by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 7 colleges for Men’s Football (Division III) 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found Hope College to be the best college for Men's Football (Division III) in Michigan. This private not-for-profit school is set in Holland, MI. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,568, compared with $6,311 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Calvin University landed the #2 spot for Men's Football (Division III). Calvin University is a private not-for-profit school based in Grand Rapids, MI. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,157, compared with $8,157 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Kalamazoo College ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Kalamazoo, MI. The program generates about $5,537 in revenue per athlete, against $5,537 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Alma College landed the #4 spot for Men's Football (Division III). Located in Alma, MI, Alma College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,877, with expenses of about $4,877 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Albion College came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Men's Football (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Albion, MI. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,117, with expenses of about $5,486 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Adrian College ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division III). Based in Adrian, MI, Adrian College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $3,199 per participant, compared with $3,199 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
The University of Olivet ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division III). Located in Olivet, MI, The University of Olivet is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,288, against $4,288 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
*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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.