by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 48 programs for Men’s Basketball (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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No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University records an NCAA APR of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Team revenue averages $1,030,850 per participant, with expenses of about $1,052,062 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $53,919.
Indiana University-Bloomington is one of the top schools for Men's Basketball (Division I), at #2. Based in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University-Bloomington is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. Team revenue averages $2,751,388 per participant, compared with $1,674,654 spent per athlete. The school awards about $23,161 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Notre Dame is one of the top schools for Men's Basketball (Division I), at #3. Based in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 982, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $779,135, against $779,135 in expenses. The school awards about $34,391 in athletic aid per athlete.
Michigan State University landed the #4 spot for Men's Basketball (Division I). Michigan State University is a public school based in East Lansing, MI. Michigan State University records an NCAA APR of 994, alongside a GSR of 80%. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $1,363,637 in revenue per athlete, against $1,285,421 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $22,500 per athlete.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranked #5 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public school based in Ann Arbor, MI. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 962, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 54% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $1,325,618 per participant, against $897,407 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $28,650.
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Cincinnati, OH. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 42%. Team revenue averages $770,065 per participant, against $770,065 in expenses. The school awards about $20,882 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Madison did well this year, earning the #7 position. University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public school based in Madison, WI. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 979, and a 80% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 58%. Team revenue averages $1,168,781 per participant, with expenses of about $733,184 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,586 per athlete.
Marquette University did well this year, earning the #8 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Milwaukee, WI. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, alongside a GSR of 82%. About 58% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,286,716, against $1,002,674 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,770 per athlete.
Loyola University Chicago placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 977, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 36%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $413,017, with expenses of about $413,017 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,325.
Bradley University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Peoria, IL, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Team revenue averages $241,882 per participant, compared with $241,882 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,583 per athlete.
Ohio State University-Main Campus placed #11 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Ohio State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 978, alongside a GSR of 67%. About 19% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,459,690, with expenses of about $822,418 per participant. Athletic aid averages $27,151 per athlete.
University of Toledo landed the #12 spot this year. Located in Toledo, OH, University of Toledo is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 983, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 47% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $226,226 in revenue per athlete, against $226,226 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,660.
Purdue University-Main Campus came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 974, with a Graduation Success Rate of 75%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $1,164,833 per participant, with expenses of about $780,024 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,382.
University of Dayton did well this year, earning the #14 position. University of Dayton is a private not-for-profit school based in Dayton, OH. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 23%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,124,142, against $604,525 in expenses. The school awards about $13,913 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ohio University-Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Athens, OH, Ohio University-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, alongside a GSR of 83%. Its federal graduation rate is 53%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $220,667, compared with $220,667 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $17,284 per athlete.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Champaign, IL, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 962, with a Graduation Success Rate of 55%. The federal graduation rate stands at 13%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,483,174, with expenses of about $1,468,998 per participant. Athletic aid averages $25,398 per athlete.
Xavier University placed #17 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Xavier University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cincinnati, OH. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 976, and a 78% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 40%. Team revenue averages $800,847 per participant, compared with $587,117 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,280.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Carbondale, IL, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $214,905 per participant, against $214,905 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,525 per athlete.
Illinois State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Illinois State University is a public school based in Normal, IL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 45%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $211,145, with expenses of about $211,145 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,477.
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus landed the #20 spot this year. This public school is set in Bowling Green, OH. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 963, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. Team revenue averages $195,124 per participant, compared with $187,600 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,840 per athlete.
Kent State University at Kent landed the #21 spot this year. This public school is set in Kent, OH. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 985, and a 87% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $202,405, against $202,405 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $13,976 per athlete.
University of Evansville ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). University of Evansville is a private not-for-profit school based in Evansville, IN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 972, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 60%. The program generates about $200,801 in revenue per athlete, against $200,801 in expenses. The school awards about $16,525 in athletic aid per athlete.
Western Michigan University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Western Michigan University is a public school based in Kalamazoo, MI. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $148,478 per participant, against $148,478 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,248.
DePaul University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Chicago, IL, DePaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. DePaul University records an NCAA APR of 931, alongside a GSR of 60%. The federal graduation rate stands at 27%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $910,467, compared with $910,467 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,928.
Ball State University landed the #25 spot this year. Based in Muncie, IN, Ball State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 967, and a 86% Graduation Success Rate. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $185,641, compared with $185,641 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,206 per athlete.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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.