SEC schools ranked academically by U.S. News for 2026-27

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The Southeastern Conference has been synonymous with its national prowess in collegiate athletics, but it also boasts one of the most impressive academic lineups in higher education.

Academically, the league has never been stronger, after the additions of Texas and Oklahoma. The SEC currently has five universities ranked as top 100 schools in the nation for the upcoming academic year, which includes Texas A&M.

College football in the conference has long dominated headlines, thanks to its dedicated fan bases, elite programs, and unique game-day atmospheres that generate massive revenue every year. Still, one of the most significant factors in recruiting and overall dominance against schools outside the conference is the attraction to the universities' academic superiority, research, and reputation.

Using the U.S. News & World Report's 2026-27 National University Rankings, here is how all 16 SEC schools stack up academically:

16. Mississippi State University​

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City: Starkville, Mississippi

National ranking: No. 208

Acceptance rate: 78%

15. University of Arkansas​

City: Fayetteville, Arkansas

National ranking: No. 183

Acceptance rate: 74%

14. University of Mississippi​

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City: Oxford, Mississippi

National ranking: No. 169 - Tied with Alabama and LSU

Acceptance rate: 97%

13. Louisiana State University​

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City: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

National ranking: No. 169 - Tied with Alabama and Ole Miss

Acceptance rate: 73%

For more LSU news, opinion and analysis, visit LSUTigersWire.

12. University of Alabama​

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City: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

National ranking: No. 169 - Tied with LSU and Ole Miss

Acceptance rate: 77%

For more Alabama news, opinion and analysis, visit RollTideWire.

11. University of Kentucky​

City: Lexington, Kentucky

National ranking: No. 143

Acceptance rate: 93%

For more Kentucky news, opinion and analysis, visit UKwildcatsWire.

10. University of South Carolina​

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City: Columbia, South Carolina

National ranking: No. 127

Acceptance rate: 60%

9. University of Oklahoma​

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City: Norman, Oklahoma

National ranking: No. 110

Acceptance rate: 77%

For more Oklahoma news, opinion and analysis, visit SoonersWire.

8. University of Missouri​

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City: Columbia, Missouri

National ranking: No. 102 - Tied with Auburn and Tennessee

Acceptance rate: 78%

7. University of Tennessee​

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City: Knoxville, Tennessee

National ranking: No. 102 - Tied with Auburn and Missouri

Acceptance rate: 42%

For more Tennessee news, opinion and analysis, visit VolsWire.

6. Auburn University​

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City: Auburn, Alabama

National ranking: No. 102 - Tied with Missouri and Tennessee

Acceptance rate: 46%

For more Auburn news, opinion and analysis, visit AuburnWire.

5. Texas A&M University​

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City: Bryan-College Station, Texas

National ranking: No. 51

Acceptance rate: 57%

For more Texas A&M news, opinion and analysis, visit AggiesWire.

4. University of Georgia​

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City: Athens, Georgia

National ranking: No. 46

Acceptance rate: 38%

For more Georgia news, opinion and analysis, visit UGAwire.

3. University of Florida​

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City: Gainesville, Florida

National ranking: No. 30 - Tied with Texas

Acceptance rate: 24%

For more Florida news, opinion and analysis, visit GatorsWire.

2. University of Texas​

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City: Austin, Texas

National ranking: No. 30 - Tied with Florida

Acceptance rate: 27%

For more Texas news, opinion and analysis, visit LonghornsWire.

1. Vanderbilt University​

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City: Nashville, Tennessee

National ranking: No. 17

Acceptance rate: 6%

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: SEC schools ranked academically by U.S. News for 2026-27

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