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Bentley University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Student Athletes (Division II). Based in Waltham, MA, Bentley University is a private not-for-profit institution.
by our College Data Analytics TeamChoosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 11 programs for Student Athletes (Division II) 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Bentley University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Student Athletes (Division II). Based in Waltham, MA, Bentley University is a private not-for-profit institution.
Saint Anselm College earned the #2 place for student athletes. Based in Manchester, NH, Saint Anselm College is a private not-for-profit institution.
University of Bridgeport ranked #3 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division II). Located in Bridgeport, CT, University of Bridgeport is a private not-for-profit institution.
University of New Haven ranked #4 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in West Haven, CT.
Saint Michael's College landed the #5 spot for Student Athletes (Division II). Located in Colchester, VT, Saint Michael's College is a private not-for-profit institution.
Assumption University placed #6 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division II). Located in Worcester, MA, Assumption University is a private not-for-profit institution.
American International College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Springfield, MA, American International College is a private not-for-profit institution.
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division II). Located in Manchester, NH, Southern New Hampshire University is a private not-for-profit institution.
Southern Connecticut State University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in New Haven, CT, Southern Connecticut State University is a public institution.
Post University ranked #10 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division II). This private for-profit school is set in Waterbury, CT.
Franklin Pierce University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Rindge, NH, Franklin Pierce University is a private not-for-profit institution.
*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.