The Sun Belt college athletic conference is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana. Member institutions are located in the southern half of the U.S. from Colorado to Florida. Except for Denver, all members of Sun Belt Conference are public universities. Admissions criteria vary widely. Click on the profile link to get average ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rates and financial aid information.
Compare the Sun Belt Conference schools: SAT chart | ACT chart
Explore other top conferences: ACC | Big East | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac 10 | SEC
Also be sure to visit the About.com guides for college football and basketball.
1. Arkansas at Little Rock
Matthew Field / Wikimedia Commons
Business is the most popular undergraduate major at UALR. The university has an open admission policy and a learning resource center to support students who may need help with college success skills.
- Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
- School type: Public University
- Enrollment: 13,068 (10,374 undergraduates)
- Team: Trojans
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the University of Arkansas at Little Rock profile.
2. Arkansas State
Zereshk / Wikipedia Commons
Arkansas State University offers 168 fields of study and has a 18 to 1 student / faculty ratio. On the student life front, ASU has an impressive 300 student organizations, including an active Greek system in which about 15% of students participate.
- Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas
- School type: Public University
- Enrollment: 13,900 (10,113 undergraduates)
- Team: Red Wolves
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Arkansas State profile.
3. Florida Atlantic
rcmaclean / Flickr
Pre-professional programs are the most popular at Florida Atlantic, especially Education and Business. The college community includes people from all 50 states and over 130 countries. The school has an 18 to 1 student / faculty ratio.
- Location: Boca Raton, Florida
- School type: Public University
- Enrollment: 29,246 (24,571 undergraduates)
- Team: Owls
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Florida Atlantic profile.
4. Florida International
Comayagua99 / Wikimedia Commons
In the short time since its opening in 1972, Florida International has earned a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences. FIU prides itself on the diversity of its student body and the education it provides to many socially and financially disadvantaged students.
- Location: Miami, Florida
- School type: Public University
- Enrollment: 44,616 (35,888 undergraduates)
- Team: Panthers
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Florida International profile.
5. Louisiana at Lafayette
Aaron charles / Wikimedia Commons
This research-intensive university has 10 different schools and colleges with Business, Education, and General Studies being quite popular among undergraduates. The school has been recognized by Princeton Review for its value.
- Location: Lafayette, Louisiana
- School type: Public University
- Enrollment: 16,885 (15,321 undergraduates)
- Team: Ragin' Cajuns
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the University of Louisiana at Lafayette profile.
6. Louisiana at Monroe
infomatique / Flickr
Compared to many similar universities, UL Monroe is a good educational value with low tuition and a majority of students receiving grant aid. The university boasts of a 17 to 1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 19.
- Location: Monroe, Louisiana
- School type: Public University
- Enrollment: 8,583 (7,243 undergraduates)
- Team: Warhawks
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the University of Louisiana at Monroe profile.
7. Middle Tennessee State
gongus / Flickr
MTSU was the first university in the Tennessee to establish an Honors College, an option for high achieving students looking for a more select academic atmosphere. The university has a 22 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and the programs in aerospace and the recording industry are both popular and well-regarded.
- Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- School type: Public University
- Enrollment: 26,442 (23,415 undergraduates)
- Team: Blue Raiders
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Middle Tennessee profile.
8. North Texas
JohnTree / Wikimedia Commons
North Texas frequently earns high marks for its value and the diversity of the student body. Students come from across the U.S. and 128 countries around the world. High achievers should check out the Honors College.
- Location: Denton, Texas
- School type: Public University
- Enrollment: 37,818 (29,897 undergraduates)
- Team: Mean Green
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the North Texas profile.
9. South Alabama
faungg / Flickr
The University of South Alabama is a fast-growing public university with strong health science and medical programs. Nursing is the most popular undergraduate major. Football is a recent addition to the USA intercollegiate athletic program, and the team is scheduled to compete in the in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision beginning in 2013.
- Location: Mobile, Alabama
- School type: Public University
- Enrollment: 14,769 (11,578 undergraduates)
- Team: Jaguars
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the University of South Alabama profile.
10. Troy
Mactone / Wikimedia Commons
Troy University is made up of a network of 60 campuses throughout the world, including four in Alabama. The university has a large distance learning program, and the business fields are the most popular among undergraduates. On the student life front, Troy has an active marching band and many Greek organizations.
- Location: Troy, Alabama
- School type: Public University
- Enrollment: 26,172 (20,590 undergraduates)
- Team: Trojans
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Troy University profile.
11. Western Kentucky
Abbey Hoekzema / Flickr
Western Kentucky has a remarkably high rate of alumni giving. On the academic front, Elementary Education, Nursing and Business are the most popular fields of study. The university has undergone extensive renovation and expansion in recent years.
- Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
- School type: Public University
- Enrollment: 21,036 (17,970 undergraduates)
- Team: Hilltoppers
- For acceptance rates, test scores, costs and financial aid data, see the Western Kentucky University profile.
