by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 5 programs for Men’s Cross Country (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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Learn more about these schools below:
Our analysis found St Olaf College to be the best college for Men's Cross Country (Division III) in Minnesota. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit school based in Northfield, MN. Team revenue averages $2,937 per participant, compared with $2,733 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Northwestern-St Paul landed the #2 spot for Men's Cross Country (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $5,344, against $5,344 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Martin Luther College came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Located in New Ulm, MN, Martin Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $1,419 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $1,419 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Augsburg University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Cross Country (Division III). Located in Minneapolis, MN, Augsburg University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,030, against $4,030 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Bethany Lutheran College is one of the top schools for Men's Cross Country (Division III), at #5. Bethany Lutheran College is a private not-for-profit school based in Mankato, MN. The program generates about $3,636 in revenue per athlete, compared with $3,702 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. 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.