Big Picture
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) has twelve members who compete in Division 1 (FCS) College Football. The programs are anchored in the South’s core states.
| State | CFB Program |
| Alabama | Alabama A&M |
| Alabama State | |
| Arkansas | Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| Florida | Bethune-Cookmen |
| Florida A&M | |
| Louisiana | Grambling State |
| Southern | |
| Mississippi | Alcorn State |
| Jackson State | |
| Mississippi Valley | |
| Texas | Prairie View A&M |
| Texas Southern |
Texas Southern
Texas Southern University is located in one of the South’s largest counties and metropolitan areas. The campus sits in Harris county (TX) and the Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands metro area. Harris county employs an estimated 2,343,196 people and its recent GDP estimate is $458,701,746.
The county’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 20.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services | 14.3% |
| Retail trade | 10.6% |
Alabama A&M and Southern
Alabama A&M University and Southern University are located in comparably sized places.
Southern
Southern’s campus sits in East Baton Rouge parish (LA) and the Baton Rouge metro area. East Baton Rouge is the second largest county/parish in the SWAC’s footprint. Its employment estimate is 210,299 and its recent GDP estimate is $37,162,731.
East Baton Rouge parish’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 26.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services | 10.6% |
| Retail trade | 10.5% |
Alabama A&M
Alabama A&M’s campus sits in Madison county (AL) and the Huntsville metro area. Madison county’s employment estimate is 204,004 and its recent GDP estimate is $32,236,676.
Madison county’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 19.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services | 19.1% |
| Manufacturing | 13.6% |
Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M
Both of Florida’s SWAC programs, Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M, are located in comparably sized areas.
Bethune-Cookman
Bethune-Cookman’s campus sits in Volusia county (FL) and the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach metro area. The county’s employment estimate is 256,801 and its recent GDP estimate is $22,899,878.
Volusia county’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 22.1% |
| Retail trade | 13.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services | 13.1% |
Florida A&M
Florida A&M’s campus sits in Leon county (FL) and the Tallahassee metro area. Leon county’s estimated employment total is 152,647 and its recent GDP estimate is $18,790,318.
The county’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 26.9% |
| Public administration | 13.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services | 13.7% |
Alabama State and Jackson State
Alabama State
Alabama State’s campus sits in Montgomery county (AL) and the Montgomery metro area. The county’s employment estimate is 97,081 and its recent GDP estimate is $15,685,249.
Montgomery county’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 21.9% |
| Manufacturing | 13.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services | 11.9% |
Jackson State
Jackson State’s campus sits in Hinds county (MS) and the Jackson metro area. Hinds county’s estimated employment total is 95,090 and its recent GDP estimate is $12,125,090.
Hinds county’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 27.6% |
| Retail trade | 11.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services | 9.7% |
Prairie View A&M
Prairie View A&M sits in one of the smaller counties but is still located in a metropolitan area. The university’s campus sits in Waller county (TX). Waller county’s employment estimate is 27,789 and its recent GDP estimate is $4,367,085.
The county’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 19.4% |
| Retail trade | 15.2% |
| Manufacturing | 11.6% |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling State, Mississippi Valley and Alcorn State
Four SWAC members are located in micropolitan areas.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Arkansas-Pine Bluff University’s campus sits in Jefferson county (AR) and the Pine Bluff micropolitan area. Jefferson county’s estimated employment total is 24,773 and its recent GDP estimate is $2,665,308.
The county’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 23.6% |
| Manufacturing | 17.4% |
| Retail trade | 11.6% |
Grambling State
Grambling State University’s campus sits in Lincoln parish (LA) and the Ruston micropolitan area. Lincoln parish’s employment total is 19,506 and its recent GDP estimate is $2,145,688.
The parish’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 34.5% |
| Retail trade | 12.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services | 7.9% |
Mississippi Valley
Mississippi Valley State University’s campus sits in Leflore county (MS) and the Greenwood micropolitan area. Leflore county’s estimated employment total is 9,846 and its recent GDP estimate is $1,082,102.
The county’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 30.4% |
| Retail trade | 16.0% |
| Manufacturing | 14.6% |
Alcorn State
Alcorn State University’s campus sits in Lorman county (MS) and the Natchez micropolitan area. Lorman county’s estimated employment total is 2,453 and its recent GDP estimate is $110,739.
The county’s top three industries, in terms of people employed are:
| Industry | Employment % |
| Educational services, and health care and social assistance | 27.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing, and utilities | 17.2% |
| Retail trade | 10.7% |
Nerd's Guide to College Football 