by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 256 programs for Men’s Football (Division I) 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.
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Explore the leading programs below:
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for Men's Football (Division I). Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, alongside a GSR of 99%. The federal graduation rate stands at 97%. The program generates about $785,207 in revenue per athlete, compared with $347,723 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $53,919.
University of Notre Dame came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Men's Football (Division I). Located in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 98%. About 81% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $1,578,415 per participant, compared with $752,063 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,391.
Duke University ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Duke University records an NCAA APR of 990, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. About 87% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $556,665 in revenue per athlete, compared with $391,434 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $34,321 per athlete.
Wake Forest University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Winston-Salem, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 998, with a Graduation Success Rate of 99%. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $303,076 in revenue per athlete, against $303,076 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $38,933.
Clemson University ranked #5 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). Based in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Clemson University records an NCAA APR of 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 98%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. The program generates about $634,325 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $592,239 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,730 per athlete.
Vanderbilt University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, alongside a GSR of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. The program generates about $380,384 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $380,384 per participant. Athletic aid averages $42,235 per athlete.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 996, alongside a GSR of 89%. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. The program generates about $1,261,148 in revenue per athlete, against $443,620 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $28,650.
Boston College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Chestnut Hill, MA, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 990, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $321,157 in revenue per athlete, against $278,546 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $29,391 per athlete.
Ohio State University-Main Campus landed the #9 spot this year. Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Ohio State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,315,982, compared with $757,044 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $27,151 per athlete.
Stanford University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Stanford University records an NCAA APR of 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Team revenue averages $327,200 per participant, against $327,200 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $42,012 per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Madison placed #11 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public school based in Madison, WI. The team's NCAA APR score is 987, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. The program generates about $920,652 in revenue per athlete, compared with $335,274 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,586 per athlete.
Auburn University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, alongside a GSR of 89%. Its federal graduation rate is 61%. The program generates about $1,003,378 in revenue per athlete, compared with $485,326 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $28,233.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities landed the #13 spot this year. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a public school based in Minneapolis, MN. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, and a 87% Graduation Success Rate. About 59% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $869,454, against $388,485 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,174.
The University of Alabama placed #14 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). This public school is set in Tuscaloosa, AL. The University of Alabama records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 98%. Its federal graduation rate is 58%. The program generates about $1,108,524 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $617,441 per participant. Athletic aid averages $20,760 per athlete.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Seattle, WA, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 977, alongside a GSR of 93%. Its federal graduation rate is 68%. Team revenue averages $1,061,570 per participant, compared with $604,577 spent per athlete. The school awards about $26,539 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Located in Charlottesville, VA, University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 976, alongside a GSR of 95%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $405,055, with expenses of about $264,660 per participant. The school awards about $26,976 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Miami did well this year, earning the #17 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Coral Gables, FL. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, alongside a GSR of 91%. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $786,333 in revenue per athlete, compared with $693,842 spent per athlete. The school awards about $38,474 in athletic aid per athlete.
Fordham University landed the #18 spot this year. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bronx, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. The program generates about $90,137 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $90,137 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $32,443.
Rice University landed the #19 spot this year. Located in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 981, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $159,279, compared with $159,279 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $41,166.
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). Located in Cincinnati, OH, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 98%. About 69% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $253,577, compared with $253,577 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $20,882 per athlete.
Boise State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). Boise State University is a public school based in Boise, ID. Boise State University records an NCAA APR of 984, and a 98% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $476,007, compared with $220,110 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,790.
Villanova University ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Villanova, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. About 87% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $91,669 in revenue per athlete, against $91,669 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $25,480 per athlete.
Indiana University-Bloomington landed the #23 spot this year. Based in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University-Bloomington is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 982, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $709,707, against $440,417 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $23,161 per athlete.
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is a public school based in Atlanta, GA. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 977, alongside a GSR of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. The program generates about $587,842 in revenue per athlete, compared with $355,913 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $22,289 per athlete.
University of Utah placed #25 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). Based in Salt Lake City, UT, University of Utah is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 976, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $761,357, against $328,655 in expenses. The school awards about $29,047 in athletic aid per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
These colleges also performed well in our ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL |
| 52 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC |
*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.