by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 69 colleges for Men’s Basketball by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual scores each program on 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 The University of Texas at Austin to be the best college for Men's Basketball in the Southwest Region. The University of Texas at Austin is a public school based in Austin, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 73%. The federal graduation rate stands at 47%. The program generates about $1,086,096 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $1,388,080 per participant. Athletic aid averages $22,650 per athlete.
Abilene Christian University is one of the top schools for Men's Basketball, at #2. 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. The school awards about $26,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Houston came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Basketball. Located in Houston, TX, University of Houston is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $1,041,257 per participant, against $1,041,257 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,948.
Rice University came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Men's Basketball. Based in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rice University records an NCAA APR of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 75%. About 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $313,822 per participant, against $313,822 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $41,166.
Southern Methodist University earned the #5 place for student athletes. Based in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 978, with a Graduation Success Rate of 77%. Its federal graduation rate is 38%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,045,955, with expenses of about $1,045,955 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $56,388.
University of Arizona landed the #6 spot this year. University of Arizona is a public school based in Tucson, AZ. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 56% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 13%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,131,768, compared with $1,131,768 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $20,887 per athlete.
Baylor University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Baylor University is a private not-for-profit school based in Waco, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 950, alongside a GSR of 80%. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. The program generates about $1,316,070 in revenue per athlete, compared with $1,316,070 spent per athlete. The school awards about $30,455 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus landed the #8 spot this year. Oklahoma State University-Main Campus is a public school based in Stillwater, OK. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 86%. Its federal graduation rate is 31%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,063,726, with expenses of about $678,269 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,335.
Dallas Baptist University placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball. Located in Dallas, TX, Dallas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $75,550, compared with $74,583 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,215.
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus landed the #10 spot this year. Located in Norman, OK, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 958, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Team revenue averages $574,661 per participant, against $838,281 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,789.
Texas State University landed the #11 spot this year. Texas State University is a public school based in San Marcos, TX. Texas State University records an NCAA APR of 978, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 42%. The program generates about $227,728 in revenue per athlete, compared with $227,728 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,371.
Oral Roberts University ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball. Located in Tulsa, OK, Oral Roberts University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 38% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $165,191 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $165,191 per participant. Athletic aid averages $15,443 per athlete.
University of Dallas ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball. Located in Irving, TX, University of Dallas is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $9,392 per participant, with expenses of about $9,392 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Arizona State University Campus Immersion is a public school based in Tempe, AZ. Arizona State University Campus Immersion records an NCAA APR of 948, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 33%. Team revenue averages $670,874 per participant, with expenses of about $670,874 per participant. Athletic aid averages $27,490 per athlete.
Austin College placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball. Austin College is a private not-for-profit school based in Sherman, TX. Team revenue averages $11,609 per participant, against $11,407 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Tulsa placed #16 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball. Based in Tulsa, OK, University of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 960, alongside a GSR of 69%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $423,675, with expenses of about $423,675 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,797.
University of New Mexico-Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball. This public school is set in Albuquerque, NM. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 967, alongside a GSR of 83%. About 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $456,671 per participant, compared with $416,477 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,510.
Texas Christian University ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball. Based in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 966, with a Graduation Success Rate of 50%. Its federal graduation rate is 17%. The program generates about $918,851 in revenue per athlete, against $918,851 in expenses. The school awards about $37,174 in athletic aid per athlete.
East Texas A&M University placed #19 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball. This public school is set in Commerce, TX. 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. The program generates about $109,843 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $109,807 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,747.
Texas A&M University-College Station landed the #20 spot this year. Located in College Station, TX, Texas A&M University-College Station is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 966, alongside a GSR of 58%. About 23% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $983,416, with expenses of about $894,559 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,123.
The University of Texas at El Paso did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in El Paso, TX, The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution. The University of Texas at El Paso records an NCAA APR of 978, alongside a GSR of 91%. About 7% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $477,804 per participant, compared with $234,235 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,754.
LeTourneau University placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball. LeTourneau University is a private not-for-profit school based in Longview, TX. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $13,724, compared with $13,724 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Sam Houston State University did well this year, earning the #23 position. 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. The federal graduation rate stands at 0%. Team revenue averages $141,828 per participant, against $141,828 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,743.
Oklahoma Baptist University landed the #24 spot this year. Oklahoma Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Shawnee, OK. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $55,560, against $51,079 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $8,273 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #25 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Arlington, TX. The University of Texas at Arlington records an NCAA APR of 950, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $138,032 per participant, with expenses of about $138,032 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,666.
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.
