SEC schools ranked academically by U.S. News for 2022-23
The Southeastern Conference is widely recognized for its athletic dominance. However, many of its universities also have a strong academic reputation that often goes overlooked.
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 will rank the SEC universities by their academic reputation:
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%
University of Florida
Syndication: Florida Times-Union
Location: Gainesville, Florida
U.S. News rank: 29
Total enrollment fall 2020: 53,372
4-year graduation rate: 67%
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%
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%
Auburn University
Syndication: Montgomery
Location: Auburn, Alabama
U.S. News rank: 97
Total enrollment fall 2020: 30,737
4-year graduation rate: 51%
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%
University of South Carolina
(Photo by 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 Missouri
(Photo by 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 Kentucky
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Location: Columbia, Missouri
U.S. News rank: 137 (tie)
Total enrollment fall 2020: 31,103
4-year graduation rate: 50%
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%
University of Mississippi
(Photo by 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 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%
Louisiana State University
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
U.S. News rank: 176 (tie)
Total enrollment fall 2020: 34,285
4-year graduation rate: 43%
Mississippi State University
Syndication: JacksonMS
Location: Mississippi State, Mississippi
U.S. News rank: 194
Total enrollment fall 2020: 22,986
4-year graduation rate: 40%
