Ranking all 16 SEC schools academically by U.S. News & World Report

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Ranking all 16 SEC schools academically by U.S. News & World Report

The University of Florida has ranked among the top institutions of higher learning in the United States for the past several decades, and the tradition of academic excellence continues into the second decade of the 21st century.

UF has kept good company while competing athletically in the Southeastern Conference, also maintaining its competitive nature in the classroom. While the battles on the fields and courts have built intense rivalries over the ages, academic excellence has also been a source of pride for each school’s alumni and current student body.

Each year, 

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

 publishes an 

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

 colleges. In their most recently updated data set, the

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

find themselves tied for second-best in the conference with the

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

. Those two only trail the perennially top-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores.

Take a look below at where all 16 SEC schools rank in comparison to their peers, as well as their national rankings and deep dives into the numbers.

No. 1 in SEC: Vanderbilt University – Nashville, Tennessee

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 18 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 6%

Overview: Vanderbilt University is a private institution that was founded in 1873. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,152 (fall 2023). Its setting is urban, and the campus size is 333 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Vanderbilt University’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 18. Its tuition and fees are $67,498.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at Vanderbilt University is 7:1, and the school has 60.9% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Vanderbilt University include: Social Sciences; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Engineering; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Mathematics and Statistics; Psychology; Visual and Performing Arts; Education; and Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 96%.

No. 2 (tie) in SEC: University of Texas – Austin, Texas

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 30 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 29%

Overview: The University of Texas—Austin is a public institution founded in 1883. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 42,444 (fall 2023). Its setting is urban, and the campus size is 431 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. The University of Texas—Austin’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 30. Its in-state tuition and fees are $11,678; out-of-state tuition and fees are $42,778.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at The University of Texas—Austin is 19:1, and the school has 36.4% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at The University of Texas—Austin include: Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Health Professions and Related Programs; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Psychology; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; and Visual and Performing Arts. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 96%.

Read more at

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

No. 2 (tie) in SEC: University of Florida – Gainesville, Florida

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 30 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 24%

Overview: University of Florida is a public institution that was founded in 1853. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 34,924 (fall 2023). Its setting is city, and the campus size is 2,000 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Florida’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 30. Its in-state tuition and fees are $6,381; out-of-state tuition and fees are $28,658.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at University of Florida is 16:1, and the school has 50.3% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Florida include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Social Sciences; Health Professions and Related Programs; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Psychology; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; and Visual and Performing Arts. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97%.

No. 4 in SEC: University of Georgia – Athens, Georgia

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 46 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 37%

Overview: University of Georgia is a public institution that was founded in 1785. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 31,514 (fall 2023). Its setting is city, and the campus size is 767 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Georgia’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 46. Its in-state tuition and fees are $11,440; out-of-state tuition and fees are $31,678.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at University of Georgia is 17:1, and the school has 48.7% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Georgia include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Social Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Psychology; Engineering; Health Professions and Related Programs; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences; and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 95%.

Read more at

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

No. 5 in SEC: Texas A&M University – College Station, Texas

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 51 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 63%

Overview: Texas A&M University is a public institution that was founded in 1876. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 59,933 (fall 2023). Its setting is city, and the campus size is 5,200 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Texas A&M University’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 51. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,413; out-of-state tuition and fees are $40,307.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at Texas A&M University is 19:1, and the school has 24.6% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Texas A&M University include: Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Agricultural / Animal / Plant / Veterinary Science and Related Fields; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Health Professions and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Engineering / Engineering-Related Technologies / Technicians; Psychology; and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 94%.

Read more at

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

No. 6 in SEC: Auburn University – Auburn, Alabama

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 105 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 50%

Overview: Auburn University is a public institution that was founded in 1856. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 26,874 (fall 2023), and the campus size is 1,875 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Auburn University’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 105. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,890; out-of-state tuition and fees are $34,922.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at Auburn University is 21:1. The most popular majors at Auburn University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Health Professions and Related Programs; Education; Agricultural / Animal / Plant / Veterinary Science and Related Fields; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Psychology; and Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 93%.

Read more at

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

No. 7 (tie) in SEC: University of Missouri – Columbia, Missouri

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 109 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 77%

Overview: University of Missouri is a public institution founded in 1839. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 23,629 (fall 2023). Its setting is city, and the campus size is 1,262 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Missouri’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 109. Its in-state tuition and fees are $14,830; out-of-state tuition and fees are $36,040.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at University of Missouri is 17:1, and the school has 43.1% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Missouri include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Engineering; Psychology; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Education; Agricultural / Animal / Plant / Veterinary Science and Related Fields; and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 89%.

No. 7 (tie) in SEC: University of Tennessee – Knoxville, Tennessee

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 109 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 46%

Overview: University of Tennessee—Knoxville is a public institution founded in 1794. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 28,883 (fall 2023). Its setting is urban, and the campus size is 910 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Tennessee—Knoxville’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 109. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,812; out-of-state tuition and fees are $32,956.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at University of Tennessee—Knoxville is 18:1, and the school has 27.9% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Tennessee—Knoxville include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering; Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Psychology; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Health Professions and Related Programs; Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology; Agricultural / Animal / Plant / Veterinary Science and Related Fields; and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 89%.

Read more at

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

No. 9 in SEC: University of South Carolina – Columbia, South Carolina

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 121 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 61%

Overview: University of South Carolina is a public institution founded in 1801. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 28,470 (fall 2023). Its setting is city, and the campus size is 444 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of South Carolina’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 121. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,688; out-of-state tuition and fees are $35,972.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina is 19:1, and the school has 40.7% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of South Carolina include: Public Health; Finance and Financial Management Services; Biology, General; Research and Experimental Psychology; Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness; Marketing; Computer and Information Sciences, General; Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing; Criminal Justice and Corrections; and Political Science and Government. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 90%.

No. 10 in SEC: University of Oklahoma – Norman, Oklahoma

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 132 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 76%

Overview: University of Oklahoma is a public institution founded in 1890. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 22,046 (fall 2023), and the campus size is 3,326 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Oklahoma’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 132. Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,595; out-of-state tuition and fees are $26,665.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at University of Oklahoma is 17:1, and the school has 45.1% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Oklahoma include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Psychology; Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Visual and Performing Arts; and Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 88%.

Read more at

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

No. 11 in SEC: University of Kentucky – Lexington, Kentucky

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 152 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 92%

Overview: University of Kentucky is a public institution founded in 1865. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 23,930 (fall 2023). Its setting is city, and the campus size is 918 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Kentucky’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 152. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,502; out-of-state tuition and fees are $34,140.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at University of Kentucky is 17:1, and the school has 37.5% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Kentucky include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; Engineering; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Education; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Psychology; Social Sciences; Agricultural / Animal / Plant / Veterinary Science and Related Fields; and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 86%.

Read more at

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

No. 12 (tie) in SEC: University of Mississippi – Oxford, Mississippi

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 171 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 98%

Overview: University of Mississippi is a public institution founded in 1848. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 19,094 (fall 2023). Its setting is rural, and the campus size is 3,693 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Mississippi’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 171. Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,772; out-of-state tuition and fees are $28,600.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at University of Mississippi is 17:1, and the school has 49.4% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Mississippi include: Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia; Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse; Accounting; Finance, General; Marketing/Marketing Management, General; Business/Commerce, General; Psychology, General; Elementary Education and Teaching; Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General; and Biology/Biological Sciences, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 88%.

No. 12 (tie) in SEC: University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, Alabama

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 171 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 76%

Overview: The University of Alabama is a public institution founded in 1831. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 33,435 (fall 2023). Its setting is suburban and the campus size is 1,143 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. The University of Alabama’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 171. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,180; out-of-state tuition and fees are $34,172.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at The University of Alabama is 19:1, and the school has 48% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at The University of Alabama include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Health Professions and Related Programs; Engineering; Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences; Psychology; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Education; and Visual and Performing Arts. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 87%.

Read more at

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

No. 14 in SEC: Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge, Louisiana

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 179 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 74%

Overview: Louisiana State University—Baton Rouge is a public institution that was founded in 1860. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 32,574 (fall 2023). Its setting is urban, and the campus size is 2,000 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Louisiana State University—Baton Rouge’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 179. Its in-state tuition and fees are $11,954; out-of-state tuition and fees are $28,631.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at Louisiana State University—Baton Rouge is 21:1, and the school has 41.9% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Louisiana State University–Baton Rouge include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Education; Social Sciences; Psychology; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Visual and Performing Arts; and Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 85%.

Read more at

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

No. 15 in SEC: University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, Arkansas

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 189 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 72%

Overview: University of Arkansas is a public institution founded in 1871. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 27,472 (fall 2023). Its setting is city, and the campus size is 709 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Arkansas’ ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, No. 189. Its in-state tuition and fees are $10,104; out-of-state tuition and fees are $29,966.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at University of Arkansas is 20:1, and the school has 41.2% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Arkansas include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; Engineering; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Psychology; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology; and Education. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 86%.

No. 16 in SEC: Mississippi State University – Starkville, Mississippi

U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 214 (tie) | Acceptance Rate: 76%

Overview: Mississippi State University is a public institution founded in 1878. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,230 (fall 2023). Its setting is rural, and the campus size is 4,200 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Mississippi State University’s ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #214. Its in-state tuition and fees are $10,202; out-of-state tuition and fees are $27,637.

Academics: The student-faculty ratio at Mississippi State University is 16:1, and the school has 44.7% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Mississippi State University include: Business Administration and Management, General; Exercise Science and Kinesiology; Psychology, General; Elementary Education and Teaching; Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other; Marketing/Marketing Management, General; Mechanical Engineering; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Civil Engineering, General; and Speech Communication and Rhetoric. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 83%.

Follow us 

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

 on X, formerly known as

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, as well as

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, and like our page on 

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

 to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire:

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Ranking #SEC #schools #academically #U.S #News #World #Report

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up