Atlantic Sun Conference

Located among the mountains in the northeast corner of the Tennessee, ETSU is made up of six colleges, and undergraduates can choose from 112 academic programs. Students can also participate in some of ETSU's more than 170 campus organizations, many of which emphasize service and leadership. High achieving student should check out the Honors College both for the opportunity to receive full scholarship support and special academic opportunities.

• Location: Johnson City, Tennessee
• School type: public university
• Enrollment: 15,250 (12,539 undergraduates)
• Team: Buccaneers
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the East Tennessee State University profile.

Florida Gulf Coast University is a young university that first opened its doors in 1997, but over the past decade the school has grown by about 1,000 students a year to meet the needs of Southwestern Florida. The 760-acre main campus is home to numerous ponds and wetlands, and it includes 400 acres set aside for preservation. Among the university's five colleges, Business and Arts & Sciences have the highest undergraduate enrollments.

• Location: Fort Myers, Florida Gulf
• School type: public university
• Enrollment: 12,651 (11,296 undergraduates)
• Team: Eagles
• Explore the Campus: FGCU Photo Tour
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Florida Gulf Coast University profile.

Jacksonville University sits on a 198-acre campus along the St. Johns River. The diverse student body comes from 45 states and 50 countries. Students can choose from over 60 academic programs -- nursing is the most popular with undergraduates. Jacksonville University has a 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 18. The school emphasizes experiential learning through research, study abroad, and service learning. The university sponsors over 70 student organizations, and 15% of students are participate in Greek organizations.

• Location: Jacksonville, Florida
• School type: private university
• Enrollment: 3,715 (3,194 undergraduates)
• Team: Dolphins
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Jacksonville University profile.

Kennesaw State University is situated just north of Atlanta and is part of the University of Georgia System. Founded in 1963 as a junior college, KSU has quickly grown to be the third largest university in the state. The school now grants Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Students come from all states and 142 countries. Among undergraduates, business fields are the most popular, and the university can also boast of the largest nursing program in Georgia.

• Location: Kennesaw, Georgia
• School type: public university
• Enrollment: 24,175 (22,333 undergraduates)
• Team: Owls
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Kennesaw State University profile.

Established in 1891, Lipscomb University is a private Christian university located on a 65-acre campus four miles from downtown Nashville. The school believes in the interconnectedness of faith and learning -- leadership, service and faith are central to the university's values. Libscomb undergraduates can choose from over 130 programs of study within 66 majors. Academics are supported by a 15 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Professional fields such as nursing, business and education are among the most popular. Student life is also active with over 70 student clubs and organizations.

• Location: Nashville, Tennessee
• School type: private Christian university
• Enrollment: 4,010 (2,675 undergraduates)
• Team: Bisons
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Lipscomb University profile.

Mercer University is made up of 11 schools and colleges. The main campus is a little over an hour southeast of Atlanta. The school was founded in 1831 by Baptists, and while no longer affiliated with the church, Mercer still embraces the principles of its Baptist founders. Students come from 46 states and 65 countries although the majority are from Georgia. The school frequently ranks among the best master's-level universities in the South, and Mercer also makes frequent appearances in Princeton Review's Best Colleges publications.

• Location: Macon, Georgia
• School type: private university
• Enrollment: 8,329 (4,404 undergraduates)
• Team: Bears
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Mercer University profile.

Stetson University has four campuses in Florida, but the main undergraduate campus is in DeLand, west of Daytona Beach. Founded in 1883, the university has a rich history and the DeLand campus is on the National Register of Historic Places. The university has an 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and students can choose from 60 majors and minors. Business fields are the most popular among undergraduates, but Stetson's strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned the school a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

• Location: DeLand, Florida
• School type: private university
• Enrollment: 3,877 (2,291 undergraduates)
• Team: Hatters
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Stetson University profile.

Founded in 1969, the University of North Florida is part of the State University System of Florida. The school's low tuition and quality academics have earned it a place among the Princeton Review's "Best Value Colleges." The school also wins high marks for the number of students who study abroad. Undergraduates can choose from 53 degree programs among UNF's five colleges. The colleges of Business and Arts and Sciences have the highest enrollments.

• Location: Jacksonville, Florida
• School type: public university
• Enrollment: 16,198 (14,363 undergraduates)
• Team: Ospreys
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the University of North Florida profile.

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: 5,493 (5,418 undergraduates)
• Team: Spartans
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the University of South Carolina Upstate profile.