by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 22 schools for Men’s Football (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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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Explore the leading programs below:
No school ranked higher than Baylor University this year for Men's Football (Division I). Baylor University is a private not-for-profit school based in Waco, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 978, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. About 70% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $375,087, with expenses of about $347,882 per participant. The school awards about $30,455 in athletic aid per athlete.
Rice University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Men's Football (Division I). Rice University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 981, alongside a GSR of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. Team revenue averages $159,279 per participant, compared with $159,279 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $41,166 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin earned the #3 place for student athletes. The University of Texas at Austin is a public school based in Austin, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 991, alongside a GSR of 77%. About 58% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $1,456,718 per participant, compared with $596,658 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $22,650 per athlete.
Southern Methodist University earned the #4 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 954, with a Graduation Success Rate of 87%. Its federal graduation rate is 76%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $371,439, against $371,439 in expenses. The school awards about $56,388 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas A&M University-College Station came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Men's Football (Division I). Texas A&M University-College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 968, alongside a GSR of 78%. The federal graduation rate stands at 53%. The program generates about $742,975 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $412,535 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,123.
Texas Tech University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). Located in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 75%. About 49% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $568,068 per participant, with expenses of about $323,135 per participant. The school awards about $13,662 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas Christian University landed the #7 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Worth, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 967, and a 68% Graduation Success Rate. About 47% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $458,218, with expenses of about $458,218 per participant. Athletic aid averages $37,174 per athlete.
The University of Texas at San Antonio came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in San Antonio, TX, The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution. The University of Texas at San Antonio records an NCAA APR of 965, alongside a GSR of 89%. About 68% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $151,297 in revenue per athlete, against $151,297 in expenses. The school awards about $16,155 in athletic aid per athlete.
Abilene Christian University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Abilene, TX, Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 951, alongside a GSR of 84%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Team revenue averages $79,876 per participant, with expenses of about $78,354 per participant. The school awards about $26,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas State University came in at #10 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, with a Graduation Success Rate of 74%. Its federal graduation rate is 58%. Team revenue averages $180,187 per participant, with expenses of about $180,187 per participant. Athletic aid averages $16,371 per athlete.
University of North Texas placed #11 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). University of North Texas is a public school based in Denton, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 963, alongside a GSR of 82%. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. Team revenue averages $93,227 per participant, with expenses of about $93,227 per participant. Athletic aid averages $11,504 per athlete.
University of Houston placed #12 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division I). This public school is set in Houston, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 954, with a Graduation Success Rate of 73%. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $195,558, with expenses of about $195,558 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,948.
The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). The University of Texas at El Paso is a public school based in El Paso, TX. The University of Texas at El Paso records an NCAA APR of 959, and a 73% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 51%. Team revenue averages $115,120 per participant, compared with $97,036 spent per athlete. The school awards about $18,754 in athletic aid per athlete.
Sam Houston State University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 977, and a 73% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 61%. The program generates about $76,693 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $76,693 per participant. Athletic aid averages $11,743 per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word did well this year, earning the #15 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in San Antonio, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 973, with a Graduation Success Rate of 73%. Its federal graduation rate is 49%. Team revenue averages $45,400 per participant, compared with $45,400 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $18,744 per athlete.
Houston Christian University ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). Houston Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 939, and a 76% Graduation Success Rate. 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.
Tarleton State University landed the #17 spot this year. Located in Stephenville, TX, Tarleton State University is a public institution. Tarleton State University records an NCAA APR of 961, with a Graduation Success Rate of 54%. The federal graduation rate stands at 44%. Team revenue averages $69,002 per participant, against $69,002 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,883.
Lamar University ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). This public school is set in Beaumont, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 950, with a Graduation Success Rate of 73%. About 62% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $47,425 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $47,425 per participant. The school awards about $13,491 in athletic aid per athlete.
Stephen F Austin State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division I). Located in Nacogdoches, TX, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. Stephen F Austin State University records an NCAA APR of 954, alongside a GSR of 69%. The federal graduation rate stands at 47%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $39,390, with expenses of about $39,390 per participant. The school awards about $8,595 in athletic aid per athlete.
East Texas A&M University did well this year, earning the #20 position. East Texas A&M University is a public school based in Commerce, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 949, with a Graduation Success Rate of 47%. The federal graduation rate stands at 31%. The program generates about $43,097 in revenue per athlete, compared with $41,876 spent per athlete. The school awards about $12,747 in athletic aid per athlete.
Prairie View A & M University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in Prairie View, TX, Prairie View A & M University is a public institution. Prairie View A & M University records an NCAA APR of 948, alongside a GSR of 66%. About 56% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $35,733, against $35,733 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $7,400.
Texas Southern University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Texas Southern University is a public school based in Houston, TX. Texas Southern University records an NCAA APR of 938, with a Graduation Success Rate of 71%. The federal graduation rate stands at 47%. The program generates about $22,922 in revenue per athlete, against $22,922 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $8,795 per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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.