Lens covers 23 colleges with big-time sports in the South and Southwest, 17 public and 6 private. They range from University of Tulsa (2,813 undergraduates) to Texas A&M University–College Station (59,615). Acceptance rates run from 8% to 100%, and 19 of the 23 admit at least half of applicants.
Colleges with big-time sports play NCAA Division I football in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), where game days are big campus events (Equity in Athletics, 2024–25). In Lens, the South and Southwest means Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
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The 23 colleges with big-time sports in the South and Southwest
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, Arkansas | 9,110 | 82% | $8,090 in-state · $14,522 out-of-state |
| Baylor University | Waco, Texas | 14,785 | 51% | $58,100 |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 30,594 | 73% | $11,954 in-state · $28,631 out-of-state |
| Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, Louisiana | 8,312 | 86% | $10,125 in-state · $16,866 out-of-state |
| Oklahoma State University | Stillwater, Oklahoma | 21,773 | 75% | $10,234 in-state · $25,754 out-of-state |
| Rice University | Houston, Texas | 4,776 | 8% | $64,144 |
| Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, Texas | 17,743 | 90% | $9,228 in-state · $19,068 out-of-state |
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas, Texas | 7,277 | 63% | $67,040 |
| Texas A&M University–College Station | College Station, Texas | 59,615 | 57% | $13,154 in-state · $40,124 out-of-state |
| Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, Texas | 11,026 | 44% | $61,740 |
| Texas State University | San Marcos, Texas | 36,177 | 89% | $11,450 in-state · $22,930 out-of-state |
| Texas Tech University | Lubbock, Texas | 32,394 | 73% | $11,852 in-state · $24,451 out-of-state |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, Texas | 42,855 | 27% | $11,688 in-state · $44,908 out-of-state |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, Texas | 21,005 | 100% | $9,744 in-state · $25,502 out-of-state |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas | 30,580 | 87% | $9,011 in-state · $22,051 out-of-state |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | New Orleans, Louisiana | 7,767 | 14% | $68,678 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, Arkansas | 28,677 | 74% | $10,104 in-state · $29,966 out-of-state |
| University of Houston | Houston, Texas | 38,380 | 74% | $9,717 in-state · $22,547 out-of-state |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, Louisiana | 12,428 | 87% | $10,418 in-state · $24,146 out-of-state |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | Monroe, Louisiana | 5,022 | 85% | $9,190 in-state · $21,290 out-of-state |
| University of North Texas | Denton, Texas | 34,341 | 72% | $11,309 in-state · $21,149 out-of-state |
| University of Oklahoma | Norman, Oklahoma | 22,734 | 77% | $9,797 in-state · $27,377 out-of-state |
| University of Tulsa | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 2,813 | 62% | $50,061 |
Sources: IPEDS (fall 2024 enrollment and admissions); College Scorecard (published tuition and fees before aid, about 2023–24). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Related lists
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Northeast
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Southeast
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Midwest
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Mountain West
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports on the West Coast
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the South and Southwest
- Large Public Universities in the South and Southwest
- Smaller Public Universities in the South and Southwest
- Smaller Private Universities in the South and Southwest
- HBCUs in the South and Southwest
- Christian Colleges in the South and Southwest
- Division I Colleges in the South and Southwest
- Division II Colleges in the South and Southwest
FAQ
Which colleges with big-time sports in the South and Southwest admit at least half of applicants? 19 of the 23: Arkansas State University, Baylor University, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Louisiana Tech University, Oklahoma State University, Sam Houston State University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University–College Station, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, The University of Texas at El Paso, The University of Texas at San Antonio and 7 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest colleges with big-time sports in the South and Southwest? Texas A&M University–College Station is the largest, with 59,615 undergraduates, and University of Tulsa is the smallest, with 2,813 (fall 2024).
How many colleges with big-time sports in the South and Southwest are public? 17 of the 23 are public and 6 are private.
Where these numbers come from
Lens covers the 850 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges that receive the most applications, so some smaller colleges are not listed. Enrollment, acceptance rates and degrees come from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education, fall 2024); published prices from the College Scorecard. Each college's page lists its own sources. See the data behind Lens.