Public Universities in the South, Ranked by Acceptance Rate

198 public universities across 17 states in the South (U.S. Census region), ranked from most to least selective. The most selective are U.S. Naval Academy (9%), Georgia Tech (14%), and University of North Carolina (15%), and the median school on the list admits 78%. In-state tuition makes the public universities in your own state the best-value entries here, but a strong out-of-state flagship can still be worth the premium.

Schools

198

Median acceptance

78%

Most selective

U.S. Naval Academy

9% acceptance

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198 schools

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Your chances at these colleges

Estimated chance of admission for three typical students, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA; 2, 4 and 7 AP courses respectively; Regular Decision; no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook.

Which of the Public Universities in the South can I get into with a 3.7 GPA and a 1300 SAT?

By CollegeCalcAI's model, a student with a 3.7 unweighted GPA and a 1300 SAT has a Likely or Safety estimate (45% or higher) at 91 of the 100 colleges here, including Southern University, Clemson University and University of Georgia. 5 more are Target (25 to 44%), such as Florida A&M University and Florida State University. The other 4 are Reach. Estimates assume Regular Decision and no hook; courses, activities and essays move them.

Estimated admission chance for three student profiles at each college: 3.3 GPA, 1150 SAT; 3.7 GPA, 1300 SAT; 4.0 GPA, 1500 SAT
College	3.3 GPA1150 SAT	3.7 GPA1300 SAT	4.0 GPA1500 SAT
U.S. Naval Academyadmits 9%	8%Reach	13%Reach	21%Reach
Georgia Techadmits 14%	10%Reach	15%Reach	28%Target
University of North Carolinaadmits 15%	11%Reach	18%Reach	32%Target
University of Virginiaadmits 17%	12%Reach	19%Reach	34%Target
Florida A&M Universityadmits 21%	25%Target	40%Target	51%Likely
Florida State Universityadmits 24%	16%Reach	35%Target	59%Likely
University of Floridaadmits 24%	15%Reach	31%Target	57%Likely
University of Texas at Austinadmits 27%	17%Reach	33%Target	62%Likely
William & Maryadmits 34%	22%Reach	43%Target	75%Safety
Southern Universityadmits 35%	54%Likely	72%Safety	82%Safety
Clemson Universityadmits 38%	25%Target	58%Likely	86%Safety
University of Georgiaadmits 38%	24%Reach	55%Likely	85%Safety
University of Central Floridaadmits 40%	31%Target	67%Likely	89%Safety
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluffadmits 41%	64%Likely	81%Safety	90%Safety
NC State Universityadmits 42%	30%Target	68%Likely	90%Safety
University of Tennesseeadmits 42%	35%Target	72%Safety	90%Safety
University of South Floridaadmits 43%	38%Target	77%Safety	92%Safety
Texas A&M Internationaladmits 44%	64%Likely	86%Safety	93%Safety
Alcorn State Universityadmits 45%	72%Safety	87%Safety	94%Safety
Grambling State Universityadmits 45%	71%Safety	87%Safety	93%Safety
University of Marylandadmits 45%	32%Target	64%Likely	91%Safety
Auburn Universityadmits 46%	39%Target	78%Safety	94%Safety
Coppin State Universityadmits 46%	71%Safety	87%Safety	94%Safety
Delaware State Universityadmits 47%	76%Safety	89%Safety	95%Safety
North Carolina A&T State Universityadmits 50%	74%Safety	92%Safety	96%Safety

Show all 100 colleges

Estimated admission chance for three student profiles at each college: 3.3 GPA, 1150 SAT; 3.7 GPA, 1300 SAT; 4.0 GPA, 1500 SAT (continued)
University of North Floridaadmits 53%	64%Likely	93%Safety	98%Safety
Montevalloadmits 54%	79%Safety	94%Safety	97%Safety
Florida International Universityadmits 55%	68%Likely	95%Safety	98%Safety
Georgia State Universityadmits 55%	74%Safety	95%Safety	98%Safety
Virginia Techadmits 55%	51%Likely	89%Safety	98%Safety
Albany State Universityadmits 55%	87%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
Savannah State Universityadmits 55%	87%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
Texas A&M Universityadmits 57%	52%Likely	91%Safety	98%Safety
Alabama A&M Universityadmits 58%	90%Safety	97%Safety	98%Safety
East Central Universityadmits 58%	86%Safety	97%Safety	98%Safety
West Floridaadmits 58%	87%Safety	97%Safety	98%Safety
University of Arkansas at Little Rockadmits 59%	89%Safety	97%Safety	98%Safety
Langston Universityadmits 59%	90%Safety	97%Safety	98%Safety
College of Charlestonadmits 60%	70%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
University of South Carolinaadmits 60%	63%Likely	94%Safety	98%Safety
Florida Gulf Coast Universityadmits 63%	84%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
UNC Wilmingtonadmits 64%	77%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Elizabeth City State Universityadmits 64%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Northwestern Oklahoma Stateadmits 65%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
WVU Techadmits 65%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Florida Atlantic Universityadmits 66%	81%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Fort Valley State Universityadmits 66%	96%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Science and Arts of Oklahomaadmits 66%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
USC Upstateadmits 67%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Northern Kentucky Universityadmits 68%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Clayton State Universityadmits 68%	96%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
North Georgiaadmits 68%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Kennesaw State Universityadmits 69%	92%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Middle Tennessee State Universityadmits 69%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Alabama-Huntsvilleadmits 69%	96%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
St. Mary's College of Marylandadmits 69%	88%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
West Alabamaadmits 69%	96%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Tennessee State Universityadmits 70%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Delawareadmits 71%	85%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of South Alabamaadmits 71%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Virginia Military Instituteadmits 71%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Henderson State Universityadmits 71%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
James Madison Universityadmits 72%	89%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Maryland Baltimore Countyadmits 72%	87%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Memphisadmits 72%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of North Texasadmits 72%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Bowie State Universityadmits 72%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Valdosta State Universityadmits 72%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Louisiana State Universityadmits 73%	91%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Texas Tech Universityadmits 73%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
USC Beaufortadmits 73%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
New College of Floridaadmits 73%	83%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Arkansasadmits 74%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Houstonadmits 74%	91%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of New Orleansadmits 74%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Coastal Carolina Universityadmits 75%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Oklahoma State Universityadmits 75%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Cameron Universityadmits 75%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
District of Columbiaadmits 75%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Georgia Southwestern Stateadmits 75%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Southern Arkansas Universityadmits 75%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
UVA Wiseadmits 75%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Tennessee Tech Universityadmits 76%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
The Citadeladmits 76%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
SE Oklahoma Stateadmits 76%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural Collegeadmits 76%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Morehead State Universityadmits 77%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Alabamaadmits 77%	92%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Oklahomaadmits 77%	92%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
SW Oklahoma Stateadmits 77%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Jacksonville State Universityadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
McNeese State Universityadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Mississippi State Universityadmits 78%	96%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Central Oklahomaadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Georgia Collegeadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Winston-Salem State Universityadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Dalton State Collegeadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
LSU Alexandriaadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
LSU Shreveportadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Oklahoma Panhandle State Universityadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities or compare your own list with the free admissions API.

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CollegeCalcAI. "Public Universities in the South, Ranked by Acceptance Rate." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/data/public-universities-in-the-south

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78%median acceptance rate, public universities in the south, ranked by acceptance rate (198 schools)Source: CollegeCalcAI

<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/data/public-universities-in-the-south?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff">78%median acceptance rate, public universities in the south, ranked by acceptance rate (198 schools)Source: CollegeCalcAI</a>

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Acceptance rates and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets) and are rounded. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.