2026 Best Colleges for Student Athletes (Division III) in Indiana

Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 7 programs for Student Athletes (Division III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.

So you can compare your options, 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Pick a path below.

Top 7 Colleges for Student Athletes (Division III)

Learn more about these schools below:

1

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Terre Haute, IN

86% Academic Quality Percentile

Leading the list is Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, our #1 college for Student Athletes (Division III). Based in Terre Haute, IN, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution.

2

DePauw University
Greencastle, IN

81% Academic Quality Percentile

DePauw University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Greencastle, IN.

3

Earlham College
Richmond, IN

71% Academic Quality Percentile

Earlham College is one of the top schools for Student Athletes (Division III), at #3. Earlham College is a private not-for-profit school based in Richmond, IN.

4

Trine University
Angola, IN

80% Academic Quality Percentile

Trine University came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Student Athletes (Division III). Based in Angola, IN, Trine University is a private not-for-profit institution.

5

Hanover College
Hanover, IN

78% Academic Quality Percentile

Hanover College landed the #5 spot for Student Athletes (Division III). Located in Hanover, IN, Hanover College is a private not-for-profit institution.

6

Franklin College
Franklin, IN

77% Academic Quality Percentile

Franklin College ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division III). Franklin College is a private not-for-profit school based in Franklin, IN.

7

Manchester University
North Manchester, IN

74% Academic Quality Percentile

Manchester University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Manchester University is a private not-for-profit school based in North Manchester, IN.

Explore Other Sports

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.

This list is compiled 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

• NCAA Academic Progress Rate & Graduation Success Rate — National Collegiate Athletic Association (athlete academic outcomes).
• Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) — U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (team participation, revenue, expenses, and aid).
• Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics (institutional data).

See our data sources and methodologies.