by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 20 colleges for Men’s Cross Country (Division III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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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Our analysis found Washington and Lee University to be the best college for Men's Cross Country (Division III) in the Southeast Region. Located in Lexington, VA, Washington and Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $8,840 in revenue per athlete, compared with $8,840 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Christopher Newport University earned the #2 place for student athletes. Based in Newport News, VA, Christopher Newport University is a public institution. Team revenue averages $5,725 per participant, against $5,725 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Berry College came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Based in Mount Berry, GA, Berry College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,130, compared with $3,965 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Asbury University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Based in Wilmore, KY, Asbury University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $7,845 in revenue per athlete, compared with $7,845 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Transylvania University landed the #5 spot for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Based in Lexington, KY, Transylvania University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $4,595 in revenue per athlete, against $4,595 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Hendrix College placed #6 among the best colleges for Men's Cross Country (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Conway, AR. Team revenue averages $4,438 per participant, compared with $4,438 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Berea College ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Located in Berea, KY, Berea College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $7,728 in revenue per athlete, against $3,591 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Covenant College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Lookout Mountain, GA, Covenant College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $3,526 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,537 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Roanoke College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Roanoke College is a private not-for-profit school based in Salem, VA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,137, with expenses of about $3,137 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Regent University ranked #10 on our 2026 list for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Based in Virginia Beach, VA, Regent University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,724, with expenses of about $4,724 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Mary Baldwin University ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Men's Cross Country (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Staunton, VA. The program generates about $4,457 in revenue per athlete, compared with $4,457 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Huntingdon College landed the #12 spot this year. Huntingdon College is a private not-for-profit school based in Montgomery, AL. The program generates about $4,775 in revenue per athlete, against $5,229 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $1,932.
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte landed the #13 spot this year. Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is a private not-for-profit school based in Charlotte, NC. The program generates about $3,765 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $3,765 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Lyon College placed #14 among the best colleges for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Based in Batesville, AR, Lyon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $2,606 per participant, with expenses of about $2,606 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Eastern Mennonite University placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Eastern Mennonite University is a private not-for-profit school based in Harrisonburg, VA. Team revenue averages $3,225 per participant, compared with $3,225 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Methodist University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Fayetteville, NC, Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,195, with expenses of about $6,195 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Warren Wilson College landed the #17 spot this year. Located in Swannanoa, NC, Warren Wilson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,274 per participant, compared with $952 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Brevard College ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Brevard College is a private not-for-profit school based in Brevard, NC. The program generates about $4,138 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $4,138 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $327.
*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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.