Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 9 schools for Men’s Football 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.
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Colorado School of Mines earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Men's Football. Based in Golden, CO, Colorado School of Mines is a public institution. The program generates about $21,572 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $21,572 per participant. The school awards about $7,984 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Colorado Boulder is one of the top schools for Men's Football, at #2. Located in Boulder, CO, University of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. University of Colorado Boulder records an NCAA APR of 959, with a Graduation Success Rate of 87%. The federal graduation rate stands at 62%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $587,341, with expenses of about $362,754 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,674.
Colorado State University-Fort Collins landed the #3 spot for Men's Football. Based in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University-Fort Collins is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 962, with a Graduation Success Rate of 74%. Its federal graduation rate is 59%. The program generates about $194,514 in revenue per athlete, compared with $194,514 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,001.
University of Northern Colorado landed the #4 spot for Men's Football. Located in Greeley, CO, University of Northern Colorado is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 940, and a 80% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. Team revenue averages $47,516 per participant, with expenses of about $47,516 per participant. The school awards about $12,220 in athletic aid per athlete.
Western Colorado University ranked #5 among the best colleges for Men's Football. Western Colorado University is a public school based in Gunnison, CO. The program generates about $14,434 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $14,434 per participant. Athletic aid averages $3,480 per athlete.
Fort Lewis College landed the #6 spot this year. Located in Durango, CO, Fort Lewis College is a public institution. Team revenue averages $12,615 per participant, compared with $12,369 spent per athlete. The school awards about $5,356 in athletic aid per athlete.
Colorado State University Pueblo ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Football. This public school is set in Pueblo, CO. Team revenue averages $17,658 per participant, compared with $17,658 spent per athlete. The school awards about $6,320 in athletic aid per athlete.
Colorado Mesa University placed #8 among the best colleges for Men's Football. Located in Grand Junction, CO, Colorado Mesa University is a public institution. Team revenue averages $10,275 per participant, against $10,536 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $4,175.
Adams State University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Alamosa, CO, Adams State University is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,905, against $8,905 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $3,419.
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Notes and References
*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
More about our data sources and methodologies.