College Park
M
College Park, MD

University of Maryland College Park

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in America

  • 41,272enrollment
  • $17,643net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1510SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Public Universities in America

  • 43,859enrollment
  • $17,410net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

Virginia Tech
V
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Tech

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#20 Best Public Universities in America

  • 37,279enrollment
  • $20,247net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
N
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#22 Best Public Universities in America

  • 36,831enrollment
  • $14,600net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1440SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

St Mary's College of Maryland
S
St. Mary's City, MD

St Mary's College of Maryland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Public Universities in America

  • 1,544enrollment
  • $20,237net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1135-1340SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Clemson University
C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 27,341enrollment
  • $22,935net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Virginia Military Institute
V
Lexington, VA

Virginia Military Institute

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 1,652enrollment
  • $18,969net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1300SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Delaware
D
Newark, DE

University of Delaware

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Delaware

  • 23,996enrollment
  • $19,747net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1155-1340SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Georgia
G
Athens, GA

University of Georgia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Georgia

  • 40,118enrollment
  • $16,580net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

University of South Carolina Columbia
S
Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina Columbia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 35,471enrollment
  • $21,784net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.69Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

The University of Tennessee
T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Tennessee

  • 31,701enrollment
  • $21,133net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

Florida State University
F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Florida

  • 45,130enrollment
  • $12,815net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1340SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

George Mason University
G
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 38,628enrollment
  • $18,285net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Mary Washington
M
Fredericksburg, VA

University of Mary Washington

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 3,956enrollment
  • $22,569net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA