Choose colleges by conference
Compare colleges and universities by athletic conference, from the Big Ten and SEC to the Ivy League, with SAT and ACT score ranges and admissions data for every member school.
Acely's college admissions directory helps students and families compare acceptance rates, SAT and ACT score ranges, tuition, financial aid and scholarship opportunities across U.S. colleges and universities. Use this interactive resource to determine what may be safety, target, or reach schools based on your current test scores and your preferences.
Data sourced from Peterson's annual survey of undergraduate institutions. Data last updated: May 2026
Southeastern Conference
EST. 1932 • 16 MEMBERS
A strong option for students looking for spirited campus culture, major public universities, warm-weather campuses, and strong regional alumni networks across the South.
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Big Ten Conference
EST. 1896 • 18 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking large public research universities, big-campus energy, strong alumni networks, and a realistic admissions path with solid SAT/ACT scores.
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Atlantic Coast Conference
EST. 1953 • 18 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking a mix of selective private universities, large public institutions, strong academics, and East Coast/Southern campus options.
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Ivy League
EST. 1954 • 8 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking highly selective private universities, elite academic programs, historic campuses, and strong need-based financial aid.
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Big 12 Conference
EST. 1996 • 16 MEMBERS
A strong option for students looking for large public universities, energetic campus life, strong regional programs, and a broad mix of admissions selectivity.
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Pac-12 Conference
EST. 1959 • 9 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking West Coast public universities in a reformed conference spanning the Pacific Northwest, California, and the Mountain West, with renewed FBS football membership.
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Big East Conference
EST. 1979 • 11 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking mostly private, urban or city-adjacent universities with strong campus communities, basketball culture, and solid academic reputations.
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Mountain West Conference
EST. 1999 • 14 MEMBERS
A strong option for students drawn to public universities across the Mountain West and Hawaii, with FBS football, high-altitude and desert campuses, and strong outdoor lifestyle appeal.
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Sun Belt Conference
EST. 1976 • 14 MEMBERS
A strong option for students looking for fast-growing public universities across the Sun Belt, with FBS football, warm-weather campuses, and admissions profiles from accessible to moderately selective.
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American Conference
EST. 2013 • 13 MEMBERS
A strong option for students looking for urban and suburban public universities across the South and Midwest, with competitive basketball programs and a wide range of admissions selectivity.
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Mid-American Conference
EST. 1946 • 13 MEMBERS
A strong option for students looking for public universities across the Great Lakes and Midwest, with FBS football, classic college towns, and a broad range of admissions selectivity.
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West Coast Conference
EST. 1952 • 9 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking private West Coast universities, many with Jesuit or Catholic roots, strong basketball programs, and selective but not Ivy-level admissions.
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Atlantic 10 Conference
EST. 1975 • 14 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking a mix of private Catholic universities and public institutions across the East Coast and Midwest, with strong basketball traditions and no football sponsorship.
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Conference USA
EST. 1995 • 11 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking public universities across the South and Gulf Coast, with mid-size enrollments, regional athletics, and admissions profiles that span safety schools to competitive targets.
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Missouri Valley Conference
EST. 1907 • 11 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking one of the nation's oldest conferences, with a Midwest blend of private universities and public institutions and nationally respected basketball programs.
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Coastal Athletic Association
EST. 1983 • 13 MEMBERS
A strong option for students looking for East Coast public and private universities with strong basketball pedigrees, mid-size campuses, and a separate FCS football league with deep regional rivalries.
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Patriot League
EST. 1986 • 10 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking academically selective private universities in the Northeast, plus the service academies, with FCS football and strong undergraduate focus.
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Big West Conference
EST. 1969 • 11 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking California-centric public universities, from beach-adjacent campuses to inland research schools, with strong diversity and no conference football sponsorship.
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Horizon League
EST. 1979 • 11 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking a Midwest-focused mix of private universities and public institutions, with strong basketball programs and accessible admissions outside the Power conferences.
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Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
EST. 1980 • 13 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking private universities in the Northeast, many with Catholic affiliations, smaller enrollments, and strong basketball communities without FBS football.
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Atlantic Sun Conference
EST. 1978 • 12 MEMBERS
A strong option for students looking for smaller public and private universities across the Southeast and Sun Belt, with warm-weather campuses and a growing, geographically spread membership.
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Southern Conference
EST. 1921 • 10 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking a blend of private and public universities across the Southeast and Appalachia, with FCS football, historic campuses, and strong regional identity.
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Big Sky Conference
EST. 1963 • 11 MEMBERS
A strong option for students drawn to public universities in the Mountain West and Northwest, with outdoor-oriented campuses, regional school spirit, and FCS football traditions.
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Southland Conference
EST. 1963 • 12 MEMBERS
A strong option for students looking for public universities across Texas, Louisiana, and the South Central region, with FCS football and affordable in-state tuition at many member schools.
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Southwestern Athletic Conference
EST. 1920 • 12 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking historically Black colleges and universities across the Southwest and Southeast, with celebrated FCS football traditions and vibrant campus culture.
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Big South Conference
EST. 1983 • 9 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking a mix of private and public institutions in the Carolinas and Virginia, with classic Southern campus settings and FCS football through the OVC–Big South alliance.
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America East Conference
EST. 1979 • 9 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking public research universities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with mid-size campuses, strong regional ties, and accessible admissions outside the Power conferences.
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Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
EST. 1970 • 8 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking historically Black colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, with tight-knit campus communities and strong cultural identity.
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Ohio Valley Conference
EST. 1948 • 11 MEMBERS
A strong option for students looking for public and private universities across the lower Midwest and Southeast, with FCS football and smaller-campus settings at many member schools.
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Summit League
EST. 1982 • 9 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking public and private universities across the Upper Midwest and Great Plains, with basketball and Olympic-sport strength and no FBS football sponsorship.
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NEC
EST. 1981 • 10 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking smaller private and mid-size universities clustered in the Northeast, with close geographic proximity and accessible admissions profiles.
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Western Athletic Conference
EST. 1962 • 7 MEMBERS
A strong option for students seeking public universities across the Southwest and West, with a compact membership, varied campus settings, and a mix of FBS and FCS football programs.
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