by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 26 schools for Men’s Basketball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Pick a path below.
Explore the leading programs below:
No school ranked higher than Stanford University this year for Men's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Stanford, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $672,836, compared with $672,836 spent per athlete. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Southern California is one of the top schools for Men's Basketball (Division I), at #2. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 33%. Team revenue averages $769,105 per participant, against $769,105 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $40,006 per athlete.
University of San Francisco earned the #3 place for student athletes. Based in San Francisco, CA, University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $428,846, with expenses of about $428,846 per participant. Athletic aid averages $31,788 per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University earned the #4 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 978, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $577,037, compared with $577,037 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $40,056.
San Diego State University earned the #5 place for student athletes. San Diego State University is a public school based in San Diego, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, alongside a GSR of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $898,229, compared with $535,923 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,450 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Los Angeles did well this year, earning the #6 position. University of California-Los Angeles is a public school based in Los Angeles, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 974, and a 63% Graduation Success Rate. About 29% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $1,047,044 per participant, with expenses of about $1,047,044 per participant. Athletic aid averages $24,306 per athlete.
California Baptist University placed #7 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Located in Riverside, CA, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 973, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 63%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $306,256, compared with $255,798 spent per athlete. The school awards about $23,790 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California landed the #8 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Moraga, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 973, alongside a GSR of 91%. About 69% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $553,210 in revenue per athlete, against $553,210 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,999.
University of California-Irvine landed the #9 spot this year. Located in Irvine, CA, University of California-Irvine is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, alongside a GSR of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 58%. Team revenue averages $265,501 per participant, with expenses of about $265,501 per participant. Athletic aid averages $13,955 per athlete.
Santa Clara University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school based in Santa Clara, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 986, and a 67% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 36%. Team revenue averages $373,590 per participant, compared with $373,590 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,355 per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley landed the #11 spot this year. This public school is set in Berkeley, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 963, alongside a GSR of 57%. Its federal graduation rate is 21%. The program generates about $602,230 in revenue per athlete, compared with $640,997 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,267.
University of California-San Diego placed #12 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). University of California-San Diego is a public school based in La Jolla, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 979, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $227,102 in revenue per athlete, against $227,102 in expenses. The school awards about $9,847 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Santa Barbara landed the #13 spot this year. This public school is set in Santa Barbara, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. About 40% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $218,285, against $218,285 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,355.
University of San Diego placed #14 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Located in San Diego, CA, University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 949, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 43% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $253,733 in revenue per athlete, against $253,733 in expenses. The school awards about $19,537 in athletic aid per athlete.
Pepperdine University ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). Located in Malibu, CA, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 943, with a Graduation Success Rate of 80%. The federal graduation rate stands at 36%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $328,844, with expenses of about $328,844 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,861.
University of California-Davis ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). University of California-Davis is a public school based in Davis, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 962, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 45% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $173,695 per participant, against $173,695 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,267 per athlete.
University of the Pacific landed the #17 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stockton, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 953, alongside a GSR of 69%. Its federal graduation rate is 20%. Team revenue averages $280,236 per participant, against $280,236 in expenses. The school awards about $21,596 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Fresno placed #18 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). California State University-Fresno is a public school based in Fresno, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 952, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. Team revenue averages $248,790 per participant, with expenses of about $248,790 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,577.
University of California-Riverside came in at #19 in this year's ranking. University of California-Riverside is a public school based in Riverside, CA. University of California-Riverside records an NCAA APR of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 82%. Its federal graduation rate is 64%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $194,485, with expenses of about $194,485 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,154.
California State University-Bakersfield placed #20 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). California State University-Bakersfield is a public school based in Bakersfield, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 969, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $151,222, against $151,222 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,121.
California State University-Fullerton did well this year, earning the #21 position. California State University-Fullerton is a public school based in Fullerton, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 970, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 62% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $147,641 per participant, compared with $147,641 spent per athlete. The school awards about $9,497 in athletic aid per athlete.
San Jose State University landed the #22 spot this year. Based in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 931, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. About 27% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $176,900 in revenue per athlete, against $176,900 in expenses. The school awards about $16,034 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Sacramento ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Sacramento, CA, California State University-Sacramento is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 951, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. About 60% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $161,845, with expenses of about $161,845 per participant. The school awards about $11,560 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). This public school is set in San Luis Obispo, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 951, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 25% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $120,822, compared with $120,822 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,344.
California State University-Northridge landed the #25 spot this year. Based in Northridge, CA, California State University-Northridge is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 958, with a Graduation Success Rate of 58%. The federal graduation rate stands at 42%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $163,202, against $159,186 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,174 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.