​The Atlantic Coast Conference has long promoted itself as the premier league that blends athletic achievement with academic distinction, and the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report reinforce that reputation. U.S. News recently released its 2026-27 Best National Universities rankings, which evaluate nearly 1,700 institutions nationwide. The ACC again showcases one of the strongest academic profiles among the Power Five conferences, with multiple member schools landing inside the nation’s top 30 and nearly every football program finishing in the top 100 nationally. Of the ACC’s 17 football-playing universities, 16 are ranked among the top 100 National Universities; Louisville is the conference’s sole football member outside that top 100, ranked No. 158 nationally.
Here is how each ACC football program stacks up academically going into the 2026-27 academic year, according to U.S. News & World Report’s National University Rankings. Louisville, Kentucky: in 2025, the ACC rank was 17. Undergraduate enrollment stands at 17,208. The U.S. News ranking for 2026 is No. 158. In-state cost is $13,942, and the acceptance rate is 79%.
Dallas, Texas: 2025 ACC rank was 16. Undergraduate enrollment is 7,115. U.S. News ranking for 2026 is No. 88. In-state cost is $64,460, and the acceptance rate is 52%.
Clemson, South Carolina: Undergraduate enrollment is 23,401. U.S. News ranking is No. 86 (tied). In-state tuition and fees are $15,554. Acceptance rate stands at 38%.
Syracuse, New York: Undergraduate enrollment is 15,957. U.S. News ranking is No. 75 (tied). Tuition and fees amount to $68,429. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Undergraduate enrollment is 20,418. U.S. News ranking is No. 69 (tied). In-state tuition and fees are $22,736. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Coral Gables, Florida: Undergraduate enrollment is 13,250. U.S. News ranking is No. 64 (tied). Tuition and fees are $65,430. Acceptance rate is 19%.
Raleigh, North Carolina: Undergraduate enrollment is 28,422. U.S. News ranking is No. 64 (tied). In-state tuition and fees amount to $9,028. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Tallahassee, Florida: Undergraduate enrollment is 32,720. U.S. News ranking is No. 51 (tied). In-state tuition and fees are $6,517. Acceptance rate is 24%.
Blacksburg, Virginia: Undergraduate enrollment is 31,035. U.S. News ranking is No. 51 (tied). In-state tuition and fees are $16,450. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina: Undergraduate enrollment is 5,490. U.S. News ranking is No. 51 (tied). In-state tuition and fees are $70,332. Acceptance rate is 22%.
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts: Undergraduate enrollment is 9,654. U.S. News ranking is No. 36 (tied). Tuition and fees are $73,508. The acceptance rate stands at 16%.
Atlanta, Georgia: Undergraduate enrollment is 20,592. U.S. News ranking is No. 32 (tied). In-state tuition and fees are $12,008. The acceptance rate is 14%.