by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. This list ranks 5 colleges for Men’s Cross Country (Division III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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 California Institute of Technology to be the best college for Men's Cross Country (Division III) in California. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pasadena, CA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,884, compared with $8,884 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Chapman University earned the #2 place for student athletes. Located in Orange, CA, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,136 per participant, compared with $4,136 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Redlands came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Based in Redlands, CA, University of Redlands is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,471, compared with $7,957 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
California Lutheran University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Based in Thousand Oaks, CA, California Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $3,212 in revenue per athlete, against $3,212 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of La Verne is one of the top schools for Men's Cross Country (Division III), at #5. Based in La Verne, CA, University of La Verne is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,569, compared with $3,680 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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
See our data sources and methodologies.