Top Rated Southeast Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the Southeast for 2025

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

144 results

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

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in America

  • 32,234enrollment
  • $11,140net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1530SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.83Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Virginia Main Campus
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V
Charlottesville, VA

University of Virginia Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in America

  • 25,924enrollment
  • $17,831net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

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College of William and Mary
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W
Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in America

  • 9,762enrollment
  • $20,422net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1365-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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University of Florida
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F
Gainesville, FL

University of Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in America

  • 54,814enrollment
  • $11,521net price
  • 24%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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University of Maryland College Park
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M
College Park, MD

University of Maryland College Park

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in America

  • 40,813enrollment
  • $15,833net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1520SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

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North Carolina State University at Raleigh
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N
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#20 Best Public Universities in America

  • 37,323enrollment
  • $14,860net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Clemson University
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C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#24 Best Public Universities in America

  • 28,747enrollment
  • $24,408net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1390SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
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G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 47,946enrollment
  • $15,901net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1530SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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University of Delaware
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D
Newark, DE

University of Delaware

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Delaware

  • 24,221enrollment
  • $17,716net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1360SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Virginia Tech
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V
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Tech

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 38,294enrollment
  • $22,205net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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

St Mary's College of Maryland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,587enrollment
  • $20,679net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1330SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Georgia
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G
Athens, GA

University of Georgia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Georgia

  • 41,615enrollment
  • $16,303net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1390SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Virginia Military Institute
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V
Lexington, VA

Virginia Military Institute

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 1,560enrollment
  • $17,229net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1260SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Florida State University
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F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Florida

  • 43,234enrollment
  • $14,903net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1390SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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University of South Carolina Columbia
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S
Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina Columbia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 36,579enrollment
  • $26,068net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1380SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.69Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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The University of Tennessee
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T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Tennessee

  • 36,304enrollment
  • $20,885net price
  • 46%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

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George Mason University
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G
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 39,527enrollment
  • $18,900net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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James Madison University
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J
Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 22,758enrollment
  • $26,317net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1320SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.57Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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