by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 39 colleges for Men’s Baseball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual weighs 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found Northwestern University to be the best college for Men's Baseball (Division I) in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 87%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $60,849, with expenses of about $80,977 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $53,919.
University of Notre Dame came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Men's Baseball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Notre Dame, IN. University of Notre Dame records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $80,279, against $80,279 in expenses. The school awards about $34,391 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ohio State University-Main Campus landed the #3 spot for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Columbus, OH. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 987, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 58%. The program generates about $104,407 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $104,407 per participant. The school awards about $27,151 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor landed the #4 spot for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 990, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 87%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $20,226, against $95,067 in expenses. The school awards about $28,650 in athletic aid per athlete.
Indiana University-Bloomington landed the #5 spot for Men's Baseball (Division I). Indiana University-Bloomington is a public school based in Bloomington, IN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. The program generates about $85,172 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $85,172 per participant. Athletic aid averages $23,161 per athlete.
Michigan State University did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, and a 85% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $61,930, against $61,930 in expenses. The school awards about $22,500 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus landed the #7 spot this year. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is a public school based in Cincinnati, OH. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 991, alongside a GSR of 95%. Its federal graduation rate is 52%. Team revenue averages $77,461 per participant, against $77,461 in expenses. The school awards about $20,882 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ball State University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Muncie, IN. Ball State University records an NCAA APR of 995, alongside a GSR of 96%. The federal graduation rate stands at 56%. The program generates about $38,897 in revenue per athlete, compared with $38,897 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,206.
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Bowling Green, OH. Bowling Green State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 64%. The program generates about $28,027 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $27,645 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,840.
Western Michigan University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University is a public institution. Western Michigan University records an NCAA APR of 992, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 91% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $27,973, against $27,973 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,248.
Bradley University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Peoria, IL, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 985, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $41,654, against $41,654 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $16,583 per athlete.
Kent State University at Kent did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Kent, OH, Kent State University at Kent is a public institution. Kent State University at Kent records an NCAA APR of 996, alongside a GSR of 91%. About 68% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $45,834, compared with $45,834 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,976 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign came in at #13 in this year's ranking. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public school based in Champaign, IL. The team's NCAA APR score is 985, alongside a GSR of 95%. The federal graduation rate stands at 54%. Team revenue averages $17,790 per participant, with expenses of about $107,573 per participant. Athletic aid averages $25,398 per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Based in Milwaukee, WI, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 88%. Team revenue averages $30,262 per participant, with expenses of about $30,262 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,273.
University of Illinois Chicago placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). University of Illinois Chicago is a public school based in Chicago, IL. University of Illinois Chicago records an NCAA APR of 982, alongside a GSR of 97%. Its federal graduation rate is 70%. The program generates about $31,462 in revenue per athlete, against $31,462 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,167 per athlete.
Xavier University landed the #16 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cincinnati, OH. The team's NCAA APR score is 976, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 69% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $10,700 per participant, with expenses of about $43,585 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,280.
Ohio University-Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Athens, OH. Ohio University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 986, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. The program generates about $31,547 in revenue per athlete, against $31,547 in expenses. The school awards about $17,284 in athletic aid per athlete.
Illinois State University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Normal, IL, Illinois State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 986, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 58%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $34,058, compared with $34,058 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,477.
Purdue University-Main Campus landed the #19 spot this year. This public school is set in West Lafayette, IN. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. About 38% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $10,688 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $70,528 per participant. The school awards about $19,382 in athletic aid per athlete.
Miami University-Oxford placed #20 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Miami University-Oxford is a public school based in Oxford, OH. Miami University-Oxford records an NCAA APR of 948, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $36,758 per participant, against $36,758 in expenses. The school awards about $17,790 in athletic aid per athlete.
Butler University placed #21 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Indianapolis, IN. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 971, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. Team revenue averages $37,735 per participant, with expenses of about $34,968 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,113.
Valparaiso University did well this year, earning the #22 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Valparaiso, IN. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. The program generates about $29,913 in revenue per athlete, against $29,917 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,540.
University of Toledo ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Toledo, OH. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 965, and a 87% Graduation Success Rate. About 69% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $30,332 in revenue per athlete, against $30,332 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $21,660 per athlete.
University of Evansville did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in Evansville, IN, University of Evansville is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 979, with a Graduation Success Rate of 83%. Its federal graduation rate is 45%. Team revenue averages $48,983 per participant, compared with $48,983 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,525.
University of Dayton landed the #25 spot this year. Based in Dayton, OH, University of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 954, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $24,188 in revenue per athlete, against $44,278 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,913.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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.