by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 98 colleges for Men’s Football (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, College Factual evaluates each program using 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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Learn more about these schools below:
Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 college for Men's Football (Division I). Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 87%. Team revenue averages $556,665 per participant, compared with $391,434 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,321.
Wake Forest University is one of the top schools for Men's Football (Division I), at #2. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit school based in Winston-Salem, NC. Wake Forest University records an NCAA APR of 998, and a 99% Graduation Success Rate. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $303,076, with expenses of about $303,076 per participant. Athletic aid averages $38,933 per athlete.
Vanderbilt University ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. The team's NCAA APR score is 985, alongside a GSR of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. The program generates about $380,384 in revenue per athlete, against $380,384 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $42,235.
Clemson University came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Men's Football (Division I). Based in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 98%. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $634,325, with expenses of about $592,239 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,730.
Auburn University landed the #5 spot for Men's Football (Division I). Auburn University is a public school based in Auburn, AL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, alongside a GSR of 89%. About 61% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $1,003,378 in revenue per athlete, compared with $485,326 spent per athlete. The school awards about $28,233 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Alabama ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). Based in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University of Alabama is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 98%. Its federal graduation rate is 58%. Team revenue averages $1,108,524 per participant, compared with $617,441 spent per athlete. The school awards about $20,760 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 976, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $405,055 in revenue per athlete, against $264,660 in expenses. The school awards about $26,976 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Miami did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Coral Gables, FL, University of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, alongside a GSR of 91%. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $786,333 per participant, with expenses of about $693,842 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $38,474.
Tulane University of Louisiana came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Tulane University of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit school based in New Orleans, LA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 982, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. About 61% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $191,989 per participant, with expenses of about $181,409 per participant. The school awards about $36,413 in athletic aid per athlete.
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus placed #10 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is a public school based in Atlanta, GA. The team's NCAA APR score is 977, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. Team revenue averages $587,842 per participant, compared with $355,913 spent per athlete. The school awards about $22,289 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Chapel Hill, NC. The team's NCAA APR score is 986, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. About 76% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $514,936 in revenue per athlete, compared with $399,559 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $17,771 per athlete.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University landed the #12 spot this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public school based in Blacksburg, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 980, and a 85% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 57%. Team revenue averages $643,030 per participant, compared with $304,871 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $29,706 per athlete.
University of Florida did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. University of Florida records an NCAA APR of 988, and a 85% Graduation Success Rate. About 42% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $865,279, compared with $395,160 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,180.
Mississippi State University placed #14 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). Based in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, alongside a GSR of 92%. About 69% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $341,596, against $341,596 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $24,143 per athlete.
University of Richmond placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). Located in University of Richmond, VA, University of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Richmond records an NCAA APR of 980, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. About 76% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $96,138, against $96,138 in expenses. The school awards about $27,609 in athletic aid per athlete.
Elon University ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Elon, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, alongside a GSR of 91%. Its federal graduation rate is 88%. Team revenue averages $70,775 per participant, compared with $70,775 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,795.
Furman University ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). Located in Greenville, SC, Furman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Furman University records an NCAA APR of 985, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. About 77% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $67,035 in revenue per athlete, against $67,035 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $28,699.
University of South Carolina-Columbia landed the #18 spot this year. This public school is set in Columbia, SC. University of South Carolina-Columbia records an NCAA APR of 976, alongside a GSR of 96%. The federal graduation rate stands at 61%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $642,968, compared with $469,408 spent per athlete. The school awards about $18,645 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Louisville placed #19 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). This public school is set in Louisville, KY. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 979, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 66%. The program generates about $275,757 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $256,209 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,083.
University of Arkansas placed #20 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). University of Arkansas is a public school based in Fayetteville, AR. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 983, with a Graduation Success Rate of 84%. The federal graduation rate stands at 62%. The program generates about $714,893 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $451,739 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,062.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh landed the #21 spot this year. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public institution. North Carolina State University at Raleigh records an NCAA APR of 988, and a 84% Graduation Success Rate. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $558,053 in revenue per athlete, against $324,283 in expenses. The school awards about $18,384 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Central Florida placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). University of Central Florida is a public school based in Orlando, FL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 981, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 52%. The program generates about $250,714 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $322,459 per participant. Athletic aid averages $25,195 per athlete.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Knoxville, TN, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 977, and a 79% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 49%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,321,460, against $497,890 in expenses. The school awards about $29,054 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Mississippi did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in University, MS, University of Mississippi is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 970, alongside a GSR of 86%. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $719,862 per participant, against $490,842 in expenses. The school awards about $22,457 in athletic aid per athlete.
West Virginia University landed the #25 spot this year. Based in Morgantown, WV, West Virginia University is a public institution. West Virginia University records an NCAA APR of 978, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. The federal graduation rate stands at 60%. The program generates about $375,135 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $277,564 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,705.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Programs are scored on 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.