What Schools Make Up the PAC 12?

Depending on where you attend college, sports can be a big part of your experience. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) consists of a number of members,  including the Pacific Athletic Conference (PAC 12). This particular conference is divided into two parts, the North and the South. Keep reading to learn more about how the PAC 12 started and which schools are in it! 

What schools are included in the PAC 12?

The North

The schools included in the North are Oregon State University, Stanford University, Washington State University, The University of California-Berkeley, The University of Oregon, and the University of Washington. 

The South

The South includes Arizona State University, The University of Arizona, The University of California-Los Angeles, the University of Colorado, the University of Southern California, and the University of Utah. 

The history of the PAC 12

The PAC 12 originates from the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), which was established on December 2, 1915 at a meeting in Portland, Oregon. The PCC originally included the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Washington, the University of Oregon and Oregon Agricultural College (which became Oregon State University). Though it continued to include other schools for many years, the PCC was disbanded in order to create the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU). 

As more schools joined, the AAWU was renamed to the Pacific-8 Conference (PAC 8) in 1968 The PAC 8 continued to expand to focus on women’s sports since it secured the most NCAA titles almost every year, thus becoming PAC-10 by 1987 and then the PAC-12 by July 1, 2011. 

Also see: What are D1, D2, and D3 athletics?

PAC 12: The North

Oregon State University

Oregon State University is a public, research university located in Corvallis, Oregon. The current acceptance rate is 82%. OSU has over 25,000 undergraduate students in attendance. Oregon State offers an Everyday Champions Program to help student-athletes remain well-rounded and set up for success. 

• Team: Beavers
• Average annual cost: $21,508 
• Most popular field of study: Computer Science 

Stanford University

As a Hidden Ivy, Stanford University is known for its rigorous academics. Stanford is a private research university in Stanford, California with an acceptance rate of 5%. This means it’s very important to stay on top of your grades, SAT/ACT scores, and extracurricular activities to make your application stand out. 

• Team: Cardinal
• Average annual cost: $12,894
• Most popular field of study: Computer Science

Washington State University

Located in Pullman, Washington, Washington State is a public research university. Its acceptance rate is 80%, and students have about 560 study abroad programs to choose from. WSU recently inducted an all-female class into the 2022 athletic Hall of Fame. Be sure to sing the fight song and cheer “Win the day for Crimson and Gray!” if you attend a WSU game! 

• Team: Cougars
• Average annual cost: $15,300
• Most popular field of study: Psychology

The University of California-Berkeley

The University of California at Berkeley is a public research university in Berkeley, California with a graduation rate of 93%. With over 30,000 undergraduates, the acceptance rate at UC Berkeley is below 20%. Throughout the years, Berkeley athletics have increased their graduation rate to 91%. There are four teams with perfect graduation rates: volleyball, women’s tennis, men’s tennis, and women’s gymnastics. It’s clear that Berkeley values athletics and academics!

• Team: Bears
• Average annual cost: $16,032
• Most popular field of study: Economics

The University of Oregon

Find yourself right next door to the Pacific Ocean when you attend The University of Oregon! This school is located in Eugene, Oregon, and has an acceptance rate of 84%. UO has nine schools and colleges that students can choose from with over 300 degree and certificate programs. According to the UO website, it’s the #1 public university in Oregon. Known for giving, UO has an annual Green Game to support sustainability initiatives. They donate over 800 pounds of food and provide shuttles to reduce pollution. 

• Team: Ducks
• Average annual cost: $18,047
• Most popular field of study: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication and Business 

The University of Washington

The University of Washington has an acceptance rate of 56% and is located in Seattle, Washington. It’s a public research university with over 30,000 undergraduate students. There are three different campuses for undergraduates to choose from, including in Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma. The University of Washington offers nine men’s sports, and eleven women’s sports ranging from basketball to rowing. 

• Team: Huskies
• Average annual cost: $12,017
• Most popular field of study: Computer and Information Sciences

PAC 12: The South

Arizona State University

Located in Tempe, Arizona, Arizona State University is a public research university with one of the highest student populations in the United States. With 62,633 undergraduate students, ASU has an 88% acceptance rate. Over the years, there have been three different names for ASU sports teams, the current one being the last. It was adopted in 1946 after a student-led newspaper campaigned for the name change. The next sporting event after that was a basketball game, which the newly named “Sun Devils” won. 

• Team: Sun Devils
• Average annual cost: $13,107
• Most popular field of study: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

The University of Arizona

The University of Arizona is located in the warm area of Tucson, Arizona. This public research university has nearly 35,000 undergraduate students and an acceptance rate of 85%. U of A football is on the rise, as it claimed the 2022 Territorial Cup against Arizona State University. It was a close game, but U of A brought an end to a five-year losing streak to one of its biggest rivals!

• Team: Wildcats 
• Average annual cost: $13,358
• Most popular field of study: Psychology

The University of California-Los Angeles

The University of California-Los Angeles, or UCLA for short, is a public research university located in Los Angeles, California. The acceptance rate at UCLA is 14%. The school has over 10 National Medal of Science winners and three Pulitzer Prize winners among its alumni. UCLA has several sports that continue to perform well as the seasons go on, including the women’s basketball team. 

• Team: Bruins 
• Average annual cost: $15,023
• Most popular field of study: Economics

The University of Colorado

Located in Boulder, Colorado, the University of Colorado is a public research university. It was founded before Colorado was officially a state, and currently has an acceptance rate of 84%. Colorado Athletics gives back to the community and offers several events and programs to do so. The football team, marching band, and spirit squad all get together for the Pearl Street Stampede to immerse themselves in the community and foster positive relationships. 

• Team: Buffaloes 
• Average annual cost: $20,967
• Most popular field of study: Business Administration, Management, and Operations

The University of Southern California

The University of Southern California is a private research institution located in Los Angeles, California. USC’s acceptance rate is 16%, which means it’s important to make your application stand out. Fortunately, some majors require a portfolio or audition, which can help set you apart. USC is one of the two football teams in the 2022 PAC 12 national championship. They’ve won the title ten times, and four of those wins were back to back from 2003-2006. 

• Team: Trojans
• Average annual cost: $32,569
• Most popular field of study: Business administration, Management, and Operations

The University of Utah

If you’re ever visiting Salt Lake City, Utah, you should head over to see the University of Utah, a public research university with an acceptance rate of 79%. You can also take a virtual tour to get a peek at the campus which is 10 minutes from the city. The University of Utah won the 2021 football championship, which was the first time they won for football.

• Team: Utes
• Average annual cost: $13,572
• Most popular field of study: Psychology and Communication and Media Studies

Are schools in the PAC 12 for me?

The universities included in the PAC 12 Conference have a lot to offer and are very versatile. The cost to attend ranges from around $12,000 to about $20,000, with the only outlier being the University of Southern California. However, financial aid and scholarships can vary these averages, so don’t get discouraged! 

The PAC 12 also offers different types of schools, even including a Hidden Ivy. This means some schools might be more well-known than others and that can occasionally come with lower acceptance rates. The majority of the schools have commonalities in the majors and fields of study that their students choose, such as computer science and business. If that’s what you’re looking for, a PAC 12 is the perfect fit for you! 

Additional resources

As you go further into your college research, don’t forget to check back with us for a helping hand! We can help you through every step of the way, including when to apply, how many schools to apply to, how to get application fee waivers, and how to put together a strong college application.

We can also help you find safety, reach, and match schools, decide if you want to apply Early Action or Early Decision, and help you complete the Common App activities section. Finally, check with us to interpret your financial aid award letter, and finally, let us help you choose a college. Good luck!