by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 5 programs for Men’s Football (Division II) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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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Our analysis found University of Minnesota-Duluth to be the best college for Men's Football (Division II) in Minnesota. Located in Duluth, MN, University of Minnesota-Duluth is a public institution. Team revenue averages $23,551 per participant, compared with $23,551 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,671.
Winona State University earned the #2 place for student athletes. Winona State University is a public school based in Winona, MN. The program generates about $14,718 in revenue per athlete, against $14,718 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $3,907 per athlete.
Bemidji State University earned the #3 place for student athletes. Based in Bemidji, MN, Bemidji State University is a public institution. The program generates about $14,988 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $14,988 per participant. Athletic aid averages $6,153 per athlete.
Minnesota State University Moorhead earned the #4 place for student athletes. Based in Moorhead, MN, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. The program generates about $12,910 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $12,235 per participant. The school awards about $3,722 in athletic aid per athlete.
Southwest Minnesota State University is one of the top schools for Men's Football (Division II), at #5. Located in Marshall, MN, Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution. Team revenue averages $12,384 per participant, compared with $12,384 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $2,980.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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
See our data sources and methodologies.