With the addition of the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) now boasts 16 prestigious academic institutions. Known for its athletic dominance, particularly in football, the SEC also includes some of the most esteemed schools in the South.
According to U.S. News & World Report, several SEC schools are highly selective, with five of the 16 institutions admitting fewer than 50% of applicants. The University of Georgia, for example, has one of the lowest acceptance rates among Georgia’s 12 universities.
Vanderbilt University stands out for its extreme selectivity, admitting less than 10% of applicants, placing it among the most competitive schools nationally, with the 17th lowest acceptance rate as per U.S. News.
Using data from U.S. News, we can rank SEC universities based on their acceptance rates, from the highest percentage of accepted applicants to the lowest.
16. University of Mississippi (97%)
Located in Oxford, Mississippi, the University of Mississippi, or Ole Miss, has a tuition of $9,412 for in-state students and $26,980 for out-of-state students. It is ranked 163rd by U.S. News, with an undergraduate enrollment of 17,302 as of fall 2022.
15. University of Kentucky (95%)
In Lexington, Kentucky, the University of Kentucky charges $13,212 in-state and $33,406 out-of-state tuition. It ranks 159th according to U.S. News and had 22,735 undergraduates enrolled in fall 2022.
14. University of Alabama (80%)
Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the University of Alabama has an in-state tuition of $11,900 and out-of-state tuition of $33,200. It is ranked 170th by U.S. News and had 32,548 undergraduate students in fall 2022.
13. University of Arkansas (79%)
In Fayetteville, Arkansas, the University of Arkansas charges $9,748 for in-state and $28,772 for out-of-state students. It ranks 178th and had an undergraduate enrollment of 26,269 in fall 2022.
12. University of Missouri (79%)
Located in Columbia, Missouri, the University of Missouri’s tuition is $14,122 for in-state and $34,322 for out-of-state students. It holds the 124th spot in the U.S. News rankings, with an undergraduate enrollment of 23,752 as of fall 2022.
11. Louisiana State University (76%)
Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, LSU charges $11,954 for in-state and $28,631 for out-of-state tuition. It is ranked 185th by U.S. News and had 30,952 undergraduates in fall 2022.
10. University of Oklahoma (73%)
Located in Norman, Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma’s tuition is $9,312 for in-state and $25,880 for out-of-state students. It is ranked 124th by U.S. News, with an undergraduate enrollment of 21,294 in fall 2022.
9. Mississippi State University (70%)
In Starkville, Mississippi, Mississippi State University charges $9,815 in-state and $26,580 out-of-state tuition. It ranks 216th and had 18,305 undergraduates in fall 2022.
8. University of Tennessee (68%)
Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, the University of Tennessee’s tuition is $13,244 for in-state and $31,434 for out-of-state students. It is ranked 105th by U.S. News and had 27,039 undergraduate students in fall 2022.
7. University of South Carolina (64%)
In Columbia, South Carolina, the University of South Carolina has an in-state tuition of $12,688 and out-of-state tuition of $33,928. It ranks 124th by U.S. News, with 27,343 undergraduates enrolled in fall 2022.
6. Texas A&M University (63%)
Located in College Station, Texas, Texas A&M charges $12,413 for in-state and $40,607 for out-of-state students. It is ranked 47th by U.S. News and had 57,512 undergraduates in fall 2022.
5. Auburn University (44%)
Based in Auburn, Alabama, Auburn University’s tuition is $12,536 for in-state and $33,944 for out-of-state students. It is ranked 93rd by U.S. News, with an undergraduate enrollment of 25,379 as of fall 2022.
4. University of Georgia (43%)
Located in Athens, Georgia, the University of Georgia charges $11,180 for in-state and $30,220 for out-of-state tuition. It ranks 47th by U.S. News and had 30,714 undergraduates in fall 2022.
3. University of Texas (31%)
In Austin, Texas, the University of Texas is ranked 32nd by U.S. News.
2. University of Florida (23%)
Situated in Gainesville, Florida, the University of Florida has in-state tuition of $6,381 and out-of-state tuition of $28,658. It is ranked 28th by U.S. News and had 34,552 undergraduates in fall 2022.
1. Vanderbilt University (7%)
Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University has a private tuition of $63,946. It ranks 18th by U.S. News and had 7,151 undergraduates in fall 2022.
