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Leading the list is Thomas Jefferson University, our #1 college for Student Athletes (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA.
by our College Data Analytics TeamPicking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. This list ranks 14 schools for Student Athletes (Division II) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Leading the list is Thomas Jefferson University, our #1 college for Student Athletes (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA.
Seton Hill University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division II). Seton Hill University is a private not-for-profit school based in Greensburg, PA.
Gannon University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Student Athletes (Division II). Gannon University is a private not-for-profit school based in Erie, PA.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania ranked #4 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division II). Based in West Chester, PA, West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public institution.
Mercyhurst University earned the #5 place for student athletes. Based in Erie, PA, Mercyhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution.
Point Park University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Point Park University is a private not-for-profit institution.
Holy Family University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Holy Family University is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA.
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania landed the #8 spot this year. Based in Slippery Rock, PA, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public institution.
Millersville University of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division II). Millersville University of Pennsylvania is a public school based in Millersville, PA.
Chestnut Hill College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Chestnut Hill College is a private not-for-profit institution.
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division II). Based in Johnstown, PA, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown is a public institution.
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a public school based in Kutztown, PA.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division II). This public school is set in Shippensburg, PA.
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in East Stroudsburg, PA, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a public institution.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Programs are scored on 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.