Top Rated South Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the South for 2024

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the South as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2024 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.


185 results

University of Virginia Main Campus
V
Charlottesville, VA

University of Virginia Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,082enrollment
  • $19,469net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

College of William and Mary
W
Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in America

  • 9,654enrollment
  • $25,688net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1375-1520SAT range
  • 32-34ACT 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

#16 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 31,705enrollment
  • $10,614net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 30-34ACT 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

  • 55,211enrollment
  • $11,740net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT 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

  • 40,792enrollment
  • $16,210net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1520SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

The University of Texas at Austin
T
Austin, TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,384enrollment
  • $17,434net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1500SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

Texas A & M University College Station
T
College Station, TX

Texas A & M University College Station

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#21 Best Public Universities in America

  • 74,014enrollment
  • $20,375net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1390SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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

  • 36,700enrollment
  • $14,852net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1460SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Clemson University
C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 28,466enrollment
  • $24,577net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 45,296enrollment
  • $17,402net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

Virginia Tech
V
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Tech

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 38,170enrollment
  • $19,301net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.97Avg 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

#3 Best Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,520enrollment
  • $20,714net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1370SAT range
  • 28-30ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Virginia Military Institute
V
Lexington, VA

Virginia Military Institute

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 1,512enrollment
  • $18,129net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1105-1300SAT range
  • 22-29ACT 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

  • 24,039enrollment
  • $18,044net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1360SAT 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

  • 40,607enrollment
  • $17,180net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
O
Norman, OK

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma

  • 28,308enrollment
  • $22,601net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Florida State University
F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Florida

  • 44,161enrollment
  • $14,003net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1370SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 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

  • 35,653enrollment
  • $22,427net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1380SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.69Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1