by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 113 programs for Men’s Baseball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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.
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Learn more about these schools below:
Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 college for Men's Baseball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Durham, NC. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 96%. Its federal graduation rate is 76%. The program generates about $72,624 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $114,877 per participant. Athletic aid averages $34,321 per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Men's Baseball (Division I). University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 95%. About 58% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $156,028 per participant, compared with $156,028 spent per athlete. The school awards about $26,976 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Richmond ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). University of Richmond is a private not-for-profit school based in University of Richmond, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. The program generates about $45,709 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $45,709 per participant. Athletic aid averages $27,609 per athlete.
The University of Alabama is one of the top schools for Men's Baseball (Division I), at #4. The University of Alabama is a public school based in Tuscaloosa, AL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $136,100 per participant, with expenses of about $136,100 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,760.
Vanderbilt University ranked #5 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 990, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 39% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $219,459 per participant, against $219,459 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $42,235 per athlete.
Auburn University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Auburn, AL. Auburn University records an NCAA APR of 998, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. About 38% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $96,157, against $176,061 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $28,233 per athlete.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville placed #7 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public school based in Knoxville, TN. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 26%. The program generates about $186,665 in revenue per athlete, against $208,105 in expenses. The school awards about $29,054 in athletic aid per athlete.
Elon University placed #8 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Located in Elon, NC, Elon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 998, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. Team revenue averages $46,085 per participant, compared with $46,085 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $25,795 per athlete.
Wake Forest University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit school based in Winston-Salem, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 983, alongside a GSR of 94%. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. Team revenue averages $129,593 per participant, against $129,593 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $38,933 per athlete.
Clemson University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Clemson University is a public school based in Clemson, SC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 983, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 56%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $193,564, with expenses of about $193,564 per participant. The school awards about $21,730 in athletic aid per athlete.
Belmont University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $45,170, with expenses of about $45,170 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,742 per athlete.
University of Miami ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Coral Gables, FL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 17%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $165,038, against $165,038 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $38,474.
University of Kentucky did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Lexington, KY. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 998, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 25%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $123,021, compared with $123,021 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,921.
University of Mississippi landed the #14 spot this year. Based in University, MS, University of Mississippi is a public institution. University of Mississippi records an NCAA APR of 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. Its federal graduation rate is 26%. Team revenue averages $293,572 per participant, against $264,050 in expenses. The school awards about $22,457 in athletic aid per athlete.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 28%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $245,532, compared with $268,010 spent per athlete. The school awards about $20,802 in athletic aid per athlete.
Tulane University of Louisiana landed the #16 spot this year. Located in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 977, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 41%. The program generates about $92,300 in revenue per athlete, compared with $77,817 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $36,413.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Chapel Hill, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 985, alongside a GSR of 96%. About 46% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $82,704, against $122,989 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,771.
University of Florida came in at #18 in this year's ranking. University of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. University of Florida records an NCAA APR of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 82%. About 35% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $107,361 per participant, compared with $168,545 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,180.
University of Arkansas placed #19 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Fayetteville, AR. University of Arkansas records an NCAA APR of 992, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 37%. Team revenue averages $156,998 per participant, compared with $230,131 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,062 per athlete.
Samford University placed #20 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Located in Birmingham, AL, Samford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 54% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $39,757 per participant, against $35,527 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $20,864 per athlete.
University of Central Florida did well this year, earning the #21 position. University of Central Florida is a public school based in Orlando, FL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 979, alongside a GSR of 96%. About 48% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $140,862, compared with $89,511 spent per athlete. The school awards about $25,195 in athletic aid per athlete.
Mercer University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Mercer University is a private not-for-profit school based in Macon, GA. Mercer University records an NCAA APR of 988, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $38,141, with expenses of about $38,141 per participant. The school awards about $23,898 in athletic aid per athlete.
Mississippi State University landed the #23 spot this year. Located in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 987, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 27%. Team revenue averages $185,028 per participant, compared with $185,028 spent per athlete. The school awards about $24,143 in athletic aid per athlete.
Florida Atlantic University placed #24 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. Its federal graduation rate is 52%. Team revenue averages $49,334 per participant, compared with $49,334 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,971.
Liberty University placed #25 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. Liberty University records an NCAA APR of 990, alongside a GSR of 96%. Its federal graduation rate is 54%. Team revenue averages $58,219 per participant, compared with $58,219 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,589 in athletic aid per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.