Sign Up
Sign Up
ic S/general/checkmark circled Thanks for subscribing! Be on the lookout for our next newsletter.
ic S/general/checkmark circled
Saved to My Favorites. View My Favorites
Lists / Big Ten Conference Schools

Big Ten Conference Schools

Created by College Confidential
Photo: Vlada Karpovich/Pexels

The Big Ten Conference is the oldest Division I college level athletic conference in the United States. The conference began in 1896 with seven original member schools, six of which are still members. The conference has gone through several name changes throughout its extensive history but officially adopted the name Big Ten in 1987, at which time it had ten members. Big Ten sponsors eighteen sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, volleyball, and wrestling. Field hockey, rowing, softball and volleyball are women’s only and baseball, football, ice hockey, and wrestling are men’s only. Listed below are the schools in the Big Ten conference.

Northwestern University

Northwestern University joined the Big Ten in 1896 as a founding member. Northwestern has won nine NCAA championships and their most successful sport is women’s lacrosse.

  • Northwestern University
    Evanston, IL • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $63,468
    Out-of-State
    $63,468
    Acceptance Rate7%

    • The Ohio State University

    Ohio State University has been a member of the Big Ten since 1912. Ohio State has won a total of 40 NCAA national championships with their most successful sport being men’s swimming.

  • The Ohio State University
    Columbus, OH • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $11,936
    Out-of-State
    $35,019
    Acceptance Rate57%

    • Penn State - University Park

    Pennsylvania State University joined the Big Ten Conference in 1990. Penn State has won a total of 52 NCAA national titles, including 31 since being a Big Ten member.

  • Penn State - University Park
    University Park, PA • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $18,898
    Out-of-State
    $36,476
    Acceptance Rate58%

    • Purdue University

    Purdue University joined the Big Ten as a founding member in 1896 and has won four NCAA championships including one national title each in football, men’s golf, women's golf, and women’s basketball.

  • Purdue University
    West Lafayette, IN • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $9,992
    Out-of-State
    $28,794
    Acceptance Rate69%

    • Rutgers University - New Brunswick

    Rutgers University joined the Big Ten Conference in 2014 as one of the two newest members. In 2021 Rutgers won the field hockey Big Ten championship.

  • Rutgers University - New Brunswick
    New Brunswick, NJ • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $16,263
    Out-of-State
    $33,963
    Acceptance Rate68%

    • University of Wisconsin-Madison

    University of Wisconsin–Madison joined the Big Ten conference as an original member in 1896. Since then, the school has won 30 NCAA championships including one in football. Their most successful sport is men’s boxing.

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Madison, WI • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $12,211
    Out-of-State
    $40,099
    Acceptance Rate60%

    • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign is a Big Ten founding member, having joined in 1896. U of I has won 22 NCAA national championships including four in football.

  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Champaign, IL • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $17,138
    Out-of-State
    $35,110
    Acceptance Rate60%

    • Indiana University Bloomington

    Indiana University Bloomington joined the Big Ten in 1899, just three years after the conference was started and has been a member for the past 123 years. Indiana University has won 24 NCAA championships as a Big Ten school. Their most successful sport (by way of most NCAA titles won) is men’s soccer.

  • Indiana University Bloomington
    Bloomington, IN • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $11,447
    Out-of-State
    $39,120
    Acceptance Rate85%

    • The University of Iowa

    The University of Iowa joined the Big Ten in 1899 and has since won 24 NCAA championships. The most successful sport at The University of Iowa is men’s wrestling.

  • The University of Iowa
    Iowa City, IA • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $9,942
    Out-of-State
    $31,905
    Acceptance Rate86%

    • University of Maryland, College Park

    University of Maryland, College Park joined the Big Ten in 2014 as one of the conference’s two newest members. As a Big Ten school, University of Maryland has won four NCAA championships.

  • University of Maryland, College Park
    College Park, MD • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $10,955
    Out-of-State
    $38,638
    Acceptance RateN.A.

    • University of Michigan

    University of Michigan joined the Big Ten in 1896 as a founding member. In 1907 the school left the conference, but eventually rejoined in 1917 and has been a member ever since. University of Michigan has won 49 NCAA championships as a member of the Big Ten, 13 in football.

  • University of Michigan
    Ann Arbor, MI • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $16,732
    Out-of-State
    $55,654
    Acceptance Rate20%

    • Michigan State University

    Michigan State University joined the conference in 1950. Michigan State has won 18 NCAA national titles since 1950, with their most successful sport being men’s cross country.

  • Michigan State University
    East Lansing, MI • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $15,372
    Out-of-State
    $41,958
    Acceptance Rate83%

    • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus

    University of Minnesota, Twin Cities joined the Big Ten Conference as a founding member in 1896. University of Minnesota has won 26 NCAA national championship titles since 1896 including seven in football.

  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus
    Minneapolis, MN • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $17,090
    Out-of-State
    $35,680
    Acceptance Rate73%

    • University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    University of Nebraska–Lincoln has been a Big Ten member since 2011 and has since won four NCAA championships. The most successful sport at the University of Nebraska is men’s gymnastics.

  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Lincoln, NE • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $9,872
    Out-of-State
    $27,002
    Acceptance Rate81%

    • Get a student loan that goes beyond tuition.

    Ascent offers cosigned and non-cosigned student loans with exclusive benefits that set students up for success.

    Get Started!
    F43DB07C-E631-43A5-9C99-000231808F35
    Scholarship Tips

    Want to find money for school that doesn’t need to be paid back? Access insights and advice on how to search and apply for scholarships!

    Find Scholarships

    More from CC Community

    See All
    Created by Cadence_Zhang

    List of Colleges I Plan To Apply To
    13 Colleges
    Created by College Confidential

    Best Colleges for International Students
    10 Colleges
    Created by College Confidential

    Best Colleges for Computer Science
    13 Colleges
    Created by College Confidential

    Best Pre-Med Schools
    10 Colleges