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Our analysis found Adelphi University to be the best college for Student Athletes (Division II) in New York. Based in Garden City, NY, Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution.
by our College Data Analytics TeamPicking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 10 colleges for Student Athletes (Division II) 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 Adelphi University to be the best college for Student Athletes (Division II) in New York. Based in Garden City, NY, Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution.
Le Moyne College is one of the top schools for Student Athletes (Division II), at #2. Located in Syracuse, NY, Le Moyne College is a private not-for-profit institution.
Molloy University ranked #3 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division II). Molloy University is a private not-for-profit school based in Rockville Centre, NY.
St. Thomas Aquinas College earned the #4 place for student athletes. St. Thomas Aquinas College is a private not-for-profit school based in Sparkill, NY.
Pace University earned the #5 place for student athletes. Based in New York, NY, Pace University is a private not-for-profit institution.
Daemen University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division II). Based in Amherst, NY, Daemen University is a private not-for-profit institution.
D'Youville University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Buffalo, NY.
Roberts Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Roberts Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Rochester, NY.
Mercy University did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
Dominican University New York came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Orangeburg, NY, Dominican University New York is a private not-for-profit institution.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.