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Our analysis found Austin College to be the best college for Student Athletes (Division III) in the Southwest Region. Located in Sherman, TX, Austin College is a private not-for-profit institution.
by our College Data Analytics TeamPicking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 12 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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Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Austin College to be the best college for Student Athletes (Division III) in the Southwest Region. Located in Sherman, TX, Austin College is a private not-for-profit institution.
University of Dallas earned the #2 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Irving, TX.
LeTourneau University is one of the top schools for Student Athletes (Division III), at #3. LeTourneau University is a private not-for-profit school based in Longview, TX.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor earned the #4 place for student athletes. Based in Belton, TX, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is a private not-for-profit institution.
Texas Lutheran University came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Student Athletes (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Seguin, TX.
Hardin-Simmons University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Abilene, TX.
East Texas Baptist University landed the #7 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Marshall, TX.
Schreiner University placed #8 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division III). Based in Kerrville, TX, Schreiner University is a private not-for-profit institution.
Concordia University Texas came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Concordia University Texas is a private not-for-profit school based in Austin, TX.
McMurry University placed #10 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Abilene, TX.
Howard Payne University landed the #11 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Brownwood, TX.
Sul Ross State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division III). This public school is set in Alpine, TX.
*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
More about our data sources and methodologies.