A university in the Atlantic Coast Conference may be a good choice if you want your college experience to include packed stadiums, deafening arenas and massive tailgate parties. Be sure to click on the "learn more" links below to find out what it takes to get accepted. You'll discover that every one of these universities has strong academics and research to complement their strengths in athletics.
If you want to learn more about your favorite teams, check out our About.com experts:
- Tim Hyland, the About.com Guide to College Football
- Charlie Zegers, the About.com Guide to College Basketball
Boston College
drummerchris / Flickr
The oldest and wealthiest Jesuit university in the country, Boston College features beautiful Gothic architecture on a campus in the Boston suburb of Chestnut Hill. The undergraduate business program is particularly strong.
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- School type: private, Jesuit
- Undergraduate enrollment: 9,880 (2006)
- Team: Eagles
Clemson University
Jas&Suz / Flickr
A highly-ranked public university in South Carolina, Clemson sits among the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the shores of Lake Hartwell. Business and engineering are particularly popular, and Clemson distinguishes itself with a strong commitment to service learning.
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- School type: public
- Undergraduate enrollment: 14,172 (2006)
- Team: Tigers
Duke University
cb2vi3 / flickr
Of all the Atlantic Coast Conference universities, Duke is the hardest to get into. Both the acceptance rate and caliber of student makes Duke comparable to several of the Northeastern Ivy League schools. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke's campus has some stunning Gothic architecture.
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- School type: private
- Undergraduate enrollment: 6,330 (2006)
- Team: Blue Devils
Florida State University
J-a-x / Flickr
One of the flagship campuses of the Florida state university system, FSU sits just west of Tallahassee and an easy drive to the Gulf of Mexico. Academic strengths at Florida State include music, dance and engineering.
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- School type: public
- Undergraduate enrollment: 31,347 (2006)
- Team: Seminoles
Georgia Tech
brian.chu / Flickr
Located in Atlanta, Georgia Tech is an academic powerhouse that made it onto my list of top public universities and top engineering schools. And yes, their athletic programs are also excellent.
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- School type: public
- Undergraduate enrollment: 12,361 (2006)
- Team: Yellow Jackets
Maryland (University of Maryland at College Park)
forklift / Flickr
Another highly-ranked public university, the University of Maryland at College Park is the flagship campus of Maryland's state university system. College Park is an easy Metro ride into Washington, D.C., and the university has benefited by numerous research partnerships with the federal government.
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- School type: public
- Undergraduate enrollment: 25,154 (2006)
- Team: Terrapins
Miami (University of Miami)
BurningQuestion / Flickr
Business and nursing are extremely popular at the University of Miami, and the school also boasts of a top-ranked marine biology program. Located in the well-to-do suburb of Coral Springs, not Miami, the university's campus is defined by modern white buildings, fountains, and palm trees.
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- School type: private
- Undergraduate enrollment: 10,509 (2006)
- Team: Hurricanes
North Carolina (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Marchmain05 / Wikimedia Commons
Academically, UNC Chapel Hill is probably the strongest of the public universities on this list, and their Kenan-Flagler Business School made my list of top undergraduate business schools. Opened in 1795, Chapel Hill has a beautiful and historic campus. For North Carolina residents, the university is an exceptional value.
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- School type: public
- Undergraduate enrollment: 17,124 (2006)
- Team: Tar Heels
North Carolina State University
opus2008 / Flickr
North Carolina State University is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and it is the largest university in North Carolina. The most popular undergraduate programs are in business, engineering, the sciences and the social sciences.
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- School type: public
- Undergraduate enrollment: 23,730 (2006)
- Team: Wolfpack
Virginia (University of Virginia at Charlottesville)
Mr. T in DC / Flickr
Established by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia has one of the most historic and beautiful campuses in the U.S. It aslo has the largest endowment of any public university. The University of Virginia, along with Georgia Tech and UNC Chapel Hill, made my list of top public universities.
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- School type: public
- Undergraduate enrollment: 14,676 (2006)
- Team: Cavaliers
Virginia Tech
CipherSwarm / Flickr
Located in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech typically ranks among the top 10 public engineering schools. It also earns high marks for its business and architecture programs. Virginia Tech maintains a corps of cadets, and since its founding in 1872 the school has been classified as a military college.
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- School type: public
- Undergraduate enrollment: 21,997 (2006)
- Team: Hokies
Wake Forest University
Jijithecat / Wikimedia Commons
One of the four private universities in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Wake Forest was one of the first highly competitive colleges to make SAT and ACT scores optional for admissions. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest provides its students with a great balance of a small college academic experience and a large university sports scene.
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- School type: private
- Undergraduate enrollment: 4,332 (2006)
- Team: Demon Deacons
