by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 21 programs 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? Use the shortcuts below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found Rice University to be the best college for Men's Baseball (Division I) in Texas. Based in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $81,935, with expenses of about $81,935 per participant. The school awards about $41,166 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin ranked #2 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 977, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 51%. Team revenue averages $136,290 per participant, with expenses of about $197,724 per participant. Athletic aid averages $22,650 per athlete.
Abilene Christian University earned the #3 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Abilene, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 42% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $39,933 per participant, against $43,543 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $26,012 per athlete.
Texas Christian University came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Men's Baseball (Division I). Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fort Worth, TX. Texas Christian University records an NCAA APR of 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 66%. The federal graduation rate stands at 33%. The program generates about $198,856 in revenue per athlete, against $198,856 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $37,174 per athlete.
The University of Texas at San Antonio earned the #5 place for student athletes. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public school based in San Antonio, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 981, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. The program generates about $59,165 in revenue per athlete, against $59,165 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $16,155 per athlete.
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. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 973, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. About 53% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $118,073 in revenue per athlete, against $118,073 in expenses. The school awards about $30,455 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at Arlington placed #7 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Arlington, TX, The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution. The University of Texas at Arlington records an NCAA APR of 979, and a 97% Graduation Success Rate. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $30,865 per participant, compared with $30,865 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $12,666 per athlete.
Texas A&M University-College Station ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Texas A&M University-College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. Texas A&M University-College Station records an NCAA APR of 973, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. About 32% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $119,870 per participant, against $187,753 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,123.
Lamar University landed the #9 spot this year. Based in Beaumont, TX, Lamar University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, and a 86% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 48%. Team revenue averages $40,498 per participant, compared with $40,498 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $13,491 per athlete.
Texas Tech University landed the #10 spot this year. Texas Tech University is a public school based in Lubbock, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 982, and a 84% Graduation Success Rate. About 30% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $59,837, compared with $156,067 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,662.
Texas State University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Texas State University is a public school based in San Marcos, TX. Texas State University records an NCAA APR of 974, with a Graduation Success Rate of 82%. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $60,286 in revenue per athlete, against $60,286 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $16,371 per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in San Antonio, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 977, alongside a GSR of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 42%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $27,600, compared with $27,600 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,744.
Sam Houston State University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 982, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 42%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $36,043, against $36,043 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,743.
University of Houston ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Houston, TX, University of Houston is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 972, with a Graduation Success Rate of 81%. Its federal graduation rate is 43%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $67,872, compared with $67,872 spent per athlete. The school awards about $15,948 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Edinburg, TX, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution. 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. The program generates about $36,731 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $36,731 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,144.
Houston Christian University landed the #16 spot this year. Based in Houston, TX, Houston Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 950, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $28,225, with expenses of about $28,225 per participant. Athletic aid averages $20,924 per athlete.
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Corpus Christi, TX, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 974, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. About 43% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $25,253 in revenue per athlete, against $25,253 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,202.
Tarleton State University landed the #18 spot this year. Based in Stephenville, TX, Tarleton State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 971, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. About 39% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $40,250 in revenue per athlete, against $40,250 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,883 per athlete.
Prairie View A & M University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in Prairie View, TX, Prairie View A & M University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 985, alongside a GSR of 88%. About 60% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $15,855, compared with $15,855 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $7,400.
Texas Southern University ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Men's Baseball (Division I). Based in Houston, TX, Texas Southern University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 975, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. About 45% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $11,765 per participant, compared with $11,765 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,795.
Stephen F Austin State University placed #21 among the best colleges for Men's Baseball (Division I). This public school is set in Nacogdoches, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 943, with a Graduation Success Rate of 76%. Its federal graduation rate is 48%. The program generates about $14,986 in revenue per athlete, against $14,986 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $8,595 per athlete.
*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.