SEC schools ranked academically by U.S. News for 2025
SEC schools ranked academically by U.S. News for 2025
The SEC has become the preeminent conference in collegiate athletics. It has competed for or won a number of national titles this academic year. Much of the first academic season in the conference was a challenge for Oklahoma. However, the Sooners came away with the regular season softball title and earned a share of the tournament title with Texas A&M.
Football got off to a rough start with a 6-7 mark and a 2-6 record in SEC play. Men's Basketball was undefeated heading into conference play but struggled to find their footing. However, Women's basketball, baseball, softball, and gymnastics all fared well and made the postseason in their respective sports.
Every year, U.S. News & World Report publishes an academic ranking of all United States universities, including yearly tuition, enrollment, and acceptance rates.
So, as the University of Oklahoma gets ready for its second year in the SEC, here's how it stacks up academically with the rest of the SEC, according to U.S. News and World Report.
16. Mississippi State University
City: Starkville, Mississippi
2024 SEC Rank: 16
Undergraduate enrollment: 18,230
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 216 (tied)
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 214
In-state cost: $10,202
Acceptance rate: 70%
15. University of Arkansas
City: Fayetteville, Arkansas
2024 SEC Rank: 14
Undergraduate enrollement: 27,742
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 178
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: 189
In-state cost: $10,104
Acceptance rate: 72%
14. Louisiana State University
City: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
2024 SEC Rank: 15
Undergraduate enrollment: 32,574
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 185
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 179 (tied)
In-state cost: $11,954
Acceptance rate: 74%
Get more LSU Tigers news, analysis and opinions on LSUTigersWire.
12 (tied). University of Mississippi
City: Oxford, Mississippi
2024 SEC Rank: 12
Undergraduate enrollment: 19, 094
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 163
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 171 (tied)
In-state cost: $9,772
Acceptance rate: 98%
12 (tied). University of Alabama
City: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
2024 SEC Rank: 13
Undergraduate enrollment: 33,435
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 170
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 171
In-state cost: $12,180
Acceptance rate: 76%
Get more Alabama news, analysis and opinions on RollTideWire.
11. University of Kentucky
City: Lexington, Kentucky
2024 SEC Rank: 11
Undergraduate enrollment: 23,930
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 159
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 152
In-state cost: $13,502
Acceptance rate: 92%
Get more Kentucky Wildcats news, analysis and opinions on UKWildcatsWire.
10. University of Oklahoma
City: Norman, Oklahoma
2024 SEC Rank: 8
Undergraduate enrollment: 22,046
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 124 (tied)
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 132
In-state cost: $9,595
Acceptance rate: 76%
Get more Oklahoma Sooners news, analysis, and opinions on SoonersWire
9. University of South Carolina
City: Columbia, South Carolina
2024 SEC Rank: 10
Undergraduate enrollment: 28,470
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 124 (tied)
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 121
In-state cost: $12,688
Acceptance rate: 61%
8 (tied). University of Tennessee
City: Knoxville, Tennessee
2024 SEC Rank: 7
Undergraduate enrollment: 28,883
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 105
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 109 (tied)
In-state cost: $13,812
Acceptance rate: 46%
Get more Tennessee Volunteers news, analysis and opinions on VolsWire
7 (tied). University of Missouri
City: Columbia, Missouri
2024 SEC Rank: 9
Undergraduate enrollment: 23,629
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 124 (tied)
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 109 (tied)
In-state cost: $14,830
Acceptance rate: 77%
6. Auburn University
City: Auburn, Alabama
2024 SEC Rank: 6
Undergraduate enrollment: 26,874
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 93
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: 105
In-state cost: $12,890
Acceptance rate: 50%
Get more Auburn Tigers news, analysis and opinions on AuburnWire.
5. Texas A&M University
City: College Station, Texas
2024 SEC Rank: 4
Undergraduate enrollment: 59,933
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 47
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: 51
In-state cost: $12,413
Acceptance rate: 63%
Get more Texas A&M Aggies news, analysis and opinions on AggiesWire
4. University of Georgia
City: Athens, Georgia
2024 SEC Rank: 5
Undergraduate enrollment: 31,554
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 47
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 46
In-state cost: $11,440
Acceptance rate: 37%
Get more Georgia Bulldogs news, analysis and opinions on UGAWire.
2 (tied). University of Texas
City: Austin, Texas
2024 SEC Rank: 3
Undergraduate enrollment: 42,444
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 32
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 30 (tied)
In-state cost: $11,678
Acceptance rate: 29%
Get more Texas Longhorns news, analysis and opinions on Longhorns Wire.
2 (tied). University of Florida
City: Gainsville, Florida
2024 SEC Rank: 2
Undergraduate enrollment: 34,924
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 28
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 30 (tied)
In-state cost: $6,381
Acceptance rate: 24%
Get more Florida Gators news, analysis and opinions on GatorsWire.
1. Vanderbilt University
City: Nashville, Tennessee
2024 SEC Rank: 1
Undergraduate enrollment in fall 2024: 7,152
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2024: No. 18
U.S. News and World Report ranking 2025: No. 18 (Tied)
Tuition: $67,498
Acceptance rate: 6%
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