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What Schools Make Up the ACC?
By
Varonika Ware
Varonika Ware is a content writer at Scholarships360. Varonika earned her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications at Louisiana State University. During her time at LSU, she worked with the Center of Academic Success to create the weekly Success Sunday newsletter. Varonika also interned at the Louisiana Department of Insurance in the Public Affairs office with some of her graphics appearing in local news articles.
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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Scholarship Services at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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College sports are one of the things that you can enjoy throughout your life. From high school to college to your future career, you can connect with people through the next game or meet-up! The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) happens to be one of the conferences that colleges compete in. Learn more about ACC schools and their sports below!
What schools make up the ACC?
The schools included in the ACC are Boston College, Clemson University, Duke University, Florida State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Carolina State University, Syracuse University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Wake Forest University, University of Louisville, University of Miami, University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh, University of California Berkeley, Southern Methodist University, Stanford University, and the University of Virginia.
History of the ACC
The ACC initially had seven members upon its foundation on May 8, 1953, which included Clemson, Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, the University of Maryland, and the University of South Carolina. Before joining the newly formed ACC, each member had left the Southern Conference, including the University of Virginia that joined later that year.
The first school to leave the ACC was the University of South Carolina, but the conference continued to grow throughout the years with the additions of Georgia Tech, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Miami, Boston College, Pittsburg, Syracuse, Notre Dame, and Louisville, respectively. Notre Dame is the only school in the conference that still competes independently for football.
In 2024, 3 new teams joined the ACC Cal, Stanford and SMU. This came as somewhat of a surprise, as these teams were a part of the Pac-12 Conference on the West Coast, but have now decided to join a conference with the majority of teams hailing from the east coast, making it so teams will have to travel across the country to compete.
As of 2026 there are currently 18 schools in the ACC, spanning across 12 U.S. states.
The ACC schools
The following schools, listed alphabetically, are all current members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Boston College
This private Jesuit research university is located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It has a high graduation rate at 91%, which means Boston College gives its students their best shot at success. Boston emphasizes four pillars to guide their student-athletes toward success: career readiness, community engagement, personal development, and empowering the student-athlete voice.
- Team: Eagles
- Average annual cost: $39,866
- Most popular field of study: Business, Management, & Marketing
Related: What is a D1, D2, and D3 athlete?
Clemson University
Located in Clemson, South Carolina, Clemson is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 38%. It has over 20,000 undergraduate students and more than 130 graduate programs for students to explore. The Tigers continue to break records in collegiate sports with the women’s softball team bringing in a program record of 19 hits.
- Team: Tigers
- Average annual cost: $22,112
- Most popular field of study: Business Administration, Management and Operations
Duke University
Duke is a private research university with a graduation rate of 97%. It’s located in Durham, North Carolina, which is part of the world famous Research Triangle. There is no shortage of notable Duke alumni in all fields, including sports. Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry are just two of many Blue Devils known for their athletic skills.
- Team: Blue Devils
- Average annual cost: $34,454
- Most popular field of study: Social Sciences
Also see: Do student athletes get paid? All you need to know
Florida State University
Embrace the warm breeze in Tallahassee, Florida when you attend Florida State University! Over 30,000 undergraduate students attend FSU, so the campus is like a small city. FSU is known for top notch academics, research, and competitive sports. With an acceptance rate of 25%, make sure that your application essay really shines!
- Team: Seminoles
- Average annual cost: $10,997
- Most popular field of study: Business, Management, & Marketing
Georgia Institute of Technology
It’s worth a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to visit the Georgia Institute of Technology. This public research university has an acceptance rate of 16%. While the main campus is located in the U.S., Georgia Tech also has campuses in Europe, and China. Steeped in history and tradition, Georgia Tech continues to evolve and grow.
- Team: Yellow Jackets
- Average annual cost: $14,588
- Most popular field of study: Engineering
Don’t miss: Top athletic scholarships
North Carolina State University
This university is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and has about 24,000 undergraduate students enrolled. Their acceptance rate is almost 40% with over ten colleges for students to choose from. The NC State athletics program has several initiatives, one of which is the Sustainable Wolfpack. This program is dedicated to reducing waste, conserving energy, educating fans, and improving overall wellness.
- Team: Wolfpack
- Average annual cost: $16,931
- Most popular field of study: Engineering
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Dallas, Texas. There are currently 7,106 undergraduates at SMU and the school’s acceptance rate is 61%. SMU is affiliated with the United Methodist faith. Many schools have religious affiliations but only some of them incorporate their affiliation in a way that shapes the student experience.
- Team: Mustangs
- Average annual cost:$41,778
- Most popular field of study: Business, Management, & Marketing
Stanford University
Did you know that Stanford University is home to the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, one of the world’s leading research facilities for particle physics? Located in Stanford, California, the university is renowned for its innovation and research. Notable alumni include Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and former U.S. President Herbert Hoover. There are currently 7,841 undergraduates at Stanford and the school’s acceptance rate is 4%.
- Team: Cardinal
- Average annual cost:$12,136
- Most popular field of study: Computer & Information Sciences
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university with an acceptance rate of 42%. It is located in Syracuse, New York and offers hundreds of organizations for students to get involved in. “The Orange” have a long history of winning championships in not only the ACC, but nationally as well.
- Team: Orange
- Average annual cost: $41,026
- Most popular field of study: Communications & Journalism
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute is a public research university. It has almost 30,000 undergraduate students and the acceptance rate is 57%. Virginia Tech also offers Student-Athlete Academic Support Services to help balance athletics and education. This includes advising, learning specialists, tutoring, and more!
- Team: Hokies
- Average annual cost: $23,790
- Most popular field of study: Business, Management, & Marketing
Also see: What are the Big Twelve schools?
Wake Forest University
This private research university is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and has a graduation rate of 90%. It’s a smaller institution with less than 6,000 undergraduates, but it’s not lacking in education since it’s a Hidden Ivy. The Demon Deacons are trailblazers in athletics with one of their graduate students breaking a track and field record for the weight throw.
- Team: Demon Deacons
- Average annual cost: $28,746
- Most popular field of study: Business, Management, & Marketing
University of California Berkeley
UC Berkeley, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, is one of the most prestigious public schools in the country, renowned for its pioneering research and activism. Home to the Free Speech Movement, Berkeley has a strong legacy of social change and academic excellence. The campus features iconic landmarks like Sather Tower and offers top-ranked programs in engineering, business, and the sciences.
- Team: California Golden Bears
- Average Annual Cost:$14,979
- Most popular field of study: Social sciences
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public research university located in you guessed it, Louisville, Kentucky! UL has over 10 different schools of learning and more than 150 majors. In 2022, the Cardinals reached a record high graduation success rate for the athletics department. It has risen to 92%, and eight of the sports included reached the 100% mark.
- Team: Cardinals
- Average annual cost: $17,634
- Most popular field of study: Health Professions & Related Programs
University of Miami
You will find yourself near the sunny beaches of Coral Gables, Florida when visiting this private research university. The current acceptance rate is about 19%, and depending on your major, there are three different campuses to choose from. Historically, the University of Miami has won over 100 national championships for team and individual events. Students also have over 15 different sports to choose from!
- Team: Hurricanes
- Average annual cost: $36,803
- Most popular field of study: Business, Management, & Marketing
Related: What schools are in the Big East conference?
University of North Carolina
Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, UNC is a public research university with almost 20,000 undergraduate students. The acceptance rate is 19%, which means the more your application stands out in a good way, the better! UNC sports are among the most competitive in the USA, with the men’s basketball team making many appearances in the Final Four Basketball Tournament!
- Team: Tar Heels
- Average annual cost: $12,983
- Most popular field of study: Biological & Biomedical Sciences
University of Notre Dame
This public research university is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and has a 12% acceptance rate. Notre Dame is also one of the Hidden Ivies, so their curriculum rivals that of an Ivy League. The Notre Dame sports’ teams are known as the “Fighting Irish,” and their athletic record proves that they don’t give up!!
- Team: Fighting Irish
- Average annual cost:$27,823
- Most popular field of study: Business, Management, & Marketing
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh is a public research university located in the city of its name, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The graduation rate is 96%, which means you’re on the fast track for success if you choose to enroll. Pitt also has a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) Exchange program to connect student-athletes with alumni, businesses, and interested donors to facilitate NIL deals.
- Team: Panthers
- Average annual cost: $30,074
- Most popular field of study: Business, Management, & Marketing
University of Virginia
Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this public research institution has a graduation rate of 93%. There are about 17,000 undergraduate students and over 10 schools to choose from. UVA has state of the art facilities, from a golf course to an Olympic Sports Center!
- Team: Cavaliers
- Average annual cost: $23,101
- Most popular field of study: Liberal Arts & Humanities
Are schools in the ACC right for me?
Choosing the right college or major can be daunting, but there are several factors that can help you decide on where to continue your education. The size of the school, variety of majors, and cost of attendance are all major things to consider.
The ACC includes schools that run from small to large at a range of costs for tuition and fees. The popular majors for ACC schools are mostly in the business and medical fields, so be sure to keep that in mind. And remember, no matter what, always choose the school that best fits you!
Additional resources
Scholarships360 has resources to help you navigate your college journey. Read our articles about when to apply to college, how many schools to apply and how to put together a strong college application. Learn all about safety, reach, and match schools and whether applying Early Action or Early Decision is right for you When those acceptances start rolling in, learn about how to choose a college. Make sure you learn how to interpret your financial aid award letter too! Best of luck!