by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 34 schools for Men’s Golf (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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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Learn more about these schools below:
Our analysis found University of California-Los Angeles to be the best college for Men's Golf (Division I) in the Far Western Region. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University of California-Los Angeles is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. About 92% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $111,244 per participant, against $111,244 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $24,306 per athlete.
University of Southern California came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Los Angeles, CA, University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $188,014, against $188,014 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $40,006 per athlete.
Stanford University is one of the top schools for Men's Golf (Division I), at #3. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stanford, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 938, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $210,592 per participant, against $210,592 in expenses. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of San Francisco is one of the top schools for Men's Golf (Division I), at #4. 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%. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $88,798, compared with $88,798 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $31,788.
Pepperdine University landed the #5 spot for Men's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Malibu, CA. Pepperdine University records an NCAA APR of 987, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $200,127, with expenses of about $200,127 per participant. The school awards about $27,861 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of the Pacific ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). University of the Pacific is a private not-for-profit school based in Stockton, CA. University of the Pacific records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $87,162, against $87,162 in expenses. The school awards about $21,596 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley landed the #7 spot this year. This public school is set in Berkeley, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, alongside a GSR of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 92%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $83,301, compared with $115,836 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,267 per athlete.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus landed the #8 spot this year. Located in Seattle, WA, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 67%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Team revenue averages $72,622 per participant, with expenses of about $288,840 per participant. The school awards about $26,539 in athletic aid per athlete.
Gonzaga University placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Gonzaga University is a private not-for-profit school based in Spokane, WA. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $150,554 per participant, against $145,012 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,963 per athlete.
University of California-Davis landed the #10 spot this year. This public school is set in Davis, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 89% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $82,633 per participant, against $82,633 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,267.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Las Vegas, NV, University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, alongside a GSR of 86%. Its federal graduation rate is 55%. The program generates about $122,753 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $125,452 per participant. The school awards about $23,395 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oregon State University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Oregon State University is a public school based in Corvallis, OR. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, alongside a GSR of 88%. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $101,616 in revenue per athlete, against $101,616 in expenses. The school awards about $19,022 in athletic aid per athlete.
Santa Clara University ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school based in Santa Clara, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 90%. The program generates about $58,912 in revenue per athlete, against $58,912 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,355 per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Los Angeles, CA, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 963, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. The program generates about $90,105 in revenue per athlete, compared with $90,105 spent per athlete. The school awards about $40,056 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of San Diego did well this year, earning the #15 position. University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit school based in San Diego, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 970, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $111,627 per participant, with expenses of about $111,627 per participant. The school awards about $19,537 in athletic aid per athlete.
San Diego State University landed the #16 spot this year. Located in San Diego, CA, San Diego State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 985, and a 62% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 40%. Team revenue averages $153,538 per participant, with expenses of about $191,599 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,450.
Washington State University placed #17 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Pullman, WA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $41,301, compared with $85,636 spent per athlete. The school awards about $20,338 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Fresno landed the #18 spot this year. This public school is set in Fresno, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $73,564, with expenses of about $73,564 per participant. The school awards about $15,577 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Hawaii at Manoa ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Honolulu, HI, University of Hawaii at Manoa is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 965, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. The program generates about $462,352 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $49,888 per participant. The school awards about $18,398 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Baptist University ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Riverside, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 55%. The program generates about $60,993 in revenue per athlete, compared with $60,732 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,790.
University of California-San Diego landed the #21 spot this year. University of California-San Diego is a public school based in La Jolla, CA. University of California-San Diego records an NCAA APR of 993, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $46,180 per participant, compared with $46,180 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $9,847 per athlete.
University of California-Santa Barbara did well this year, earning the #22 position. Based in Santa Barbara, CA, University of California-Santa Barbara is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $44,732, against $44,732 in expenses. The school awards about $11,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Northridge placed #23 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Northridge, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 86%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $68,304 per participant, against $82,405 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,174 per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit school based in Moraga, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, alongside a GSR of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $80,331, with expenses of about $80,331 per participant. The school awards about $18,999 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Oregon landed the #25 spot this year. Based in Eugene, OR, University of Oregon is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, and a 82% Graduation Success Rate. About 58% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,065, compared with $91,652 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $22,739 per athlete.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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.