Lens covers 29 smaller public universities in the South and Southwest, all public. They range from Southern University at New Orleans (1,055 undergraduates) to Tarleton State University (12,673). Acceptance rates run from 35% to 99%, and 27 of the 29 admit at least half of applicants.
Smaller public universities here have fewer than 15,000 undergraduates (IPEDS). In Lens, the South and Southwest means Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
Open these 29 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 29 smaller public universities in the South and Southwest
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angelo State University | San Angelo, Texas | 5,643 | 83% | $8,460 in-state · $18,300 out-of-state |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, Arkansas | 9,110 | 82% | $8,090 in-state · $14,522 out-of-state |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, Arkansas | 5,388 | 96% | $8,674 in-state · $14,668 out-of-state |
| East Texas A&M University | Commerce, Texas | 9,912 | 92% | $10,026 in-state · $22,326 out-of-state |
| Lamar University | Beaumont, Texas | 8,150 | 86% | $8,905 in-state · $18,745 out-of-state |
| Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, Louisiana | 8,312 | 86% | $10,125 in-state · $16,866 out-of-state |
| Midwestern State University | Wichita Falls, Texas | 4,087 | 94% | $10,580 in-state · $12,530 out-of-state |
| Nicholls State University | Thibodaux, Louisiana | 4,737 | 91% | $8,149 in-state · $9,242 out-of-state |
| Prairie View A & M University | Prairie View, Texas | 8,877 | 79% | $11,299 in-state · $26,874 out-of-state |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond, Louisiana | 9,514 | 99% | $8,373 in-state · $20,851 out-of-state |
| Southern University and A & M College | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 5,519 | 35% | $9,922 in-state · $17,272 out-of-state |
| Southern University at New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1,055 | 79% | $8,054 in-state · $16,954 out-of-state |
| Stephen F Austin State University | Nacogdoches, Texas | 8,728 | 94% | $11,128 in-state · $23,426 out-of-state |
| Tarleton State University | Stephenville, Texas | 12,673 | 90% | $8,302 in-state · $18,142 out-of-state |
| Texas A & M International University | Laredo, Texas | 6,667 | 44% | $7,894 in-state · $19,454 out-of-state |
| Texas A & M University–Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi, Texas | 8,034 | 89% | $9,748 in-state · $20,794 out-of-state |
| Texas A&M University–Kingsville | Kingsville, Texas | 4,748 | 91% | $9,892 in-state · $25,746 out-of-state |
| Texas Southern University | Houston, Texas | 6,844 | 97% | $9,173 in-state · $21,473 out-of-state |
| Texas Woman's University | Denton, Texas | 8,767 | 96% | $8,640 in-state · $18,480 out-of-state |
| The University of Texas at Tyler | Tyler, Texas | 7,440 | 94% | $9,736 in-state · $25,494 out-of-state |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, Arkansas | 4,949 | 59% | $9,748 in-state · $22,158 out-of-state |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, Arkansas | 7,762 | 89% | $10,523 in-state · $18,023 out-of-state |
| University of Central Oklahoma | Edmond, Oklahoma | 10,170 | 78% | $8,818 in-state · $19,704 out-of-state |
| University of Houston–Downtown | Houston, Texas | 12,555 | 90% | $7,708 in-state · $17,548 out-of-state |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, Louisiana | 12,428 | 87% | $10,418 in-state · $24,146 out-of-state |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | Monroe, Louisiana | 5,022 | 85% | $9,190 in-state · $21,290 out-of-state |
| University of New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana | 4,638 | 74% | $9,172 in-state · $14,008 out-of-state |
| University of North Texas at Dallas | Dallas, Texas | 2,878 | 84% | $9,595 in-state · $21,894 out-of-state |
| West Texas A & M University | Canyon, Texas | 6,917 | 99% | $9,101 in-state · $10,996 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
- Smaller Public Universities
- Smaller Public Universities in the Northeast
- Smaller Public Universities in the Southeast
- Smaller Public Universities in the Midwest
- Smaller Public Universities in the Mountain West
- Smaller Public Universities on the West Coast
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the South and Southwest
- Large Public Universities in the South and Southwest
- Smaller Private Universities in the South and Southwest
- HBCUs in the South and Southwest
- Christian Colleges in the South and Southwest
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the South and Southwest
- Division I Colleges in the South and Southwest
- Division II Colleges in the South and Southwest
FAQ
Which smaller public universities in the South and Southwest admit at least half of applicants? 27 of the 29: Angelo State University, Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, East Texas A&M University, Lamar University, Louisiana Tech University, Midwestern State University, Nicholls State University, Prairie View A & M University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Southern University at New Orleans, Stephen F Austin State University and 15 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest smaller public universities in the South and Southwest? Tarleton State University is the largest, with 12,673 undergraduates, and Southern University at New Orleans is the smallest, with 1,055 (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.