The new U.S. News & World Report college and university rankings are out and it comes as no surprise to the Gator Nation that the University of Florida once again stands among some of the top schools in the nation.
Each year, the publication ranks the top undergraduate schools in America based on academic excellence, and this time around, the Orange and Blue maintained its overall ranking at No. 30 — tied with Southeastern Conference newcomer, the University of Texas. Both are among the highly-acclaimed “Public Ivy” institutions perceived to be on par with the quality of collegiate experience that Ivy League universities offer.
According to U.S. News methodology, schools with the highest overall rankings provided ample classroom resources for students and faculty, maintained high graduation and retention rates, conferred a high rate of degrees and produced graduates who entered the workforce with manageable debt and competitive starting salaries.
So how do all 16 SEC schools compare with each other academically? Predictably, Vanderbilt University — a prestigious private institution — remains perched atop the conference rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s latest edition. After that are Florida and Texas, and from there, the rest battle for academic supremacy in the classroom.
Take a look below at how every school ranks in the latest survey of the nation’s best colleges and universities.
No. 1 in SEC: Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 17 (tie) | Rankings Change: +1
Overview: Vanderbilt University is a private institution that was founded in 1873. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Vanderbilt University is ranked No. 17 among national universities. It’s also ranked No. 6 in lowest acceptance rates.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,221 (fall 2024), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 333 acres. The student-faculty ratio at Vanderbilt University is 8:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
No. 2 (tie) in SEC: University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 30 (tie) | Rankings Change: No Change
Overview: University of Florida is a public institution that was founded in 1853. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Florida is ranked No. 30 among national universities. It’s also ranked No. 7 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 36,573 (fall 2024), its setting is city, and the campus size is 2,000 acres. The student-faculty ratio at University of Florida is 16:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
Read more at Gators Wire
No. 2 (tie) in SEC: University of Texas (Austin, Texas)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 30 (tie) | Rankings Change: No Change
Overview: The University of Texas-Austin is a public institution that was founded in 1883. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, The University of Texas-Austin is ranked No. 30 among national universities. It’s also ranked No. 7 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 43,165 (fall 2024), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 431 acres. The student-faculty ratio at The University of Texas-Austin is 18:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
Read more at Longhorns Wire
No. 4 in SEC: University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 46 (tie) | Rankings Change: No Change
Overview: University of Georgia is a public institution that was founded in 1785. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Georgia is ranked No. 46 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 19 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 32,399 (fall 2024), and the campus size is 767 acres. The student-faculty ratio at University of Georgia is 17:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
Read more at UGA Wire
No. 5 in SEC: Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 51 (tie) | Rankings Change: No Change
Overview: Texas A&M University is a public institution that was founded in 1876. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Texas A&M University is ranked No. 51 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 21 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 60,710 (fall 2024), its setting is city, and the campus size is 5,200 acres. The student-faculty ratio at Texas A&M University is 21:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
Read more at Aggies Wire
No. 6 (tie) in SEC: Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 102 (tie) | Rankings Change: +3
Overview: Auburn University is a public institution that was founded in 1856. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Auburn University is ranked No. 102 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 46 in lowest acceptance rate.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 27,907 (fall 2024), and the campus size is 1,875 acres. The student-faculty ratio at Auburn University is 21:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
Read more at Auburn Wire
No. 6 (tie) in SEC: University of Missouri (Columbia, Missouri)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 102 (tie) | Rankings Change: +7
Overview: University of Missouri is a public institution that was founded in 1839. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Missouri is ranked No. 102 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 49 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 24,449 (fall 2024), its setting is city, and the campus size is 1,262 acres. The student-faculty ratio at University of Missouri is 17:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
No. 6 (tie) in SEC: University of Tennessee (Knoxville, Tennessee)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 109 (tie) | Rankings Change: +7
Overview: University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public institution that was founded in 1794. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Tennessee-Knoxville is ranked No. 102 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 28 among the most innovative schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 30,564 (fall 2024), its setting is city, and the campus size is 910 acres. The student-faculty ratio at University of Tennessee-Knoxville is 18:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
Read more at Vols Wire
No. 9 in SEC: University of Oklahoma (Norman, Oklahoma)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 132 (tie) | Rankings Change: +22
Overview: The University of Oklahoma is a public institution that was founded in 1890. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, The University of Oklahoma is ranked No. 110 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 54 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 23,351 (fall 2024), and the campus size is 3,326 acres. The student-faculty ratio at The University of Oklahoma is 18:1. More Info
Read more at Sooners Wire
No. 10 in SEC: University of South Carolina (Columbia, South Carolina)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 121 (tie) | Rankings Change: -6
Overview: University of South Carolina is a public institution that was founded in 1801. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of South Carolina is ranked No. 127 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 63 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 30,187 (fall 2024), its setting is city, and the campus size is 444 acres. The student-faculty ratio at University of South Carolina is 20:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
No. 11 in SEC: University of Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 143 (tie) | Rankings Change: +9
Overview: University of Kentucky is a public institution that was founded in 1865. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Kentucky is ranked No. 143 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 74 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,534 (fall 2024), its setting is city, and the campus size is 918 acres. The student-faculty ratio at University of Kentucky is 18:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
Read more at UK Wildcats Wire
No. 12 (tie) in SEC: University of Mississippi (Oxford, Mississippi)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 169 (tie) | Rankings Change: +2
Overview: University of Mississippi is a public institution that was founded in 1848. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Mississippi is ranked No. 169 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 92 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,585 (fall 2024), its setting is rural, and the campus size is 3,693 acres. The student-faculty ratio at University of Mississippi is 18:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
No. 12 (tie) in SEC: University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 169 (tie) | Rankings Change: +2
Overview: The University of Alabama is a public institution that was founded in 1831. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, The University of Alabama is ranked No. 169 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 92 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 34,389 (fall 2024), its setting is suburban and the campus size is 1,143 acres. The student-faculty ratio at The University of Alabama is 19:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
Read more at Roll Tide Wire
No. 12 (tie) in SEC: Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 169 (tie) | Rankings Change: +10
Overview: Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge is a public institution that was founded in 1860. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge is ranked No. 169 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 92 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 34,242 (fall 2024), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 2,000 acres. The student-faculty ratio at Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge is 21:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
Read more at LSU Tigers Wire
No. 15 in SEC: University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 183 (tie) | Rankings Change: +6
Overview: University of Arkansas is a public institution that was founded in 1871. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Arkansas is ranked No. 183 among national universities. It’s ranked No. #100 in Top Public Schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 28,859 (fall 2024), its setting is city and the campus size is 720 acres. The student-faculty ratio at University of Arkansas is 20:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
No. 16 in SEC: Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi)
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: 208 (tie) | Rankings Change: +6
Overview: Mississippi State University is a public institution that was founded in 1878. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Mississippi State University is ranked No. 208 among national universities. It’s ranked No. 115 among public schools.
It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,567 (fall 2024), its setting is rural, and the campus size is 4,200 acres. The student-faculty ratio at Mississippi State University is 16:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. More Info
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: SEC academic rankings for 2026 according to US News & World Report
Reporting by Adam Dubbin, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
