Ranking SEC schools academically according to U.S. News & World Report
The Southeastern Conference is best known for its dominance in the athletic realm but something that is often overlooked is its excellence in academics as well. The SEC includes several member institutions that have a long history of producing some of the brightest scholars of our times.
According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Colleges rankings, five of the SEC’s 14 schools rank within the top 100 national universities. These rankings take into account factors such as graduation rates, faculty resources and student outcomes.
Using U.S. News’ rankings as a guide, we ranked the SEC universities by their academic reputation. Guess where the beloved Orange and Blue landed? Take a look below to find out.
Mississippi State University
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Location: Mississippi State, Mississippi
U.S. News rank: 194
Total enrollment fall 2020: 22,986
4-year graduation rate: 40%
Louisiana State University
Mario Villafuerte/Getty Images
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
U.S. News rank: 176 (tie)
Total enrollment fall 2020: 34,285
4-year graduation rate: 43%
Read more at LSU Tigers Wire
University of Arkansas
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
U.S. News rank: 176 (tie)
Total enrollment fall 2020: 27,562
4-year graduation rate: 50%
Read more at Razorbacks Wire
University of Mississippi
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Location: University, Mississippi
U.S. News rank: 151
Total enrollment fall 2020: 21,014
4-year graduation rate: 48%
University of Alabama
Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
U.S. News rank: 137 (tie)
Total enrollment fall 2020: 37,840
4-year graduation rate: 52%
Read more at Roll Tide Wire
University of Kentucky
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
U.S. News rank: 137 (tie)
Total enrollment fall 2020: 29,986
4-year graduation rate: 47%
University of Missouri
Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images
Location: Columbia, Missouri
U.S. News rank: 121
Total enrollment fall 2020: 31,103
4-year graduation rate: 50%
University of South Carolina
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
U.S. News rank: 115 (tie)
Total enrollment fall 2020: 35,468
4-year graduation rate: 65%
University of Tennessee
Syndication: Knoxville
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
U.S. News rank: 115 (tie)
Total enrollment fall 2020: 30,559
4-year graduation rate: 51%
Read more at Vols Wire
Auburn University
Syndication: Montgomery
Location: Auburn, Alabama
U.S. News rank: 97
Total enrollment fall 2020: 30,737
4-year graduation rate: 51%
Read more at Auburn Wire
Texas A&M University
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Location: College Station, Texas
U.S. News rank: 67
Total enrollment fall 2020: 70,418
4-year graduation rate: 57%
Read more at Aggies Wire
University of Georgia
Syndication: USA TODAY
Location: Athens, Georgia
U.S. News rank: 49
Total enrollment fall 2020: 39,147
4-year graduation rate: 68%
Read more at UGA Wire
University of Florida
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Location: Gainesville, Florida
U.S. News rank: 29
Total enrollment fall 2020: 53,372
4-year graduation rate: 67%
Vanderbilt University
Syndication: The Tennessean
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
U.S. News rank: 13 (tie)
Total enrollment fall 2020: 13,537
4-year graduation rate: 88%
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