by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 7 colleges for Men’s Basketball (Division III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to be the best college for Men's Basketball (Division III) in Indiana. This private not-for-profit school is set in Terre Haute, IN. The program generates about $17,550 in revenue per athlete, compared with $15,029 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
DePauw University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Men's Basketball (Division III). Based in Greencastle, IN, DePauw University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $15,392 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $15,392 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Earlham College ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division III). Earlham College is a private not-for-profit school based in Richmond, IN. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,790, against $14,790 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Hanover College ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division III). Located in Hanover, IN, Hanover College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $15,672 per participant, with expenses of about $15,672 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Trine University earned the #5 place for student athletes. Located in Angola, IN, Trine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $11,223 per participant, compared with $10,091 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Franklin College landed the #6 spot this year. Located in Franklin, IN, Franklin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $7,504 per participant, against $5,468 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Manchester University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in North Manchester, IN, Manchester University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $8,258 in revenue per athlete, compared with $7,755 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
*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.