Big South Conference - Learn About the 11 Members

The Big South Conference is an NCAA Division I athletic conference with eleven members coming from Virginia and the Carolinas. The conference headquarters are located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Member institutions are a mix of private and public universities. One school, Presbyterian College, is a small liberal arts college. Three other universities compete in the Big South Conference for football only: Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey, Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, and the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama. The conference fields a total of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports.

To compare the schools in the conference and see what it takes to be admitted, be sure to check out this Big South SAT score comparison and Big South ACT score comparison.

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Campbell University

Founded in 1887 by preacher James Archibald Campbell, Campbell University maintains its ties to the Baptist Church to this day. During their first two years, all Campbell students must attend Campbell University Worship. The university is located on an 850-acre campus just 30 miles from Raleigh and Fayetteville. Undergraduates can choose from over 90 majors and concentrations, and the majority of majors have an internship component. Business Administration and Management are the most popular majors. Campbell University has a 16 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and no classes are taught by graduate assistants.

Location: Buies Creek, North Carolina
School type: private Baptist university
Enrollment: 6,448 (4,242 undergraduates)
Team: Camels
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Campbell University profile.

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Charleston Southern University

Charleston Southern University's 300-acre campus sits on a former rice and indigo plantation. Historic Charleston and the Atlantic Ocean are nearby. Founded in 1964, Charleston Southern is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and the integration of faith with learning is central to the school's mission. The university has a 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and students can choose from over 30 Bachelor's degree programs (Business is most popular).

Location: North Charleston, South Carolina
School type: Private Baptist University
Enrollment: 3,414 (2,945 undergraduates)
Team: Buccaners
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Charleston Southern University profile.

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Gardner-Webb University

From Gardner-Webb University's campus, Charlotte is about an hour away and the Blue Ridge Mountains are nearby. The school places high value on Christian principles. Gardner-Web has a 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 25. Students can choose from about 40 Bachelor degree programs; business and social sciences are most popular.

Location: Boiling Springs, North Carolina
School type: Private Baptist university
Enrollment: 3,598 (2,036 undergraduates)
Team: Runnin' Bulldogs
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Gardner-Webb University profile.

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Hampton University

One of the nation's top historically Black colleges and universities, Hampton University occupies an attractive waterfront campus. Biology, business, and psychology are all popular majors, and academics are supported by a 13 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Booker T. Washington studied and taught at the university.

Location: Hampton, Virginia
Type of Institution: Private university
Enrollment: 4,321 (3,672 undergraduates)
Team: Pirates
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs, and other information, see the Hampton University profile.

Southern Conference

By Allen Grove

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High Point University

Founded in 1924, High Point University has in recent years undergone massive expansion with $300 million dedicated to campus construction and upgrades including residence halls that are more luxurious than those found at most colleges. Students come from over 40 states and 50 countries, and undergraduates can choose from 68 majors. Business Administration is by far the most popular field of study. High Point has a 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and most classes are small.

Location: High Point, North Carolina
School type: Private Methodist university
Enrollment: 5,137 (4,545 undergraduates)
Team: Panthers
Explore the Campus: High Point University Photo Tour
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the High Point University profile.

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Longwood University

Founded in 1839 and located about 65 miles from Richmond, Virginia, Longwood provides its students with a hands-on educational experience supported by an average class size of 21. The university frequently ranks well among southeastern colleges.

Location: Farmville, Virginia
School type: Public university
Enrollment: 4,911 (4,324 undergraduates)
Team: Lancers
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Longwood University profile.

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Presbyterian College

Prebyterian College is one of the country's smallest Division I schools. Students come from 29 states and 7 countries. Students can expect a lot of personal attention—the school has a 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 14. Students can choose from 34 majors, 47 minors, and 50 clubs and organizations. PC earns high marks for its value and ability to foster community service.

Location: Clinton, South Carolina
School type: Private Prebyterian liberal arts college
Enrollment: 1,330 (1,080 undergraduates)
Team: Blue Hose
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Prebyterian College profile.

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Radford University

Established in 1910, Radford University's attractive red-brick Georgian-style campus is located southwest of Roanoke along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Students come from 41 states and 50 countries. Radford has an 16 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and the average freshman class size is 30 students. Professional fields such as business, education, communications and nursing are among the most popular with undergraduates. Radford has an active Greek community with 28 fraternities and sororities.

Location: Radford, Virginia
School type: Public university
Enrollment: 9,335 (7,926 undergraduates)
Team: Highlanders
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Radford University profile.

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UNC Asheville

University of North Carolina Asheville. Blue Bullfrog / Flickr

The University of North Carolina at Asheville is the designated liberal arts college of the UNC system. The school's focus is almost entirely on undergraduate education, so students can expect more interaction with the faculty than at many large state universities. Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, UNCA provides an unusual mix of a small liberal arts college atmosphere with the low price tag of a state university.

Location: Asheville, North Carolina
School type: Public liberal arts college
Enrollment: 3,762 (3,743 undergraduates)
Team: Bulldogs
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the UNC Asheville profile.

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University of South Carolina Upstate

USC Upstate College of Business and Economics.
PegasusRacer28 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Established in 1967, the University of South Carolina Upstate is one of the senior public institutions of the University of South Carolina system. USC Upstate's 328-acre campus is home to students from 36 states and 51 countries. Nursing, education, and business are all extremely popular with undergraduates. High achieving students should look into Upstate's Honors Program for access to special academic, professional, and travel opportunities.

Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina
School type: public university
Enrollment: 6,175 (6,036 undergraduates)
Team: Spartans
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the University of South Carolina Upstate profile.

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Winthrop University

Founded in 1886, Winthrop University has many buildings on the National Historic Register. The diverse student body comes from 42 states and 54 countries. Undergraduates can choose from 41 degree programs with business administration and art being the most popular. Winthrop has a 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 24. All classes are taught by the faculty.

Location: Rock Hill, South Carolina
School type: Public university
Enrollment: 5,813 (4,887 undergraduates)
Team: Eagles
For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Winthrop University profile.