by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. This list ranks 297 programs for Men’s Golf (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Pick a path below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Vanderbilt University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $266,683, with expenses of about $266,683 per participant. The school awards about $42,235 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Notre Dame landed the #2 spot for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Notre Dame records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $169,372 per participant, with expenses of about $169,372 per participant. The school awards about $34,391 in athletic aid per athlete.
Duke University ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $111,488 per participant, with expenses of about $131,374 per participant. Athletic aid averages $34,321 per athlete.
Southern Methodist University is one of the top schools for Men's Golf (Division I), at #4. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. Southern Methodist University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $133,289, against $133,289 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $56,388 per athlete.
Baylor University earned the #5 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waco, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $148,695 per participant, compared with $148,695 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $30,455 per athlete.
Northwestern University landed the #6 spot this year. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Evanston, IL. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $73,536, against $170,271 in expenses. The school awards about $53,919 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign did well this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in Champaign, IL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $138,042 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $318,553 per participant. Athletic aid averages $25,398 per athlete.
University of California-Los Angeles did well this year, earning the #8 position. University of California-Los Angeles is a public school based in Los Angeles, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. About 92% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $111,244 per participant, with expenses of about $111,244 per participant. The school awards about $24,306 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ohio State University-Main Campus did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 89%. Team revenue averages $98,025 per participant, against $98,025 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,151.
University of Virginia-Main Campus did well this year, earning the #10 position. University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $110,637 per participant, with expenses of about $110,637 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $26,976.
Rice University placed #11 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. Team revenue averages $98,179 per participant, with expenses of about $98,179 per participant. The school awards about $41,166 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Southern California came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $188,014 in revenue per athlete, against $188,014 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $40,006 per athlete.
Wake Forest University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit school based in Winston-Salem, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $173,465, against $173,465 in expenses. The school awards about $38,933 in athletic aid per athlete.
Seton Hall University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit school based in South Orange, NJ. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $76,599 per participant, against $76,599 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $32,496 per athlete.
Clemson University landed the #15 spot this year. This public school is set in Clemson, SC. Clemson University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 90% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $101,950, compared with $101,950 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,730 per athlete.
Boston College ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Boston College is a private not-for-profit school based in Chestnut Hill, MA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $60,220, compared with $60,220 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,391.
Michigan State University landed the #17 spot this year. Located in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. The program generates about $211,251 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $211,251 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,500.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion landed the #18 spot this year. This public school is set in Tempe, AZ. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $268,261 per participant, against $268,261 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $27,490 per athlete.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a public institution. Rutgers University-New Brunswick records an NCAA APR of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $131,466 per participant, with expenses of about $131,466 per participant. The school awards about $26,379 in athletic aid per athlete.
Villanova University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Villanova, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000. The program generates about $29,705 in revenue per athlete, against $29,705 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $25,480 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin came in at #21 in this year's ranking. 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 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $61,404, with expenses of about $221,451 per participant. Athletic aid averages $22,650 per athlete.
University of the Pacific did well this year, earning the #22 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stockton, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $87,162 in revenue per athlete, against $87,162 in expenses. The school awards about $21,596 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of San Francisco did well this year, earning the #23 position. University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school based in San Francisco, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $88,798 per participant, with expenses of about $88,798 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $31,788.
University of Kentucky ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Lexington, KY, University of Kentucky is a public institution. University of Kentucky records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 90%. The program generates about $86,483 in revenue per athlete, against $86,483 in expenses. The school awards about $23,921 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus landed the #25 spot this year. This public school is set in Cincinnati, OH. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. The program generates about $105,133 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $105,133 per participant. Athletic aid averages $20,882 per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
These colleges also performed well in our ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison, WI |
| 52 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC |
| 53 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL |
| 54 | University of California-Davis | Davis, CA |
| 55 | Gonzaga University | Spokane, WA |
| 56 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL |
| 57 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | Norman, OK |
| 58 | University of Wyoming | Laramie, WY |
| 59 | Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, TX |
| 60 | William & Mary | Williamsburg, VA |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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.
