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Milwaukee School of Engineering tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division III). Located in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private not-for-profit institution.
by our College Data Analytics TeamFor student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 19 programs for Student Athletes (Division III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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.
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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Milwaukee School of Engineering tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division III). Located in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private not-for-profit institution.
Lawrence University earned the #2 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Appleton, WI.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse earned the #3 place for student athletes. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public school based in La Crosse, WI.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Student Athletes (Division III). University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a public school based in Eau Claire, WI.
Beloit College is one of the top schools for Student Athletes (Division III), at #5. Located in Beloit, WI, Beloit College is a private not-for-profit institution.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville landed the #6 spot this year. University of Wisconsin-Platteville is a public school based in Platteville, WI.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater did well this year, earning the #7 position. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a public school based in Whitewater, WI.
Concordia University-Wisconsin landed the #8 spot this year. Based in Mequon, WI, Concordia University-Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit institution.
Maranatha Baptist University placed #9 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Watertown, WI.
University of Wisconsin-River Falls landed the #10 spot this year. University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a public school based in River Falls, WI.
Carthage College landed the #11 spot this year. Located in Kenosha, WI, Carthage College is a private not-for-profit institution.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in Oshkosh, WI, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is a public institution.
Wisconsin Lutheran College placed #13 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division III). Located in Milwaukee, WI, Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private not-for-profit institution.
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division III). Located in Stevens Point, WI, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is a public institution.
Ripon College ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Ripon, WI.
University of Wisconsin-Stout ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division III). University of Wisconsin-Stout is a public school based in Menomonie, WI.
Alverno College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Alverno College is a private not-for-profit school based in Milwaukee, WI.
Lakeland University landed the #18 spot this year. Located in Plymouth, WI, Lakeland University is a private not-for-profit institution.
University of Wisconsin-Superior came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Superior, WI, University of Wisconsin-Superior is a public 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.