by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. We have ranked 26 colleges for Men’s Baseball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluates each program using 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.
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Learn more about these schools below:
Stanford University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Stanford University records an NCAA APR of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 96%. The program generates about $114,322 in revenue per athlete, compared with $114,322 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $42,012.
University of California-Los Angeles landed the #2 spot for Men's Baseball (Division I). University of California-Los Angeles is a public school based in Los Angeles, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $129,983, with expenses of about $129,983 per participant. The school awards about $24,306 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Southern California landed the #3 spot for Men's Baseball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 973, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 63%. Team revenue averages $147,464 per participant, compared with $147,464 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $40,006 per athlete.
University of San Francisco earned the #4 place for student athletes. University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school based in San Francisco, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 45%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $51,945, with expenses of about $51,945 per participant. Athletic aid averages $31,788 per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University is one of the top schools for Men's Baseball (Division I), at #5. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 962, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $63,599, with expenses of about $63,599 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $40,056.
Pepperdine University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). 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%. Team revenue averages $71,324 per participant, compared with $71,324 spent per athlete. The school awards about $27,861 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Baptist University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Riverside, CA, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 979, with a Graduation Success Rate of 78%. The federal graduation rate stands at 52%. Team revenue averages $77,553 per participant, with expenses of about $71,340 per participant. Athletic aid averages $23,790 per athlete.
University of San Diego ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in San Diego, CA, University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 977, alongside a GSR of 87%. About 35% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $73,280 in revenue per athlete, against $73,280 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,537.
University of California-San Diego landed the #9 spot this year. Based in La Jolla, CA, University of California-San Diego is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 987, alongside a GSR of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 79%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $52,161, with expenses of about $52,161 per participant. Athletic aid averages $9,847 per athlete.
University of California-Irvine did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Irvine, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 975, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $57,962, compared with $57,962 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,955 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of the Pacific landed the #11 spot this year. Based in Stockton, CA, University of the Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution. 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, with expenses of about $49,747 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,596 per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California ranked #12 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. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 957, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. The program generates about $65,457 in revenue per athlete, compared with $65,457 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $18,999 per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley came in at #13 in this year's ranking. University of California-Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 980, alongside a GSR of 87%. Its federal graduation rate is 43%. The program generates about $32,032 in revenue per athlete, compared with $59,782 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,267.
University of California-Santa Barbara landed the #14 spot this year. Based in Santa Barbara, CA, University of California-Santa Barbara is a public institution. University of California-Santa Barbara records an NCAA APR of 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 82%. Its federal graduation rate is 45%. The program generates about $66,067 in revenue per athlete, compared with $66,067 spent per athlete. The school awards about $11,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
Santa Clara University ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Located in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 985, with a Graduation Success Rate of 67%. Its federal graduation rate is 32%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $56,067, against $56,067 in expenses. The school awards about $19,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
San Diego State University landed the #16 spot this year. San Diego State University is a public school based in San Diego, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 960, and a 76% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 45%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $83,534, compared with $76,280 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,450 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Davis placed #17 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Davis, CA, University of California-Davis is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 982, alongside a GSR of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. The program generates about $35,932 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $35,932 per participant. Athletic aid averages $14,267 per athlete.
California State University-Fresno placed #18 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Fresno, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 979, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. The program generates about $60,062 in revenue per athlete, compared with $60,062 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $15,577 per athlete.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in San Luis Obispo, CA, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public institution. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo records an NCAA APR of 994, alongside a GSR of 82%. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $49,083, compared with $49,083 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $10,344 per athlete.
California State University-Northridge came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Northridge, CA. California State University-Northridge records an NCAA APR of 950, alongside a GSR of 83%. About 29% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $80,102 per participant, with expenses of about $73,863 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,174.
California State University-Fullerton landed the #21 spot this year. Located in Fullerton, CA, California State University-Fullerton is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 960, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 36%. Team revenue averages $55,421 per participant, against $55,421 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,497.
California State University-Sacramento came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Sacramento, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 957, alongside a GSR of 80%. Its federal graduation rate is 33%. Team revenue averages $49,098 per participant, with expenses of about $49,098 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,560.
California State University-Long Beach did well this year, earning the #23 position. This public school is set in Long Beach, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 945, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. The federal graduation rate stands at 44%. Team revenue averages $49,985 per participant, with expenses of about $49,985 per participant. Athletic aid averages $8,770 per athlete.
San Jose State University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in San Jose, CA. San Jose State University records an NCAA APR of 930, and a 77% Graduation Success Rate. About 37% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $26,917 per participant, with expenses of about $26,917 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,034.
California State University-Bakersfield came in at #25 in this year's ranking. California State University-Bakersfield is a public school based in Bakersfield, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 958, alongside a GSR of 82%. Its federal graduation rate is 46%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $30,952, with expenses of about $30,952 per participant. Athletic aid averages $10,121 per athlete.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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
See our data sources and methodologies.