by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 35 programs for Men’s Football by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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:
Rice University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Men's Football. Rice University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 981, alongside a GSR of 89%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $159,279, against $159,279 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $41,166 per athlete.
Baylor University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Men's Football. Based in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 978, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. About 70% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $375,087 in revenue per athlete, compared with $347,882 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $30,455.
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. The University of Texas at Austin records an NCAA APR of 991, and a 77% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 58%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,456,718, against $596,658 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,650.
Texas A&M University-College Station ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Football. Based in College Station, TX, Texas A&M University-College Station is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 968, and a 78% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 53%. Team revenue averages $742,975 per participant, against $412,535 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,123.
Southern Methodist University ranked #5 among the best colleges for Men's Football. Located in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 954, with a Graduation Success Rate of 87%. The federal graduation rate stands at 76%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $371,439, compared with $371,439 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $56,388.
Texas Tech University did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Lubbock, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 75%. The federal graduation rate stands at 49%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $568,068, with expenses of about $323,135 per participant. The school awards about $13,662 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Football. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 965, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. Its federal graduation rate is 68%. The program generates about $151,297 in revenue per athlete, compared with $151,297 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,155.
Texas Christian University placed #8 among the best colleges for Men's Football. Based in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 967, alongside a GSR of 68%. The federal graduation rate stands at 47%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $458,218, against $458,218 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $37,174.
Austin College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Sherman, TX, Austin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,580, with expenses of about $7,035 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Texas placed #10 among the best colleges for Men's Football. University of North Texas is a public school based in Denton, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 963, with a Graduation Success Rate of 82%. Its federal graduation rate is 64%. Team revenue averages $93,227 per participant, with expenses of about $93,227 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,504.
Abilene Christian University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Abilene, TX, Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 951, alongside a GSR of 84%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. The program generates about $79,876 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $78,354 per participant. Athletic aid averages $26,012 per athlete.
Texas State University landed the #12 spot this year. Texas State University is a public school based in San Marcos, TX. Texas State University records an NCAA APR of 954, alongside a GSR of 74%. The federal graduation rate stands at 58%. Team revenue averages $180,187 per participant, against $180,187 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,371.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Men's Football. Located in Belton, TX, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,869, with expenses of about $8,869 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas Lutheran University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Texas Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit school based in Seguin, TX. Team revenue averages $4,826 per participant, against $4,724 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Sam Houston State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Men's Football. Sam Houston State University is a public school based in Huntsville, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 977, and a 73% Graduation Success Rate. About 61% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $76,693 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $76,693 per participant. The school awards about $11,743 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Houston placed #16 among the best colleges for Men's Football. University of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 954, alongside a GSR of 73%. About 60% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $195,558 in revenue per athlete, against $195,558 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,948.
University of the Incarnate Word ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Football. This private not-for-profit school is set in San Antonio, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 973, and a 73% Graduation Success Rate. About 49% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $45,400 per participant, against $45,400 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,744.
The University of Texas at El Paso did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in El Paso, TX, The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution. The University of Texas at El Paso records an NCAA APR of 959, alongside a GSR of 73%. Its federal graduation rate is 51%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $115,120, compared with $97,036 spent per athlete. The school awards about $18,754 in athletic aid per athlete.
Hardin-Simmons University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Abilene, TX, Hardin-Simmons University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $6,653 per participant, compared with $6,021 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Houston Christian University ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Men's Football. Houston Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 939, with a Graduation Success Rate of 76%. About 53% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $49,269, compared with $49,269 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $20,924 per athlete.
East Texas Baptist University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Marshall, TX. Team revenue averages $4,876 per participant, against $4,876 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
West Texas A & M University landed the #22 spot this year. Based in Canyon, TX, West Texas A & M University is a public institution. The program generates about $15,673 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $15,673 per participant. The school awards about $5,800 in athletic aid per athlete.
Tarleton State University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Tarleton State University is a public school based in Stephenville, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 961, and a 54% Graduation Success Rate. About 44% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $69,002 in revenue per athlete, compared with $69,002 spent per athlete. The school awards about $11,883 in athletic aid per athlete.
Lamar University ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Men's Football. Lamar University is a public school based in Beaumont, TX. Lamar University records an NCAA APR of 950, with a Graduation Success Rate of 73%. The federal graduation rate stands at 62%. Team revenue averages $47,425 per participant, compared with $47,425 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,491 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas Permian Basin did well this year, earning the #25 position. This public school is set in Odessa, TX. The program generates about $10,899 in revenue per athlete, against $20,341 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $6,982 per athlete.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*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.