by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. This list ranks 36 colleges for Men’s Baseball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, College Factual scores each program on a blend of academic-athletic outcomes (NCAA Academic Progress Rate and Graduation Success Rate), athletic financial resources (team revenue, expenses, and aid per athlete from the EADA survey), and overall school quality, drawing on NCAA, U.S. Department of Education EADA, and IPEDS data. Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Jump to the options below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 college for Men's Baseball (Division I). Located in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 96%. Team revenue averages $114,322 per participant, against $114,322 in expenses. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Los Angeles earned the #2 place for student athletes. University of California-Los Angeles is a public school based in Los Angeles, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $129,983 per participant, compared with $129,983 spent per athlete. The school awards about $24,306 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Southern California ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Los Angeles, CA, University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 973, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. Team revenue averages $147,464 per participant, compared with $147,464 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $40,006.
Oregon State University is one of the top schools for Men's Baseball (Division I), at #4. Located in Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 985, alongside a GSR of 96%. About 56% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $141,930 per participant, against $141,930 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,022.
University of San Francisco landed the #5 spot for Men's Baseball (Division I). Located in San Francisco, CA, University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 45% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $51,945 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $51,945 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $31,788.
Pepperdine University landed the #6 spot this year. Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit school based in Malibu, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 977, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 68%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $71,324, with expenses of about $71,324 per participant. The school awards about $27,861 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University placed #7 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Loyola Marymount University records an NCAA APR of 962, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. The program generates about $63,599 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $63,599 per participant. Athletic aid averages $40,056 per athlete.
Gonzaga University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Gonzaga University is a private not-for-profit school based in Spokane, WA. Gonzaga University records an NCAA APR of 983, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $74,155, compared with $71,914 spent per athlete. The school awards about $14,963 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, alongside a GSR of 90%. About 45% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $17,650 per participant, against $111,704 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $26,539 per athlete.
Seattle University landed the #10 spot this year. Seattle University is a private not-for-profit school based in Seattle, WA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 988, and a 83% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 52%. The program generates about $57,915 in revenue per athlete, against $55,817 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,482 per athlete.
California Baptist University did well this year, earning the #11 position. California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Riverside, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 979, with a Graduation Success Rate of 78%. About 52% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $77,553 per participant, against $71,340 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,790.
University of California-San Diego landed the #12 spot this year. Based in La Jolla, CA, University of California-San Diego is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 987, alongside a GSR of 93%. Its federal graduation rate is 79%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $52,161, with expenses of about $52,161 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,847.
University of San Diego came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in San Diego, CA, University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 977, alongside a GSR of 87%. Its federal graduation rate is 35%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $73,280, with expenses of about $73,280 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,537.
University of the Pacific ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Stockton, CA. University of the Pacific records an NCAA APR of 979, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $49,747 per participant, compared with $49,747 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,596.
University of California-Irvine placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). University of California-Irvine is a public school based in Irvine, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 975, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. Team revenue averages $57,962 per participant, against $57,962 in expenses. The school awards about $13,955 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley landed the #16 spot this year. Based in Berkeley, CA, University of California-Berkeley is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 980, and a 87% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 43%. Team revenue averages $32,032 per participant, against $59,782 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $21,267 per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Moraga, CA, Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 957, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $65,457, compared with $65,457 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,999.
San Diego State University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in San Diego, CA, San Diego State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 960, and a 76% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 45%. The program generates about $83,534 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $76,280 per participant. The school awards about $21,450 in athletic aid per athlete.
Santa Clara University landed the #19 spot this year. Located in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 985, and a 67% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 32%. The program generates about $56,067 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $56,067 per participant. The school awards about $19,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Santa Barbara came in at #20 in this year's ranking. University of California-Santa Barbara is a public school based in Santa Barbara, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, alongside a GSR of 82%. Its federal graduation rate is 45%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $66,067, against $66,067 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,355 per athlete.
University of California-Davis ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). University of California-Davis is a public school based in Davis, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 982, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. Team revenue averages $35,932 per participant, with expenses of about $35,932 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,267.
California State University-Fresno did well this year, earning the #22 position. California State University-Fresno is a public school based in Fresno, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 979, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $60,062, with expenses of about $60,062 per participant. Athletic aid averages $15,577 per athlete.
University of Portland did well this year, earning the #23 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Portland, OR. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 985, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 52%. Team revenue averages $44,149 per participant, against $44,149 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,618.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo placed #24 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public school based in San Luis Obispo, CA. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo records an NCAA APR of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 82%. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $49,083 in revenue per athlete, compared with $49,083 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,344.
University of Oregon placed #25 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Eugene, OR. University of Oregon records an NCAA APR of 975, and a 81% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 39%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $26,317, with expenses of about $122,677 per participant. Athletic aid averages $22,739 per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Programs are scored on a blend of academic-athletic outcomes (NCAA Academic Progress Rate and Graduation Success Rate), athletic financial resources (team revenue, expenses, and athletic aid from the federal EADA survey), and overall school quality. The current methodology measures academic-athletic quality and does not include team win/loss performance.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.