Lens covers 36 large public universities in the Southeast, all public. They range from Towson University (16,136 undergraduates) to University of Central Florida (59,146). Acceptance rates run from 14% to 97%, and 23 of the 36 admit at least half of applicants.
Large public universities here have 15,000 or more undergraduates (IPEDS). In Lens, the Southeast means Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia.
Open these 36 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 36 large public universities in the Southeast
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University | Boone, North Carolina | 19,444 | 90% | $7,579 in-state · $25,212 out-of-state |
| Auburn University | Auburn, Alabama | 26,816 | 46% | $12,890 in-state · $34,922 out-of-state |
| Clemson University | Clemson, South Carolina | 23,300 | 38% | $15,554 in-state · $40,866 out-of-state |
| East Carolina University | Greenville, North Carolina | 19,896 | 89% | $7,361 in-state · $23,638 out-of-state |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, Florida | 23,757 | 66% | $4,879 in-state · $17,324 out-of-state |
| Florida International University | Miami, Florida | 39,508 | 55% | $6,565 in-state · $18,964 out-of-state |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, Florida | 32,212 | 24% | $5,656 in-state · $18,786 out-of-state |
| George Mason University | Fairfax, Virginia | 27,752 | 87% | $14,220 in-state · $38,688 out-of-state |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, Georgia | 18,785 | 14% | $12,058 in-state · $34,484 out-of-state |
| Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, Georgia | 21,790 | 88% | $6,022 in-state · $17,734 out-of-state |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, Georgia | 26,623 | 55% | $8,664 in-state · $24,840 out-of-state |
| James Madison University | Harrisonburg, Virginia | 20,888 | 72% | $14,250 in-state · $31,604 out-of-state |
| Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, Georgia | 41,254 | 69% | $5,808 in-state · $17,736 out-of-state |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | 16,301 | 69% | $10,266 in-state · $31,574 out-of-state |
| Mississippi State University | Mississippi State, Mississippi | 18,397 | 78% | $10,202 in-state · $27,637 out-of-state |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, North Carolina | 27,371 | 42% | $8,799 in-state · $32,847 out-of-state |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk, Virginia | 17,514 | 90% | $12,750 in-state · $33,780 out-of-state |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 33,227 | 77% | $12,180 in-state · $34,172 out-of-state |
| The University of Tennessee–Knoxville | Knoxville, Tennessee | 30,418 | 42% | $13,812 in-state · $33,256 out-of-state |
| Towson University | Towson, Maryland | 16,136 | 82% | $11,728 in-state · $29,820 out-of-state |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | 59,146 | 40% | $6,368 in-state · $22,467 out-of-state |
| University of Delaware | Newark, Delaware | 19,071 | 71% | $16,810 in-state · $41,400 out-of-state |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida | 35,629 | 24% | $6,381 in-state · $28,659 out-of-state |
| University of Georgia | Athens, Georgia | 32,137 | 38% | $11,450 in-state · $31,688 out-of-state |
| University of Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky | 24,763 | 93% | $13,502 in-state · $34,140 out-of-state |
| University of Maryland–College Park | College Park, Maryland | 30,760 | 45% | $11,809 in-state · $41,186 out-of-state |
| University of Mississippi | University, Mississippi | 21,473 | 97% | $9,772 in-state · $28,600 out-of-state |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | 20,752 | 15% | $8,994 in-state · $41,203 out-of-state |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | 24,453 | 80% | $7,239 in-state · $22,492 out-of-state |
| University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, Georgia | 16,146 | 68% | $5,285 in-state · $16,503 out-of-state |
| University of South Carolina–Columbia | Columbia, South Carolina | 29,820 | 60% | $12,688 in-state · $35,972 out-of-state |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, Florida | 37,207 | 43% | $6,410 in-state · $17,324 out-of-state |
| University of Virginia | Charlottesville, Virginia | 17,597 | 17% | $21,803 in-state · $59,512 out-of-state |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, Virginia | 20,753 | 93% | $16,945 in-state · $40,109 out-of-state |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg, Virginia | 30,923 | 55% | $15,948 in-state · $37,764 out-of-state |
| West Virginia University | Morgantown, West Virginia | 17,385 | 89% | $10,104 in-state · $28,608 out-of-state |
Sources: IPEDS (fall 2024 enrollment and admissions); College Scorecard (published tuition and fees before aid, about 2023–24). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Related lists
- Large Public Universities
- Large Public Universities in the Northeast
- Large Public Universities in the Midwest
- Large Public Universities in the South and Southwest
- Large Public Universities in the Mountain West
- Large Public Universities on the West Coast
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the Southeast
- Smaller Public Universities in the Southeast
- Smaller Private Universities in the Southeast
- HBCUs in the Southeast
- Catholic Colleges in the Southeast
- Christian Colleges in the Southeast
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Southeast
- Division I Colleges in the Southeast
FAQ
Which large public universities in the Southeast admit at least half of applicants? 23 of the 36: Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, George Mason University, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University, James Madison University, Kennesaw State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Mississippi State University, Old Dominion University and 11 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest large public universities in the Southeast? University of Central Florida is the largest, with 59,146 undergraduates, and Towson University is the smallest, with 16,136 (fall 2024).
Where these numbers come from
Lens covers the 850 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges that receive the most applications, so some smaller colleges are not listed. Enrollment, acceptance rates and degrees come from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education, fall 2024); published prices from the College Scorecard. Each college's page lists its own sources. See the data behind Lens.