The 14 Universities in the SEC, Southeastern Conference

In recent years, the NCAA Southeastern Conference is considered by many to be the strongest Division I athletic conference in the country. The member universities, however, are much more than athletic powerhouses. These 14 comprehensive universities also offer impressive academic opportunities.

If you're interested in attending one of these schools, keep in mind that admissions criteria vary widely from an extremely selective school such as Vanderbilt University to less selective schools like Mississippi State University. All member schools, however, will be looking for students who have grades and standardized test scores that are at least average.

The SEC was first formed in 1933 with ten members: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. All ten schools are still members, representing a level of stability that is highly unusual among athletic conferences. The SEC has added members twice: Arkansas and South Carolina in 1991, and Missouri and Texas A&M in 2012.

The conference supports 13 sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, equestrian, football, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

of 14

Auburn University

Located in the small town of Auburn, Alabama, Auburn University frequently ranks among the top 50 public universities in the country. Particular strengths include engineering, journalism, math and many of the sciences.

Location: Auburn, Alabama
School type: Public
Enrollment: 30,460 (24,594 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Western
Team: Tigers

of 14

Louisiana State University (LSU)

Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge Louisiana LA — Kruck20 / iStock / Getty Images

LSU, the main campus of the Louisiana university system, is well known for its Italian Renaissance architecture, red roofs, and abundant oak trees. Louisiana has lower tuition than most states, so education is a true value.

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
School type: Public
Enrollment: 31,756 (25,826 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Western
Team: Fighting Tigers

of 14

Mississippi State University

South Carolina v Mississippi State — Wesley Hitt / Getty Images

The main campus of Mississippi State University sits on over 4,000 acres in the northeastern part of the state. High achieving students should check out the Shackouls Honors College.

Location: Starkville, Mississippi
School type: Public
Enrollment: 22,226 (18,792 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Western
Team: Bulldogs

of 14

Texas A&M

Texas A&M is far more than an agricultural and mechanical college these days. It is a huge, comprehensive university where business, humanities, engineering, social science, and the sciences are all extremely popular with undergraduates.

Location: College Station, Texas
School type: Public
Enrollment: 68,726 (53,791 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Western
Team: Aggies

of 14

University of Alabama ('Bama)

The University of Alabama campus in the spring surrounded by blooming trees — sshepard / iStock / Getty Images

The University of Alabama frequently ranks among the top 50 public universities in the country. Business is particularly popular among undergraduates, and strong students should definitely check out the Honors College.

Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
School type: Public
Enrollment: 38,100 (32,795 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Western
Team: Crimson Tide

of 14

University of Arkansas

The flagship campus of Arkansas' university system, the University of Arkansas can boast of high-level research and a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences.

Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
School type: Public
Enrollment: 27,559 (23,025 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Western
Team: Razorbacks

of 14

University of Florida

With over 51,000 students (graduate and undergraduate), the University of Florida is one of the largest schools in the country. Preprofessional programs such as business, engineering, and the health sciences are particularly popular.

Location: Gainesville, Florida
School type: Public
Enrollment: 52,407 (35,405 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Eastern
Team: Gators
Explore the Campus: University of Florida Photo Tour

of 14

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia has the distinction of being the oldest state-chartered university in the United States. For the student who wants small, challenging classes, be sure to check out the Honors Program.

Location: Athens, Georgia
School type: Public
Enrollment: 38,920 (29,848 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Eastern
Team: Bulldogs

of 14

University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky is the flagship campus of the state's university system. Look for particular strengths in the Colleges of Business, Medicine, and Communication Studies.

Location: Lexington, Kentucky
School type: Public
Enrollment: 29,402 (22,2361 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Eastern
Team: Wildcats

of 14

University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)

The largest university in Mississippi, Ole Miss can boast of 30 research centers, a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and an honors college for high-achieving students.

Location: Oxford, Mississippi
School type: Public
Enrollment: 21,617 (17,150 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Western
Team: Rebels

of 14

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri at Columbia, or Mizzou, is the flagship campus of Missouri's university system. It is also the largest university in the state. The school features many excellent research centers and a strong Greek system.

Location: Columbia, Missouri
School type: Public
Enrollment: 30,014 (22,589 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Eastern
Team: Tigers

of 14

University of South Carolina

Located in the state capital, USC is the flagship campus of the South Carolina university system. The university has strong academic programs and can boast of a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a nationally respected honors college, and pioneering work in its programming for first-year students.

Location: Columbia, South Carolina
School type: Public
Enrollment: 35,364 (27,502 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Eastern
Team: Gamecocks

of 14

University of Tennessee

The flagship campus of Tennessee's university system, UT Knoxville features high-level research and academics. The university has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and its business school frequently does well in national rankings.

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
School type: Public
Enrollment: 29,460 (23,290 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Eastern
Team: Volunteers

of 14

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is the only private university in the SEC, and it is also the smallest and most selective school in the conference. The university has particular strengths in education, law, medicine, and business.

Location: Nashville, Tennessee
School type: Private
Enrollment: 13,131 (6,886 undergraduates)
SEC Division: Eastern
Team: Commodores

Last Updated: December 2015

Format

mla apa chicago

Your Citation

Grove, Allen. "Southeastern Conference—NCAA Division I Athletics." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/universities-in-southeastern-conference-787012. Grove, Allen. (2023, April 5). Southeastern Conference—NCAA Division I Athletics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/universities-in-southeastern-conference-787012 Grove, Allen. "Southeastern Conference—NCAA Division I Athletics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/universities-in-southeastern-conference-787012 (accessed June 3, 2023).