by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 25 schools 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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Explore the leading programs below:
The University of Texas at Austin tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). This public school is set in Austin, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 988, alongside a GSR of 73%. About 47% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $1,086,096 per participant, compared with $1,388,080 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $22,650 per athlete.
Abilene Christian University landed the #2 spot for Men's Basketball (Division I). Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Abilene, TX. Abilene Christian University records an NCAA APR of 989, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 77%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $210,483, compared with $173,583 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $26,012 per athlete.
Rice University is one of the top schools for Men's Basketball (Division I), at #3. Based in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 75%. Its federal graduation rate is 33%. The program generates about $313,822 in revenue per athlete, compared with $313,822 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $41,166.
Southern Methodist University came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Men's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. Southern Methodist University records an NCAA APR of 978, alongside a GSR of 77%. About 38% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,045,955, with expenses of about $1,045,955 per participant. Athletic aid averages $56,388 per athlete.
University of Houston ranked #5 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). University of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $1,041,257 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $1,041,257 per participant. The school awards about $15,948 in athletic aid per athlete.
Baylor University did well this year, earning the #6 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waco, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 950, with a Graduation Success Rate of 80%. Its federal graduation rate is 78%. Team revenue averages $1,316,070 per participant, against $1,316,070 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $30,455 per athlete.
Texas State University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in San Marcos, TX, Texas State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 978, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 42% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $227,728, with expenses of about $227,728 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,371.
Texas Christian University landed the #8 spot this year. Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fort Worth, TX. Texas Christian University records an NCAA APR of 966, and a 50% Graduation Success Rate. About 17% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $918,851 per participant, against $918,851 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $37,174 per athlete.
The University of Texas at El Paso did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in El Paso, TX, The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 978, alongside a GSR of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 7%. The program generates about $477,804 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $234,235 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,754 per athlete.
Texas A&M University-College Station came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in College Station, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 966, alongside a GSR of 58%. About 23% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $983,416 in revenue per athlete, compared with $894,559 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,123.
East Texas A&M University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Commerce, TX, East Texas A&M University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. About 38% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $109,843 per participant, compared with $109,807 spent per athlete. The school awards about $12,747 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas Tech University landed the #12 spot this year. Based in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Texas Tech University records an NCAA APR of 963, alongside a GSR of 33%. About 10% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,065,079, compared with $1,042,489 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $13,662 per athlete.
Sam Houston State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). Located in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 984, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 0%. The program generates about $141,828 in revenue per athlete, compared with $141,828 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $11,743 per athlete.
Houston Christian University landed the #14 spot this year. Houston Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, and a 77% Graduation Success Rate. About 25% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $97,595 in revenue per athlete, compared with $97,595 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $20,924 per athlete.
The University of Texas at San Antonio placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Located in San Antonio, TX, The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 945, alongside a GSR of 83%. The federal graduation rate stands at 38%. Team revenue averages $181,108 per participant, with expenses of about $181,108 per participant. The school awards about $16,155 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Texas landed the #16 spot this year. Located in Denton, TX, University of North Texas is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 954, alongside a GSR of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 10%. The program generates about $296,576 in revenue per athlete, against $296,576 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,504 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #17 in this year's ranking. 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 950, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. The program generates about $138,032 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $138,032 per participant. Athletic aid averages $12,666 per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word landed the #18 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in San Antonio, TX. University of the Incarnate Word records an NCAA APR of 982, with a Graduation Success Rate of 86%. Its federal graduation rate is 23%. The program generates about $68,887 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $68,887 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,744.
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in Corpus Christi, TX, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 75%. Its federal graduation rate is 36%. Team revenue averages $129,128 per participant, against $129,128 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $10,202 per athlete.
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Nacogdoches, TX, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 982, and a 68% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 33%. The program generates about $160,260 in revenue per athlete, compared with $160,260 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,595.
Texas Southern University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Texas Southern University is a public school based in Houston, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 976, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $103,070, against $103,070 in expenses. The school awards about $8,795 in athletic aid per athlete.
Lamar University placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Lamar University is a public school based in Beaumont, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 937, with a Graduation Success Rate of 69%. The federal graduation rate stands at 36%. The program generates about $138,190 in revenue per athlete, against $135,495 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,491.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #23 spot this year. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public school based in Edinburg, TX. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley records an NCAA APR of 945, with a Graduation Success Rate of 76%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. The program generates about $116,600 in revenue per athlete, compared with $116,600 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,144.
Tarleton State University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Stephenville, TX, Tarleton State University is a public institution. Tarleton State University records an NCAA APR of 944, and a 46% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 0%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $145,210, compared with $145,210 spent per athlete. The school awards about $11,883 in athletic aid per athlete.
Prairie View A & M University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Prairie View, TX, Prairie View A & M University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 956, alongside a GSR of 58%. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $64,804 per participant, against $64,804 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $7,400 per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.