by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 29 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 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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Pick a path below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Rice University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 986, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $81,935, against $81,935 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $41,166 per athlete.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Tempe, AZ. Arizona State University Campus Immersion records an NCAA APR of 987, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 29%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $124,703, against $124,703 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $27,490 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #3 spot for Men's Baseball (Division I). Located in Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 977, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. About 51% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $136,290 per participant, against $197,724 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $22,650 per athlete.
Abilene Christian University earned the #4 place for student athletes. Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Abilene, TX. Abilene Christian University records an NCAA APR of 995, alongside a GSR of 92%. About 42% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $39,933 per participant, with expenses of about $43,543 per participant. The school awards about $26,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas Christian University earned the #5 place for student athletes. Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fort Worth, TX. Texas Christian University records an NCAA APR of 984, alongside a GSR of 66%. The federal graduation rate stands at 33%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $198,856, compared with $198,856 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $37,174.
Baylor University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Baylor University is a private not-for-profit school based in Waco, TX. Baylor University records an NCAA APR of 973, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 53%. Team revenue averages $118,073 per participant, against $118,073 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $30,455.
Oral Roberts University landed the #7 spot this year. Oral Roberts University is a private not-for-profit school based in Tulsa, OK. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 991, alongside a GSR of 97%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Team revenue averages $59,624 per participant, compared with $59,624 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $15,443 per athlete.
University of Arizona landed the #8 spot this year. This public school is set in Tucson, AZ. The team's NCAA APR score is 969, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. The federal graduation rate stands at 29%. Team revenue averages $178,270 per participant, with expenses of about $178,270 per participant. Athletic aid averages $20,887 per athlete.
The University of Texas at San Antonio placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Located in San Antonio, TX, The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 981, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $59,165 per participant, with expenses of about $59,165 per participant. Athletic aid averages $16,155 per athlete.
Texas A&M University-College Station placed #10 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Located in College Station, TX, Texas A&M University-College Station is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 973, alongside a GSR of 88%. About 32% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $119,870 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $187,753 per participant. Athletic aid averages $17,123 per athlete.
Grand Canyon University placed #11 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Located in Phoenix, AZ, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 993, alongside a GSR of 97%. Its federal graduation rate is 49%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $37,944, compared with $37,944 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,958.
University of New Mexico-Main Campus did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Albuquerque, NM, University of New Mexico-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, and a 79% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 22%. The program generates about $45,272 in revenue per athlete, compared with $38,516 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,510.
The University of Texas at Arlington did well this year, earning the #13 position. The University of Texas at Arlington is a public school based in Arlington, TX. The University of Texas at Arlington records an NCAA APR of 979, with a Graduation Success Rate of 97%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $30,865 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $30,865 per participant. The school awards about $12,666 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus placed #14 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Stillwater, OK. Oklahoma State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 984, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. About 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $75,225 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $112,207 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,335.
Lamar University ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Lamar University is a public school based in Beaumont, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, and a 86% Graduation Success Rate. About 48% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $40,498 per participant, compared with $40,498 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,491 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas Tech University ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Located in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 982, alongside a GSR of 84%. The federal graduation rate stands at 30%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $59,837, compared with $156,067 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $13,662 per athlete.
Texas State University placed #17 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in San Marcos, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 974, alongside a GSR of 82%. The federal graduation rate stands at 57%. The program generates about $60,286 in revenue per athlete, compared with $60,286 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,371 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus did well this year, earning the #18 position. Located in Norman, OK, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is a public institution. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus records an NCAA APR of 968, alongside a GSR of 84%. The federal graduation rate stands at 33%. The program generates about $42,309 in revenue per athlete, against $170,149 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,789.
University of Houston did well this year, earning the #19 position. University of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. University of Houston records an NCAA APR of 972, with a Graduation Success Rate of 81%. About 43% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $67,872 per participant, compared with $67,872 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,948.
University of the Incarnate Word did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in San Antonio, TX, University of the Incarnate Word is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 977, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 42%. Team revenue averages $27,600 per participant, against $27,600 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $18,744 per athlete.
Sam Houston State University placed #21 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Huntsville, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 982, alongside a GSR of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 42%. The program generates about $36,043 in revenue per athlete, against $36,043 in expenses. The school awards about $11,743 in athletic aid per athlete.
New Mexico State University-Main Campus landed the #22 spot this year. This public school is set in Las Cruces, NM. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 980, and a 84% Graduation Success Rate. About 38% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $38,841 per participant, against $38,841 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,921.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did well this year, earning the #23 position. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public school based in Edinburg, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. About 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $36,731 per participant, compared with $36,731 spent per athlete. The school awards about $9,144 in athletic aid per athlete.
Houston Christian University ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Houston Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 950, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $28,225, compared with $28,225 spent per athlete. The school awards about $20,924 in athletic aid per athlete.
Tarleton State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Stephenville, TX, Tarleton State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 971, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 39%. The program generates about $40,250 in revenue per athlete, against $40,250 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,883.
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. 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
