This has to be a big factor. The money being offered for GPA and SAT scores at Auburn and UAH is substantial.
Add to that the early response rate, and students can know they have an acceptance earlier in the year and can let the rest of their senior year play out.
Excellent analysis, where were you 6 months ago? Hah ha. Agree that SEC type schools (and southern schools in general) have seen a surge in demand for a variety of reasons. I don’t think Auburn necessarily stands out from this overall trend (I understand they have a beautiful campus but so do many others). It’s more that it’s Auburns “turn” as you said, schools like Florida State, South Carolina, Tennesssee have recently gotten inundated and hard to get into (following behind Florida, Texas, UNC previously). My theory is that Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Mizzou and Oklahoma (not previously mentioned) will catch up and have a turn sometime soon as a hot school with a deluge of applicants once Clemson, Auburn, Tennessee etc prove themselves too popular/hard an acceptance. It’s easy to spot the trend.
Probably location for a few of them (at least for those of us in the Midwest - NE’ers may see things differently). Most people around here still think of Mizzou as a Big 12 school, more similar to Iowa and Kansas where there are long-established pipelines of Midwestern kids. Columbia’s geographically closer to Detroit than it is to the majority of other SEC campuses, so you’re not roadtripping to tailgates in Athens and Baton Rouge. Our hs’s Naviance page tells me applications to Mizzou have actually fallen by about 40% over the last decade, which in this environment is kind of shocking.
Kentucky’s also quasi-southern and I think greatly suffers by comparison to IU, which has a significantly better academic reputation and is two hours closer to anywhere else in the Midwest.
Re: Arkansas, I would theorize the lower profile football and overall academic reputation lagging well behind even the mid-tier SEC schools hurt it. Compared to the Alabama schools, Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas, A&M, etc. it doesn’t show up often on the big CBS broadcasts, so the tailgating scene and Fayetteville don’t get much visibility. I take your point on business school and other specific programs, but once you get past a certain level of national brand BA programs, I doubt most kids care much about the granular rankings differences between Walton and Tippie and Haslam, et. al. and differentiate based on location instead. I’d venture that most would assume the job opportunities coming out of NCSU are just as good or better, with far more alumni in Charlotte, RDU, Atlanta, D.C., etc. than there are Razorbacks. More importantly, though, that’s only maybe 15-20% of applicants - the rest are looking at a university ranked far closer to 200 in the (incredibly flawed and dumb but influential, nonetheless) USNWR rankings than it is to 100. And the vast majority of high school seniors are not so committed to one area of academic pursuit that they’re going to dig in to find out if the molecular bio program at Arkansas is a hidden gem there. I’m not paying for my kid to go there if they can go to Tennessee for the same price. In other words, I think the majority do view them quite differently from the others you mention.
I would guess the same applies to LSU, and it’s why virtually no one from up North heads to Miss State (along with its perennial bottom of the barrel athletic status). Low academic reputation. I’m sure we can all guess why Alabama has avoided this fate despite being similarly regarded as an academic institution. But the appeal of Ole Miss is a bit of a mystery, other than that it’s embraced its Old South roots and branded itself that way. Which I guess appeals to some proportion of kids even from Chicagoland.
Certainly will be interesting to see. Could definitely go as you theorize. On the other hand, I could even be convinced that when the demographic tidal wave of high school graduates recedes a bit, this trend will plateau or even reverse itself. Even longer term, if large parts of the South and (especially) Southwest become nearly uninhabitable due to constant flooding and 115 degree temperatures, the pendulum may swing entirely the other direction. The death of college football as we know it, which certainly is a non-zero possibility in the next 10 years, would greatly diminish some of the appeal of SEC schools, too.
I do, as noted above, think it’s going to take something more for Arkansas and LSU to catch on, given their overall lower reputational standing in the world. There’s likely some point at which parents footing the tuition bill turn their noses up and push back against choosing a place just because it’s in the South.
Oklahoma might suffer from the same thing that plagues Missouri among kids around here, which is that it’s seen as too Midwestern. And my counsel, at least to my own kids, would be: if you’re not thinking of moving back here after college, do you see yourself following a beeline of alums to Nashville, Atlanta, or Tulsa most? I’m thinking most 18-year-olds from Milwaukee, Philadelphia or Cleveland are not choosing Tulsa from those options.
All of the factors mentioned are valid. Much of the focus on the South/Auburn could also be politically driven.
I was just on a Zoom call with an elite LAC in the Northeast. Our blue-haired admissions officer started with a land dedication. She then talked about sustainability and how the college was a “safe space” for every single group under the sun–except white men. She even worked climate change into her 10 minute opening statement.
My daughter and I sat there just rolling our eyes. She made the college seem like an ideological bubble. Her monologue also didn’t communicate all that much that was meaningful to someone considering going to that school.
There are plenty of people going South to avoid this. Political debate is fine. Political debate inside a conformist bubble where one side can say whatever it wants and the other side gets shouted down is not.
I get what you are saying, but come on, UTK vs UofA? Same school, along with USC! Certainly UTK has had much more success sportswise than Arkansas, that I will grant. I work for a Big 4 and I can assure you that no one thinks of these schools as different, at least as far as business. I would argue the same with engineering and the sciences. Agriculture could certainly be better at UTK, don’t know. But UTK not even two years ago was considered a “safety school”. Has the academics magically gotten better the last two years? Of course not. And you wouldn’t pay for Arkansas or LSU but you would UTK or USC? That is sad.
I don’t view a ranking of 105 (only three years ago UTK was ranked 126) to be materially different from 178 or 185 (Ark and LSU). Again, three years ago Arkansas was ranked higher than UTK before the methodology change. Unless it is UF or UGA, I think the SEC schools are indistinguishable from each other.
It’s like UVM and UNH in New England. Pretty much the same school, even though UNH ranks higher than UVM (115 vs 133).
100% this is a factor for sure. If I was on that call I would have turned tail immediately.
You may be right on Missouri and Oklahoma. Distance is greater for kids coming from the NE or upper Midwest, they may not end up getting the surge. Also good point on the upcoming demographic cliff and climate changes possibly blunting the trend down the road. What’s your take on say Florida State, South Carolina, NC State, Tenn and Clemson maintaining their it status? I’m thinking they will retain their in demand status (particularly FSU and NC State) given how hot their population growth has been in the Carolina’s and Florida. FSU also has extremely reasonable tuition for both in and OOS.
Pulling quotes apart didn’t work, sorry. Edited below, replying to lovetractor:
“Again, three years ago Arkansas was ranked higher than UTK before the methodology change.”
Not a point worth quibbling over too much, but this is not accurate. As recently as 2020 Arkansas was 153 and Tennessee was 104. UA’s highest level in recent memory was 124 in 2008, which is below UT’s lowest of 115. I take your overall point, and we’re not talking about Princeton vs. random directional school here where they’re just apples and oranges, but perception is different in my world even between these two schools in terms of how “good” a school they are in broad generalized terms. And they’re certainly seen as a notch or two below others you mention, like FSU and NCSU.
“Unless it is UF or UGA, I think the SEC schools are indistinguishable from each other.”
Certain people in Nashville (and in a few months, Austin) would like a word 
Depending on who you are, where you go, what you look like, what you believe … there are people in the South and literally everywhere else in the country who will shut down debate if they don’t want to hear it.
Just sayin’, the South isn’t a sanctuary for everyone.
Sorry, meant to add Vandy to that list 
Sure. And that is the exact same type of transgression.
I am a conservative and yet I would not want my daughter to go to Hillsdale for the same reason I would not want her to go to Berkeley. Both are unbalanced, bubble experiences.
Another reason why Auburn might be hot is ease of travel. 90-100 minutes from ATL, which has direct flights to almost everywhere.
I think UTK, Clemson and USC are hot for NEers due to proximity for driving. Remember that NC and VA schools are tough for OOS due to admission rules.
I live near the Arkansas campus and I am from Missouri, so I have spent time at both schools. Mizzou benefits from the kids who can’t get into UIUC or Madison, and Arkansas, OU/Ok St, and LSU benefit from all the Texans who can’t get into UT/Tx A&M.
S25 wants A&M, and I want him to apply early to Auburn (engineering).
Also, Auburn is probably one of the highest rated school (US News overall and Engineering) that still gives auto-merit to OOS applicants. But you have to have your application in by Sept 15th, and have a 1450 to have the best shot at the auto merit. It might change in years to come.
Some of the similarly ranked schools that have auto-merit, also have a high sticker price. And as another poster said, Auburn is better in the winter than East Lansing.
Why September 15th? Do they run out of auto-merit? Do they require you to commit early then to keep it?
Sept 15 is the deadline for EA Round 1. Accepted students don’t have to commit until May 1. Merit doesn’t start coming out until November, but on this year’s Auburn thread it doesn’t look like merit started being released until Dec.
It’s not really auto merit, the numbers are estimated and not guaranteed (see link), and can change year to year. I haven’t seen good data, but the website says those who apply early have best chance at merit.
Arkansas has automatic merit, what they call the “non-resident new arkansas tuition scholarship” that essentially is OOS pay in-state tuition plus 20%. Pretty good deal for northerners as long as you have a 3.8 GPA.
Specifically Auburn: I think apart from the obvious explanations (general trend, common app, etc), there might some other explanations:
Location: Schools like Auburn (and Clemson) are located close to booming Atlanta. Auburn is well connected to ATL Airport via shuttle service and it might even get an Amtrak station in the future according to recent news reports.
Campus: The campus is located in downtown Auburn and very walkable.
City: The City of Auburn is very safe, clean and growing rapidly (new downtown hotels, grocery stores, apt buildings, bars, dining options, etc).
Academic rankings & selectivity: Auburn ranks in the USNWR Top 100 which probably makes a difference when compared to other SEC schools in the region. Clemson is another example. Also, Auburn’s current acceptance rate is 45% (it was 70% just a few years ago). Further, Auburn is a STEM school which is quite relevant nowadays.
New campus improvements: There are some major campus improvements and construction projects (massive academic bldgs, residence halls, dining and food market halls, 5star hotel) u/c or already completed.
Famous alumns: Apple CEO Tim Cook, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Charles Barkley, Bo Jackson, etc are world famous leaders/aufhorities.
School spirit & athletics: Auburn co-owns the Iron Bowl which is a major brand, has a pretty good basketball program, mostly good baseball and is very competitive in Olympic sports (current golf national champions, Suni Lee & gymnastics, dominated swimming in the 2000s and partially 2010s, etc). Some unique traditions include the Eagle flight and Rolling the trees…
Student body: Auburn’s student body is relatively wealthy and only ranks behind Vanderbilt in the SEC. It would rank #6 (behind UVA) in the ACC. This is probably attractive to OOS applicants who can afford Auburn.
Overall, Auburn ‘feels’ more like an ACC school rather than an SEC school (athletics is important but so is academics).
Since many ACC schools are quite popular, it’s logical that Auburn is getting increasingly more popular.
All good points. Location seems to be a theme here, with multiple people noting how accessible Clemson, SC and Auburn, AL are from the Atlanta area. My sense is that some of those other factors (city renewal, campus upgrades, athletic prowess, visible alums) are extant at some of the competitors to varying degrees, but perhaps Auburn’s toward the top in the aggregate confluence of all of that. Up North, a lot of people comment on the recent building booms of new dorms and other facilities at schools in the South (some noting that perhaps things have gone a little over the top, and would prefer their kid to have the experience of not living in a country club setting at some point before adulthood, and questioning the need for lazy river features at college town apartment buildings, but I digress). I’m sure that enhances campus appeal for some kids comparing to their own state public school, if that place has a majority of dorms built in the 1960’s and '70’s and gross dining halls, etc.
Re: the student background/wealth point, that makes sense, too. Kids tend to identify their own socioeconomic class as their “people” when they visit places (some want something totally foreign to their experience growing up, but I’d argue that’s a distinct minority). And it’s more likely that upper middle class kids are the ones looking out of their own state. So the more suburban ATL kids wearing the same clothes they see at their high school in New Jersey they come across, the more they feel at home.
Given that outside of Vandy the entire SEC is state schools, I guess a public univ. would have to come in 2nd. Interesting that it’s Auburn. Out of curiosity, where can one find that info? I’d assume that for the ACC, BC, Duke, Wake, Notre Dame are at the top as private schools? Surprised that UVA would have a higher average than Syracuse or Miami (and that Auburn apparently would, too), given their sticker prices and that the only way to reduce those is financial or merit aid. Tons of NOVA kids bringing up the average, I guess.
This, scholarships, and the recent coaching change at U Alabama which means that Auburn Tigers football may finally have a chance in the Iron Bowl game.