Lens covers 59 smaller public universities in the Southeast, all public. They range from Coppin State University (1,844 undergraduates) to University of North Carolina Wilmington (14,922). Acceptance rates run from 21% to 100%, and 53 of the 59 admit at least half of applicants.
Smaller public universities here have fewer than 15,000 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 59 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 59 smaller public universities in the Southeast
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University | Normal, Alabama | 6,124 | 58% | $10,024 in-state · $18,634 out-of-state |
| Austin Peay State University | Clarksville, Tennessee | 7,560 | 96% | $9,006 in-state · $14,766 out-of-state |
| Bowie State University | Bowie, Maryland | 5,043 | 72% | $9,218 in-state · $19,938 out-of-state |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | Charleston, South Carolina | 2,705 | 23% | $12,570 in-state · $38,508 out-of-state |
| Coastal Carolina University | Conway, South Carolina | 10,377 | 75% | $11,640 in-state · $29,628 out-of-state |
| College of Charleston | Charleston, South Carolina | 10,558 | 60% | $12,978 in-state · $38,296 out-of-state |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, Georgia | 5,625 | 99% | $5,898 in-state · $17,610 out-of-state |
| Coppin State University | Baltimore, Maryland | 1,844 | 46% | $7,100 in-state · $14,024 out-of-state |
| Delaware State University | Dover, Delaware | 4,398 | 47% | $10,670 in-state · $20,634 out-of-state |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, Tennessee | 10,004 | 86% | $10,472 in-state · $14,522 out-of-state |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, Kentucky | 12,318 | 78% | $10,320 in-state · $21,230 out-of-state |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City, North Carolina | 1,975 | 64% | $6,536 in-state · $10,536 out-of-state |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville, North Carolina | 5,762 | 82% | $4,353 in-state · $8,353 out-of-state |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee, Florida | 7,582 | 21% | $5,785 in-state · $17,725 out-of-state |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, Florida | 13,874 | 63% | $6,118 in-state · $25,162 out-of-state |
| Francis Marion University | Florence, South Carolina | 2,628 | 86% | $11,160 in-state · $21,544 out-of-state |
| Frostburg State University | Frostburg, Maryland | 2,909 | 89% | $10,220 in-state · $25,814 out-of-state |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, Georgia | 5,947 | 78% | $9,186 in-state · $29,512 out-of-state |
| Jackson State University | Jackson, Mississippi | 4,600 | 93% | $8,965 in-state · $11,965 out-of-state |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, Alabama | 7,036 | 78% | $12,894 in-state · $23,334 out-of-state |
| Lander University | Greenwood, South Carolina | 3,397 | 81% | $11,700 in-state · $21,300 out-of-state |
| Longwood University | Farmville, Virginia | 3,015 | 90% | $15,744 in-state · $27,978 out-of-state |
| Marshall University | Huntington, West Virginia | 7,266 | 96% | $9,162 in-state · $20,342 out-of-state |
| Middle Georgia State University | Macon, Georgia | 6,574 | 100% | $5,038 in-state · $16,390 out-of-state |
| Morehead State University | Morehead, Kentucky | 4,578 | 77% | $10,024 in-state · $14,980 out-of-state |
| Morgan State University | Baltimore, Maryland | 9,019 | 82% | $8,229 in-state · $19,124 out-of-state |
| Murray State University | Murray, Kentucky | 6,688 | 86% | $9,900 in-state · $19,836 out-of-state |
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro, North Carolina | 12,182 | 50% | $6,813 in-state · $20,673 out-of-state |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham, North Carolina | 6,081 | 87% | $6,699 in-state · $19,735 out-of-state |
| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, Kentucky | 8,246 | 68% | $11,088 in-state · $21,912 out-of-state |
| Radford University | Radford, Virginia | 6,038 | 90% | $12,548 in-state · $25,633 out-of-state |
| Salisbury University | Salisbury, Maryland | 6,057 | 87% | $11,084 in-state · $22,174 out-of-state |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Tennessee | 4,848 | 70% | $8,616 in-state · $22,416 out-of-state |
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville, Tennessee | 8,698 | 76% | $11,376 in-state · $15,576 out-of-state |
| The University of Tennessee–Chattanooga | Chattanooga, Tennessee | 10,074 | 81% | $10,448 in-state · $18,512 out-of-state |
| The University of Tennessee–Martin | Martin, Tennessee | 4,866 | 88% | $10,560 in-state · $16,600 out-of-state |
| Troy University | Troy, Alabama | 9,805 | 96% | $10,176 in-state · $20,352 out-of-state |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, Alabama | 11,635 | 88% | $9,098 in-state · $22,562 out-of-state |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, Alabama | 6,591 | 69% | $12,132 in-state · $26,408 out-of-state |
| University of Louisville | Louisville, Kentucky | 14,727 | 79% | $13,136 in-state · $29,482 out-of-state |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | Princess Anne, Maryland | 2,391 | 96% | $9,076 in-state · $20,122 out-of-state |
| University of Maryland–Baltimore County | Baltimore, Maryland | 10,701 | 72% | $13,256 in-state · $31,275 out-of-state |
| University of Memphis | Memphis, Tennessee | 12,701 | 72% | $10,728 in-state · $15,384 out-of-state |
| University of North Alabama | Florence, Alabama | 5,811 | 87% | $12,120 in-state · $22,320 out-of-state |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington, North Carolina | 14,922 | 64% | $7,277 in-state · $24,152 out-of-state |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, North Carolina | 14,062 | 89% | $7,661 in-state · $24,012 out-of-state |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke, North Carolina | 5,330 | 93% | $3,648 in-state · $7,648 out-of-state |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville, Florida | 13,359 | 53% | $6,389 in-state · $20,793 out-of-state |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, Alabama | 8,879 | 71% | $10,116 in-state · $19,092 out-of-state |
| University of South Carolina–Upstate | Spartanburg, South Carolina | 4,038 | 67% | $11,588 in-state · $23,090 out-of-state |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | 10,075 | 99% | $9,998 in-state · $11,998 out-of-state |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola, Florida | 9,330 | 58% | $6,360 in-state · $19,241 out-of-state |
| University of West Georgia | Carrollton, Georgia | 7,520 | 52% | $6,088 in-state · $17,800 out-of-state |
| Valdosta State University | Valdosta, Georgia | 6,622 | 72% | $6,124 in-state · $17,836 out-of-state |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, North Carolina | 10,024 | 82% | $4,630 in-state · $8,630 out-of-state |
| Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, Kentucky | 12,155 | 94% | $11,652 in-state · $27,000 out-of-state |
| William & Mary | Williamsburg, Virginia | 7,055 | 34% | $25,914 in-state · $51,038 out-of-state |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | 4,170 | 78% | $6,126 in-state · $16,782 out-of-state |
| Winthrop University | Rock Hill, South Carolina | 3,523 | 79% | $14,678 in-state · $28,676 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 Midwest
- Smaller Public Universities in the South and Southwest
- Smaller Public Universities in the Mountain West
- Smaller Public Universities on the West Coast
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the Southeast
- Large 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 smaller public universities in the Southeast admit at least half of applicants? 53 of the 59: Alabama A & M University, Austin Peay State University, Bowie State University, Coastal Carolina University, College of Charleston, Columbus State University, East Tennessee State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Francis Marion University and 41 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest smaller public universities in the Southeast? University of North Carolina Wilmington is the largest, with 14,922 undergraduates, and Coppin State University is the smallest, with 1,844 (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.