SEC schools ranked academically for 2026

U.S. News & World Report unveiled its updated  college and university academic rankings  for 2026.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville ranks No. 102 among the best national universities. Tennessee had an enrollment of 30,564 during the fall in 2024, along with $13,812 in-state tuition and fees and $32,956 for out-of-state.

According to the the U.S. News & World Report, Tennessee's SAT scores range from 1200-1370 and 25-31 for ACT.

Vanderbilt is the highest-ranked school from the Southeastern Conference (No. 17). Other SEC schools ranked in the top 100 are Florida (tied 30th), Texas (tied 30th), Georgia (46th) and Texas A&M (51st).

Princeton is ranked No. 1 among all universities nationally.

Below are where every SEC school is ranked nationally for 2026 by the U.S. News & World Report.

SEC schools ranked academically by U.S. News & World Report for 2026

Alabama

National rank: No. 169

SEC rank: No. 12 (tied)

Undergraduate enrollment: 34,389 (fall 2024)

Arkansas

National rank: No. 183

SEC rank: No. 15

Undergraduate enrollment: 28,859 (fall 2024)

Auburn

National rank: No. 102

SEC rank: No. 6 (tied)

Undergraduate enrollment: 27,907 (fall 2024)

Florida

National rank: No. 30

SEC rank: No. 2 (tied)

Undergraduate enrollment: 36,573 (fall 2024)

Georgia

National rank: No. 46

SEC rank: No. 4

Undergraduate enrollment: 32,399 (fall 2024)

Kentucky

National rank: No. 143

SEC rank: No. 11

Undergraduate enrollment: 25,534 (fall 2024)

LSU

National rank: No. 169

SEC rank: No. 12 (tied)

Undergraduate enrollment: 34,242 (fall 2024)

Mississippi State

National rank: No. 208

SEC rank: No. 16

Undergraduate enrollment: 18,567 (fall 2024)

Missouri

National rank: No. 102

SEC rank: No. 6 (tied)

Undergraduate enrollment: 24,449 (fall 2024)

Ole Miss

National rank: No. 169

SEC rank: No. 12 (tied)

Undergraduate enrollment: 21,585 (fall 2024)

Oklahoma

National rank: No. 110

SEC rank: No. 9

Undergraduate enrollment: 23,351 (fall 2024)

South Carolina

National rank: No. 127

SEC rank: No. 10

Undergraduate enrollment: 30,187 (fall 2024)

Tennessee

National rank: No. 102

SEC rank: No. 8

Undergraduate enrollment: 30,564 (fall 2024)

Texas

National rank: No. 30

SEC rank: No. 2 (tied)

Undergraduate enrollment: 43,165 (fall 2024)

Texas A&M

National rank: No. 51

SEC rank: No. 5

Undergraduate enrollment: 60,710 (fall 2024)

Vanderbilt

National rank: No. 17

SEC rank: No. 1

Undergraduate enrollment: 7,221 (fall 2024)

SEC schools ranked academically

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Ranking SEC schools academically for 2026