- Roosevelt Brown, Morgan State (1975)
- Harry Carson, South Carolina State (2006)
- Len Ford, Morgan State (1976)
- Bob Hayes, Florida A&M (2009)
- David "Deacon" Jones, South Carolina State (1980)
- Leroy Kelly, Morgan State (1994)
- Willie Lanier, Morgan State (1986)
- Larry Little, Bethune-Cookman (1993)
- Marion Motley, South Carolina State (1968)
- Ken Riley, Florida A&M (2023)
- Shannon Sharpe, Savannah State (2011)
- Art Shell, Maryland Eastern Shore (1989)
- Donnie Shell, South Carolina State (2020)
- Earl Banks, Morgan State (1992)
- Emerson Boozer, Maryland Eastern Shore (2010)
- Roger Brown, Maryland Eastern Shore (2009)
- Harry Carson, South Carolina State (2002)
- Jake Gaither, Florida A&M (1975)
- Willie Galimore, Florida A&M (1999)
- Rudy Hubbard, Florida A&M (2021)
- Willie Jeffries, Howard & South Carolina State (2010)
- Willie Lanier, Morgan State (2000)
- Vernon McCain, Maryland Eastern Shore (2006)
- Tyrone McGriff, Florida A&M (1996)
- Art Shell, Maryland Eastern Shore (2013)
- Donnie Shell, South Carolina State (1998)
- Joe Taylor, Hampton (2019)
- Dennis Thomas, MEAC Commissioner (2022)
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield, Mass.)
- Sam Jones, North Carolina Central (1984)
- John McLendon, North Carolina Central (2016)
- Marvin Webster, Morgan State (2018)
Olympic Medalists
- Phillippa Arnett, Morgan State (1996, silver, 4x100-meter relay)
- Larry Black, North Carolina Central (1972, gold, 4x100-meter relay / 1972, silver, 200 meters)
- Chris Brown, Norfolk State (2008, silver, 4x400-meter relay / 2012, gold, 4x400-meter relay / 2016, bronze, 4x400-meter relay)
- Eldece Clarke, Hampton* (1996, silver, 4x100-meter relay / 2000, gold, 4x100-meter relay)
- Brian Lewis, Norfolk State (2000, gold, 4x100-meter relay)
- Troy McIntosh, Morgan State (1996, bronze, 4x400-meter relay & 400 meters / 2000, bronze, 4x400-meter relay & 400 meters)
- Francena McCorory, Hampton* (2012, gold, 4x400-meter relay / 2016, gold, 4x400-meter relay)
- Tim Montgomery, Norfolk State (2000, gold, 4x100-meter relay)
- David Oliver, Howard (2008, bronze, 110-meter hurdles)
- Robert Ouko, North Carolina Central (1972, gold, 4x100-meter relay)
- Jack Pierce, Morgan State (1992, bronze, 110-meter hurdles)
- Julius Sang, North Carolina Central (1972, gold, 4x100-meter relay / 1972, silver, 400 meters)
- Rochelle Stevens, Morgan State (1992, gold, 4x400-meter relay / 1996, silver, 4x400-meter relay)
- Kellie Wells, Hampton* (2012, bronze, 100-meter hurdles)
- Sydney Satchell, Howard (2024, gold, women's sitting volleyball olympic team)
Other Notables (Not All-Inclusive)
- Ronnie Ash, Bethune-Cookman* (track & field, two-time NCAA champion [2009 60-meter hurdles, 2009 110-meter hurdles])
- Antonio Hamilton, South Carolina State (cornerback, Arizona Cardinals)
- Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State (defensive tackle, Philadelphia Eagles)
- Darius Leonard, South Carolina State (linebacker, Indianapolis Colts)
- Yvette Lewis, Hampton* (track & field, two-time NCAA champion, triple jump [2006 indoor, 2007 outdoor]))
- Francena McCorory, Hampton* (track & field, three-time NCAA champion, 400 meters [2009 indoor, 2010 indoor, 2010 outdoor])
- Joshua Miles, Morgan State (offensive lineman, Arizona Cardinals)
- Rod Milstead, Delaware State (football, 1995 Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers)
- Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk State (former NBA player: Orlando, New York, Indiana, Philadelphia)
- Bobby Price, Norfolk State (defensive back, Detroit Lions)
- Tyrell Richard, South Carolina State (2019 NCAA champion, indoor 400 meters)
- Randolph Ross, Jr., North Carolina A&T State* (2021 NCAA champion, indoor 4x400-meter relay; 2021 NCAA champion, outdoor 400 meters & 4x400-meter relay)
- Akeem Sirleaf, North Carolina A&T State* (2021 NCAA champion, outdoor 4x400-meter relay)
- Ryan Smith, North Carolina Central (defensive back, Los Angeles Chargers; won Super Bowl XV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Trevor Stewart, North Carolina A&T State* (track & field, 2021 NCAA champion, indoor 4x400-meter relay & outdoor 4x400-meter relay)
- Daniel Stokes, North Carolina A&T State* (track & field, 2021 NCAA champion, indoor 4x400-meter relay & outdoor 4x400-meter relay)
- Cambrea Sturgis, North Carolina A&T State* (2021 NCAA champion, outdoor 100 meters & 200 meters)
- John Taylor, Delaware State (football, three-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers)
- Joe Thomas, South Carolina State (linebacker, Houston Texans)
- Kayla White, North Carolina A&T State* (2019 NCAA champion, indoor 200 meters)
- Elijah Young, North Carolina A&T State* (2021 NCAA champion, indoor 4x400-meter relay)
*achievement(s) occurred during institution's tenure in the MEAC