by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 119 colleges for Men’s Basketball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluates each program using 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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Leading the list is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, our #1 college for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Knoxville, TN, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public institution. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. Team revenue averages $2,354,461 per participant, compared with $1,349,461 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $29,054 per athlete.
University of Miami ranked #2 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Coral Gables, FL, University of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, alongside a GSR of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $1,276,083 per participant, compared with $1,026,182 spent per athlete. The school awards about $38,474 in athletic aid per athlete.
Clemson University is one of the top schools for Men's Basketball (Division I), at #3. This public school is set in Clemson, SC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $740,749, with expenses of about $740,749 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,730 per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus is one of the top schools for Men's Basketball (Division I), at #4. Located in Charlottesville, VA, University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 83%. The federal graduation rate stands at 55%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $939,050, against $876,127 in expenses. The school awards about $26,976 in athletic aid per athlete.
Furman University landed the #5 spot for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Greenville, SC, Furman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $270,199, against $270,199 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $28,699 per athlete.
University of Richmond landed the #6 spot this year. Based in University of Richmond, VA, University of Richmond 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 50%. The program generates about $440,461 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $440,461 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,609.
University of Florida landed the #7 spot this year. University of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 46%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $958,778, with expenses of about $745,985 per participant. Athletic aid averages $23,180 per athlete.
Belmont University placed #8 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Nashville, TN, Belmont University is a private not-for-profit institution. Belmont University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. Team revenue averages $267,528 per participant, compared with $267,528 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,742 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Louisville landed the #9 spot this year. This public school is set in Louisville, KY. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 40%. Team revenue averages $1,340,728 per participant, against $873,769 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $21,083 per athlete.
University of Kentucky did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Lexington, KY, University of Kentucky is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 0%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,424,716, with expenses of about $1,424,716 per participant. Athletic aid averages $23,921 per athlete.
Vanderbilt University landed the #11 spot this year. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. The team's NCAA APR score is 971, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 42%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $740,129, against $740,129 in expenses. The school awards about $42,235 in athletic aid per athlete.
Elon University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Elon University is a private not-for-profit school based in Elon, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 85% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $203,923, against $203,923 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,795.
Tulane University of Louisiana placed #13 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Located in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Tulane University of Louisiana records an NCAA APR of 990, alongside a GSR of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 27%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $242,184, with expenses of about $351,365 per participant. The school awards about $36,413 in athletic aid per athlete.
Liberty University landed the #14 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 69%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $371,118, with expenses of about $371,118 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,589.
West Virginia University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Morgantown, WV, West Virginia University is a public institution. West Virginia University records an NCAA APR of 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. The program generates about $638,932 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $638,932 per participant. The school awards about $19,705 in athletic aid per athlete.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public school based in Blacksburg, VA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 958, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 58%. Team revenue averages $565,694 per participant, compared with $633,618 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,706.
Auburn University ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). Located in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, and a 67% Graduation Success Rate. About 22% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $1,476,055 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $1,140,839 per participant. Athletic aid averages $28,233 per athlete.
University of Mississippi came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in University, MS. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 982, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. About 25% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $1,139,274 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $1,139,274 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,457.
The University of Alabama placed #19 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University of Alabama is a public institution. The University of Alabama records an NCAA APR of 975, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. The program generates about $1,220,348 in revenue per athlete, compared with $761,502 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $20,760 per athlete.
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #20 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Virginia Commonwealth University records an NCAA APR of 983, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 38%. The program generates about $602,223 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $602,223 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,187.
James Madison University landed the #21 spot this year. James Madison University is a public school based in Harrisonburg, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 20%. The program generates about $259,342 in revenue per athlete, against $259,342 in expenses. The school awards about $19,945 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Central Florida landed the #22 spot this year. Based in Orlando, FL, University of Central Florida is a public institution. University of Central Florida records an NCAA APR of 977, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $488,251 in revenue per athlete, against $488,251 in expenses. The school awards about $25,195 in athletic aid per athlete.
Florida State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. The program generates about $909,849 in revenue per athlete, against $909,849 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,364.
Wofford College did well this year, earning the #24 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Spartanburg, SC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 983, alongside a GSR of 92%. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $187,865, compared with $187,865 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $26,368.
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is a public institution. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 967, with a Graduation Success Rate of 80%. The federal graduation rate stands at 42%. Team revenue averages $969,103 per participant, against $800,930 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,289.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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.