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It’s debatable, but football isn’t everything in the SEC. While it may be home to the highest competition on the gridiron, it’s also home to some higher learning.
Forbes released their take on the best colleges in every state today, and three SEC schools were ranked as having the top institution in their respective states.
According to Forbes, their focus was on return on investment. In other words, which colleges are the most worth it in terms of low student debt, high graduation rates, student satisfaction and career success.
Here’s a look at every SEC state and which college ranked No. 1:
ALABAMA
Auburn: No. 218 overall
ARKANSAS
Hendrix College: No. 137 overall
FLORIDA
Florida: No. 83 overall
GEORGIA
Emory University: No. 79 overall
KENTUCKY
Centre College: No. 89 overall
LOUISIANA
Tulane University: No. 134 overall
MISSISSIPPI
Millsaps College: No. 274 overall
MISSOURI
Washington University in St. Louis: No. 63 overall
SOUTH CAROLINA
Wofford College: No. 97 overall
TENNESSEE
Vanderbilt No. 47 overall
TEXAS
Rice University: No. 32 overall
The SEC matched the Big Ten for the most Power 5 schools to earn top billing for their respective states as Michigan, Northwestern and Wisconsin carry the flag for theirs.
The other Power 5 schools were Arizona, Duke, Kansas and West Virginia. Notre Dame, considered as a “Power 5 opponent” but still technically an independent, won Indiana.
Florida football coach Jim McElwain took note of the story on Twitter:
.@Forbes says @UF is the best college in the state. I'd have to say I agree! #GoGators https://t.co/KvbqZKH6Dx pic.twitter.com/IulFDmfAZZ
— Jim McElwain (@CoachMcElwain) February 22, 2016
Born and raised in Gainesville, Talal joined SDS in 2015 after spending 2 years in Bristol as an ESPN researcher. Previously, Talal worked at The Gainesville Sun.
