by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 33 schools for Men’s Basketball (Division II) in Plains States 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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Learn more about these schools below:
Our analysis found Rockhurst University to be the best college for Men's Basketball (Division II) in Plains States in the The Plains States Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Kansas City, MO. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $45,476, against $45,476 in expenses. The school awards about $8,130 in athletic aid per athlete.
Maryville University of Saint Louis earned the #2 place for student athletes. Maryville University of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. The program generates about $51,563 in revenue per athlete, compared with $49,444 spent per athlete. The school awards about $6,338 in athletic aid per athlete.
Drury University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Basketball (Division II) in Plains States. Drury University is a private not-for-profit school based in Springfield, MO. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $51,026, with expenses of about $51,026 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,859.
University of Mary came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Men's Basketball (Division II) in Plains States. Based in Bismarck, ND, University of Mary is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $38,726 per participant, against $38,726 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,321.
University of Minnesota-Duluth is one of the top schools for Men's Basketball (Division II) in Plains States, at #5. Located in Duluth, MN, University of Minnesota-Duluth is a public institution. Team revenue averages $48,711 per participant, with expenses of about $48,711 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,671.
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Maryville, MO. The program generates about $64,964 in revenue per athlete, against $64,964 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,287.
Missouri University of Science and Technology landed the #7 spot this year. This public school is set in Rolla, MO. Team revenue averages $38,685 per participant, with expenses of about $38,685 per participant. Athletic aid averages $5,772 per athlete.
Pittsburg State University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Pittsburg State University is a public school based in Pittsburg, KS. The program generates about $73,465 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $73,465 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,160.
University of Missouri-St Louis did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Saint Louis, MO, University of Missouri-St Louis is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $44,972, compared with $46,697 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,395.
William Jewell College ranked #10 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division II) in Plains States. William Jewell College is a private not-for-profit school based in Liberty, MO. Team revenue averages $24,180 per participant, against $31,455 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $7,219 per athlete.
Washburn University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Topeka, KS, Washburn University is a public institution. Team revenue averages $80,048 per participant, against $80,048 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,727.
Truman State University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Kirksville, MO, Truman State University is a public institution. The program generates about $33,983 in revenue per athlete, against $33,983 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $3,206 per athlete.
University of Sioux Falls did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Sioux Falls, SD, University of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $33,561 in revenue per athlete, compared with $32,379 spent per athlete. The school awards about $5,811 in athletic aid per athlete.
Emporia State University placed #14 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division II) in Plains States. Emporia State University is a public school based in Emporia, KS. Team revenue averages $53,169 per participant, compared with $52,818 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $4,709 per athlete.
Winona State University placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division II) in Plains States. Located in Winona, MN, Winona State University is a public institution. The program generates about $34,819 in revenue per athlete, compared with $34,819 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $3,907.
University of Nebraska at Kearney came in at #16 in this year's ranking. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public school based in Kearney, NE. Team revenue averages $37,058 per participant, against $36,437 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $4,590 per athlete.
Newman University landed the #17 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wichita, KS. The program generates about $32,310 in revenue per athlete, compared with $32,310 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,192.
University of Minnesota-Crookston ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division II) in Plains States. Based in Crookston, MN, University of Minnesota-Crookston is a public institution. The program generates about $43,279 in revenue per athlete, compared with $43,279 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $7,101 per athlete.
University of Central Missouri did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Warrensburg, MO, University of Central Missouri is a public institution. Team revenue averages $61,055 per participant, against $61,055 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,385.
Bemidji State University placed #20 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division II) in Plains States. Based in Bemidji, MN, Bemidji State University is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $33,309, with expenses of about $33,309 per participant. Athletic aid averages $6,153 per athlete.
Missouri Western State University placed #21 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division II) in Plains States. Missouri Western State University is a public school based in Saint Joseph, MO. The program generates about $60,931 in revenue per athlete, against $61,056 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $7,151 per athlete.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public school based in Moorhead, MN. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $41,702, against $39,959 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $3,722.
Fort Hays State University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Fort Hays State University is a public school based in Hays, KS. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $48,933, with expenses of about $43,604 per participant. The school awards about $5,057 in athletic aid per athlete.
Southwest Baptist University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Bolivar, MO, Southwest Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $31,351, against $31,351 in expenses. The school awards about $7,015 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #25 spot this year. Saint Cloud State University is a public school based in Saint Cloud, MN. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $43,861, against $43,861 in expenses. The school awards about $5,426 in athletic aid per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*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
See our data sources and methodologies.
