by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 30 colleges for Men’s Football (Division I) 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.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Use the shortcuts below.
Learn more about these schools below:
Our analysis found Baylor University to be the best college for Men's Football (Division I) in the Southwest Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waco, TX. Baylor University records an NCAA APR of 978, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $375,087, with expenses of about $347,882 per participant. Athletic aid averages $30,455 per athlete.
Rice University landed the #2 spot for Men's Football (Division I). Located in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 981, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. The program generates about $159,279 in revenue per athlete, against $159,279 in expenses. The school awards about $41,166 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin is one of the top schools for Men's Football (Division I), at #3. This public school is set in Austin, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 991, and a 77% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 58%. The program generates about $1,456,718 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $596,658 per participant. The school awards about $22,650 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus landed the #4 spot for Men's Football (Division I). This public school is set in Norman, OK. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 982, alongside a GSR of 78%. About 60% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $986,306, with expenses of about $556,131 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,789.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Men's Football (Division I). Located in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University Campus Immersion is a public institution. Arizona State University Campus Immersion records an NCAA APR of 977, and a 82% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 57%. Team revenue averages $409,367 per participant, with expenses of about $409,367 per participant. Athletic aid averages $27,490 per athlete.
Southern Methodist University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 954, with a Graduation Success Rate of 87%. About 76% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $371,439 per participant, compared with $371,439 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $56,388.
University of Arizona landed the #7 spot this year. Based in Tucson, AZ, University of Arizona is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 976, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. About 68% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $334,477, against $334,477 in expenses. The school awards about $20,887 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Stillwater, OK. The team's NCAA APR score is 988, alongside a GSR of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $419,061 per participant, compared with $241,402 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $12,335 per athlete.
Texas A&M University-College Station did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in College Station, TX, Texas A&M University-College Station is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 968, alongside a GSR of 78%. The federal graduation rate stands at 53%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $742,975, against $412,535 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,123.
Texas Christian University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 967, with a Graduation Success Rate of 68%. About 47% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $458,218, compared with $458,218 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $37,174.
Texas Tech University landed the #11 spot this year. Based in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Texas Tech University records an NCAA APR of 992, alongside a GSR of 75%. The federal graduation rate stands at 49%. Team revenue averages $568,068 per participant, against $323,135 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $13,662 per athlete.
University of Tulsa landed the #12 spot this year. Based in Tulsa, OK, University of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 959, and a 81% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 61%. Team revenue averages $160,650 per participant, compared with $160,650 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,797.
University of New Mexico-Main Campus placed #13 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). University of New Mexico-Main Campus is a public school based in Albuquerque, NM. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 968, and a 85% Graduation Success Rate. About 68% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $130,482 per participant, against $125,906 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,510 per athlete.
The University of Texas at San Antonio did well this year, earning the #14 position. Based in San Antonio, TX, The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 965, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 68%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $151,297, against $151,297 in expenses. The school awards about $16,155 in athletic aid per athlete.
Abilene Christian University placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). Based in Abilene, TX, Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 951, with a Graduation Success Rate of 84%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $79,876, against $78,354 in expenses. The school awards about $26,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Texas landed the #16 spot this year. University of North Texas is a public school based in Denton, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 963, alongside a GSR of 82%. Its federal graduation rate is 64%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $93,227, against $93,227 in expenses. The school awards about $11,504 in athletic aid per athlete.
New Mexico State University-Main Campus came in at #17 in this year's ranking. New Mexico State University-Main Campus is a public school based in Las Cruces, NM. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 960, and a 79% Graduation Success Rate. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $79,055, compared with $79,055 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,921.
Texas State University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in San Marcos, TX, Texas State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 954, and a 74% Graduation Success Rate. About 58% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $180,187 per participant, against $180,187 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $16,371 per athlete.
University of Houston did well this year, earning the #19 position. This public school is set in Houston, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 954, alongside a GSR of 73%. The federal graduation rate stands at 60%. Team revenue averages $195,558 per participant, against $195,558 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,948 per athlete.
Sam Houston State University placed #20 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). Based in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Sam Houston State University records an NCAA APR of 977, alongside a GSR of 73%. Its federal graduation rate is 61%. Team revenue averages $76,693 per participant, compared with $76,693 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,743.
The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). Based in El Paso, TX, The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution. The University of Texas at El Paso records an NCAA APR of 959, with a Graduation Success Rate of 73%. Its federal graduation rate is 51%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $115,120, compared with $97,036 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $18,754 per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word did well this year, earning the #22 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in San Antonio, TX. University of the Incarnate Word records an NCAA APR of 973, and a 73% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 49%. The program generates about $45,400 in revenue per athlete, compared with $45,400 spent per athlete. The school awards about $18,744 in athletic aid per athlete.
Houston Christian University landed the #23 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 939, alongside a GSR of 76%. About 53% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $49,269 per participant, against $49,269 in expenses. The school awards about $20,924 in athletic aid per athlete.
Northern Arizona University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Northern Arizona University is a public school based in Flagstaff, AZ. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 950, alongside a GSR of 71%. Its federal graduation rate is 52%. The program generates about $56,813 in revenue per athlete, compared with $56,813 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,581 in athletic aid per athlete.
Tarleton State University placed #25 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). This public school is set in Stephenville, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 961, with a Graduation Success Rate of 54%. The federal graduation rate stands at 44%. The program generates about $69,002 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $69,002 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,883.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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.
