by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 6 schools for Men’s Cross Country (Division III) 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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Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Grinnell College to be the best college for Men's Cross Country (Division III) in Iowa. Based in Grinnell, IA, Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,272, against $2,272 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Cornell College came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Based in Mount Vernon, IA, Cornell College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $3,028 per participant, against $2,519 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Loras College came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Based in Dubuque, IA, Loras College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $3,148 per participant, with expenses of about $3,148 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Dubuque earned the #4 place for student athletes. University of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit school based in Dubuque, IA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,447, compared with $3,422 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Wartburg College ranked #5 among the best colleges for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Wartburg College is a private not-for-profit school based in Waverly, IA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,927, compared with $1,927 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Coe College placed #6 among the best colleges for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Based in Cedar Rapids, IA, Coe College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $2,606 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,606 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.