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Dallas Baptist University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX.
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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Pick a path below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Dallas Baptist University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX.
Lubbock Christian University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Student Athletes (Division II). Based in Lubbock, TX, Lubbock Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution.
Texas A & M International University is one of the top schools for Student Athletes (Division II), at #3. Based in Laredo, TX, Texas A & M International University is a public institution.
The University of Texas at Tyler is one of the top schools for Student Athletes (Division II), at #4. Based in Tyler, TX, The University of Texas at Tyler is a public institution.
West Texas A & M University came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Student Athletes (Division II). Located in Canyon, TX, West Texas A & M University is a public institution.
Texas Woman's University landed the #6 spot this year. Based in Denton, TX, Texas Woman's University is a public institution.
The University of Texas Permian Basin did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Odessa, TX, The University of Texas Permian Basin is a public institution.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Kingsville, TX, Texas A&M University-Kingsville is a public institution.
Angelo State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division II). Angelo State University is a public school based in San Angelo, TX.
Midwestern State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Wichita Falls, TX.
*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
More about our data sources and methodologies.