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 Mary Washington
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M
Fredericksburg, VA

University of Mary Washington

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 3,808enrollment
  • $21,615net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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University of Maryland Baltimore County
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M
Baltimore, MD

University of Maryland Baltimore County

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 14,148enrollment
  • $17,704net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Louisiana State University
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L
Baton Rouge, LA

Louisiana State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 39,418enrollment
  • $21,808net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Auburn University
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A
Auburn University, AL

Auburn University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 33,015enrollment
  • $24,524net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1380SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
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N
Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,074enrollment
  • $11,163net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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C
Charleston, SC

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 3,727enrollment
  • $21,041net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1250SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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University of Mississippi
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University, MS

University of Mississippi

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Value in Mississippi

  • 24,043enrollment
  • $14,946net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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Salisbury University
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S
Salisbury, MD

Salisbury University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 7,030enrollment
  • $17,931net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1310SAT range
  • 26-28ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Towson University
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T
Towson, MD

Towson University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 19,527enrollment
  • $15,064net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1270SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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University of Central Florida
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C
Orlando, FL

University of Central Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 69,233enrollment
  • $13,110net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1350SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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University of North Carolina at Wilmington
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N
Wilmington, NC

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 17,987enrollment
  • $18,606net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1360SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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The University of Alabama
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Tuscaloosa, AL

The University of Alabama

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#1 Best Value in Alabama

  • 39,622enrollment
  • $21,761net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1400SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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University of Louisville
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Louisville, KY

University of Louisville

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Kentucky

  • 22,139enrollment
  • $18,808net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1250SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of South Florida Main Campus
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S
Tampa, FL

University of South Florida Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 48,572enrollment
  • $11,578net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Christopher Newport University
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C
Newport News, VA

Christopher Newport University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 4,503enrollment
  • $22,864net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1300SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of North Carolina at Asheville
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N
Asheville, NC

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 2,925enrollment
  • $14,175net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1350SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Kentucky
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K
Lexington, KY

University of Kentucky

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Kentucky

  • 32,703enrollment
  • $19,838net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of Alabama at Birmingham
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A
Birmingham, AL

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Alabama

  • 21,160enrollment
  • $17,413net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1400SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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