The Conference USA college athletic conference is headquartered in Irving, Texas, near Dallas. Member institutions are located in the southern U.S. The twelve universities in C-USA represent a range of public universities and private universities. From Rice to UTEP, admissions criteria and costs vary widely, so be sure to click on the profile link to get average ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rates and financial aid information.
If you want to learn more about your favorite teams, check out our About.com guides to College Football and College Basketball
1. East Carolina
General Wesc / Flickr
East Carolina University is the second largest university in North Carolina. Most of the school's strongest and most popular majors are in professional fields such as business, communications, education, nursing and technology.
- Location: Greenville, North Carolina
- School type: Public University
- Undergraduate enrollment: 19,767 (2007)
- C-USA Division: East
- Team: Pirates
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the East Carolina profile
2. Houston
William Holtkamp / Flickr
The University of Houston offers about 110 major and minor programs for undergraduates with business being particularly popular. The university does a good job setting up students with internships in the Houston area.
- Location: Houston, Texas
- School type: Public University
- Undergraduate enrollment: 27,572 (2007)
- C-USA Division: West
- Team: Cougars
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Houston profile
3. Marshall
Youngamerican / Wikimedia Commons
Marshall university offers 68 baccalaureate programs and has a 19 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Among undergraduates, the schools of business and education are extremely popular. Recent expansion saw the creation of the Drinko Library, Jomie Jazz Center and Graduate College.
- Location: Huntington, West Virginia
- School type: Public University
- Undergraduate enrollment: 9,586 (2007)
- C-USA Division: East
- Team: Thundering Herd
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Marshall profile
4. Memphis
bcbuckner / Flickr
The University of Memphis has notable strengths in journalism, nursing, business, and education. The campus is located four miles from downtown Memphis, and its attractive red brick buildings are laid out in a Jeffersonian style similar to the University of Virginia.
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee
- School type: Public University
- Undergraduate enrollment: 15,802 (2007)
- C-USA Division: East
- Team: Tigers
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Memphis profile
5. Rice
Rice MBA / Flickr
Rice is the most selective member of C-USA, and it made my list of top universities in the U.S. The university boasts a multi-billion-dollar endowment, a 5 to 1 ratio of undergraduates to faculty members, a median class size of 15, and a residential college system modeled after Oxford. The university has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and membership in the AAU.
- Location:
- School type: Private University
- Undergraduate enrollment: (2007)
- C-USA Division: West
- Team: Owls
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Rice profile
6. SMU (Southern Methodist University)
ruthieonart / Flickr
One of the more selective members of C-USA, SMU's Cox School of Business and Meadows School of Art are both worth a close look. SMU earned a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences. SMU typically ranks among the top 100 national universities in the U.S.
- Location: Dallas, Texas
- School type: Private University (Methodist)
- Undergraduate enrollment: 6,176 (2007)
- C-USA Division: West
- Team: Mustangs
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the SMU profile
7. Southern Miss
hattiesburgmemory / Flickr
The University of Southern Mississippi wins high marks for its Center for International Education that organizes study abroad opportunities for a large number of students. The summer program in London is particularly noteworthy. On the academic front, the university has well-regarded programs in polymer science, education and music.
- Location: Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- School type: Public University
- Undergraduate enrollment: 11,924 (2007)
- C-USA Division: East
- Team: Golden Eagles
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Southern Miss profile
8. Tulane
AuthenticEccentric / Flickr
Tulane is a highly selective member of C-USA, and the university ranks well among national universities. Strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned Tulane a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and quality research earned it membership in the Association of American Universities.
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
- School type: Private University
- Undergraduate enrollment: 6,387 (2007)
- C-USA Division: West
- Team: Green Wave
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Tulane profile
9. Tulsa
imarcc / Flickr
The University of Tulsa is a selective, private Oklahoma university. The university has an unusual and well-respected program in petroleum engineering, and strong liberal arts and sciences earned Tulsa a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
- Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
- School type: Private University (Presbyterian)
- Undergraduate enrollment: (2007)
- C-USA Division: West
- Team: Golden Hurricane
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Tulsa profile
10. UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Max Wolfe / Flickr
UAB has numerous strengths, particularly in the health sciences. High achieving students should check out UAB's University Honors Program with its opportunities for travel and independent study. Even more prestigious is the Science and Technology Honors Program which allows students to attend symposia and conduct individual research with faculty members.
- Location: Birmingham, Alabama
- School type: Public University
- Undergraduate enrollment: 10,796 (2007)
- C-USA Division: East
- Team: Blazers
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the UAB profile
11. UCF (University of Central Florida)
keone / Flickr
UCF has grown significantly in recent years and now has 12 satellite campuses including one at the Kennedy Space Center. High achieving students should check out the Burnett Honors College.
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- School type: Public University
- Undergraduate enrollment: 41,448 (2007)
- C-USA Division: East
- Team: Knights
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the UCF profile
12. UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso)
NeeDeeAhh! / Flickr
UTEP is the least selective of the C-USA universities, but it may have the most impressive social mission as it brings higher education opportunities to the diverse border area of El Paso. UTEP is the only doctoral research-intensive university in the country that has a predominately Mexican-American student body.
- Location: El Paso, Texas
- School type: Public University
- Undergraduate enrollment: 16,769 (2007)
- C-USA Division: West
- Team: Miners
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the UTEP profile
