by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 54 schools 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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Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Fordham University to be the best college for Men's Basketball (Division I) in the Middle Atlantic Region. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bronx, NY. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $515,062, compared with $515,062 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $32,443 per athlete.
Villanova University landed the #2 spot for Men's Basketball (Division I). Located in Villanova, PA, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 988, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $1,103,619 per participant, with expenses of about $1,060,674 per participant. Athletic aid averages $25,480 per athlete.
Temple University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Basketball (Division I). This public school is set in Philadelphia, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 92%. The program generates about $423,156 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $423,156 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $28,567.
Hofstra University landed the #4 spot for Men's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Hempstead, NY. Hofstra University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. The program generates about $309,642 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $309,642 per participant. The school awards about $22,514 in athletic aid per athlete.
Drexel University earned the #5 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 73% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $221,405, with expenses of about $221,405 per participant. The school awards about $25,843 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. About 8% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $867,131, against $714,861 in expenses. The school awards about $30,613 in athletic aid per athlete.
Monmouth University landed the #7 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in West Long Branch, NJ. Monmouth University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $210,942 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $210,942 per participant. The school awards about $20,376 in athletic aid per athlete.
Seton Hall University ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit school based in South Orange, NJ. The team's NCAA APR score is 970, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 36%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $575,819, compared with $575,819 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $32,496.
Colgate University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Hamilton, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 79%. About 69% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $199,916 per participant, with expenses of about $199,916 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,658.
Syracuse University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Syracuse, NY. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 978, alongside a GSR of 57%. About 23% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,858,100, compared with $937,429 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $33,068.
George Washington University landed the #11 spot this year. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school based in Washington, DC. George Washington University records an NCAA APR of 964, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 21% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $388,140 per participant, against $388,140 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $29,880 per athlete.
Bucknell University landed the #12 spot this year. Located in Lewisburg, PA, Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bucknell University records an NCAA APR of 995, alongside a GSR of 82%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. The program generates about $196,320 in revenue per athlete, compared with $196,320 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,655.
St. John's University-New York placed #13 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Queens, NY, St. John's University-New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 982, alongside a GSR of 80%. About 17% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $2,461,107 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,461,107 per participant. Athletic aid averages $29,040 per athlete.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick landed the #14 spot this year. Located in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 951, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 45%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,071,793, with expenses of about $1,071,793 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $26,379.
Lafayette College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit school based in Easton, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 984, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. The program generates about $176,579 in revenue per athlete, compared with $176,579 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $18,987 per athlete.
University of Delaware did well this year, earning the #16 position. University of Delaware is a public school based in Newark, DE. The team's NCAA APR score is 979, alongside a GSR of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 38%. The program generates about $223,252 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $223,252 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,002.
Lehigh University placed #17 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Located in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $150,156 in revenue per athlete, against $150,156 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,391.
Duquesne University landed the #18 spot this year. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 13%. The program generates about $334,008 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $334,008 per participant. Athletic aid averages $17,755 per athlete.
University at Buffalo ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). University at Buffalo is a public school based in Buffalo, NY. The team's NCAA APR score is 972, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. Team revenue averages $284,235 per participant, with expenses of about $284,235 per participant. Athletic aid averages $19,340 per athlete.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus placed #20 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 953, and a 69% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. The program generates about $1,083,875 in revenue per athlete, against $1,031,039 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $25,170 per athlete.
University of Maryland-College Park landed the #21 spot this year. Located in College Park, MD, University of Maryland-College Park is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 937, and a 38% Graduation Success Rate. About 21% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $1,097,643 per participant, with expenses of about $864,857 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $30,606.
American University placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). American University is a private not-for-profit school based in Washington, DC. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 85% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 43%. The program generates about $109,771 in revenue per athlete, compared with $109,771 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $18,519 per athlete.
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia records an NCAA APR of 972, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. About 60% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $329,187 in revenue per athlete, compared with $329,187 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $13,694 per athlete.
Marist University placed #24 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Poughkeepsie, NY. Marist University records an NCAA APR of 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. The program generates about $175,292 in revenue per athlete, compared with $175,292 spent per athlete. The school awards about $9,661 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loyola University Maryland placed #25 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Baltimore, MD. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 63%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $133,165, against $133,165 in expenses. The school awards about $14,638 in athletic aid 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. 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.
