by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 31 programs for Men’s Football (Division III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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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Amherst College tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Men's Football (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Amherst, MA. The program generates about $13,585 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $13,585 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Tufts University is one of the top schools for Men's Football (Division III), at #2. This private not-for-profit school is set in Medford, MA. The program generates about $13,467 in revenue per athlete, compared with $12,195 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Bowdoin College ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division III). Bowdoin College is a private not-for-profit school based in Brunswick, ME. Team revenue averages $11,299 per participant, compared with $10,766 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Williams College ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division III). Based in Williamstown, MA, Williams College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $8,090 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $8,090 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Bates College earned the #5 place for student athletes. Bates College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lewiston, ME. The program generates about $14,676 in revenue per athlete, against $12,025 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Colby College ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division III). Colby College is a private not-for-profit school based in Waterville, ME. The program generates about $12,259 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $12,259 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Middlebury College landed the #7 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Middlebury, VT. The program generates about $8,862 in revenue per athlete, compared with $8,862 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology did well this year, earning the #8 position. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Cambridge, MA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,136, with expenses of about $4,136 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division III). Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Worcester, MA. The program generates about $5,343 in revenue per athlete, against $5,343 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Endicott College placed #10 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Beverly, MA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $5,488, against $5,488 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Springfield College landed the #11 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Springfield, MA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,838, against $8,838 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Western New England University ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division III). Western New England University is a private not-for-profit school based in Springfield, MA. The program generates about $5,024 in revenue per athlete, against $4,679 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Maine Maritime Academy placed #13 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division III). Based in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,403, with expenses of about $7,403 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy did well this year, earning the #14 position. This public school is set in Buzzards Bay, MA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,836, compared with $3,834 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Norwich University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Northfield, VT, Norwich University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,088, against $6,088 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Salve Regina University did well this year, earning the #16 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Newport, RI. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,972, against $3,454 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of New England ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division III). University of New England is a private not-for-profit school based in Biddeford, ME. Team revenue averages $7,182 per participant, compared with $7,334 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Nichols College ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Dudley, MA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,965, with expenses of about $3,973 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Husson University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in Bangor, ME, Husson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $5,312 per participant, compared with $5,234 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Westfield State University landed the #20 spot this year. Westfield State University is a public school based in Westfield, MA. Team revenue averages $2,596 per participant, compared with $2,565 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Fitchburg State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Men's Football (Division III). This public school is set in Fitchburg, MA. Team revenue averages $2,886 per participant, compared with $2,886 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Western Connecticut State University landed the #22 spot this year. Located in Danbury, CT, Western Connecticut State University is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,174, compared with $4,174 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Worcester State University placed #23 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division III). Located in Worcester, MA, Worcester State University is a public institution. The program generates about $2,110 in revenue per athlete, against $1,952 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Bridgewater State University placed #24 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division III). Bridgewater State University is a public school based in Bridgewater, MA. Team revenue averages $1,819 per participant, compared with $1,810 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Curry College placed #25 among the best colleges for Men's Football (Division III). Located in Milton, MA, Curry College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $4,168 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $4,168 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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.