by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 25 programs for Men’s Golf (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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.
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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Leading the list is University of California-Los Angeles, our #1 college for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Los Angeles, CA, University of California-Los Angeles is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 92%. The program generates about $111,244 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $111,244 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,306.
University of Southern California landed the #2 spot for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Los Angeles, CA, University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Southern California records an NCAA APR of 984, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. Team revenue averages $188,014 per participant, with expenses of about $188,014 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $40,006.
Stanford University is one of the top schools for Men's Golf (Division I), at #3. Based in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 938, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $210,592, compared with $210,592 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $42,012 per athlete.
University of the Pacific ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Stockton, CA, University of the Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $87,162 per participant, compared with $87,162 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,596.
University of San Francisco came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in San Francisco, CA, University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. University of San Francisco records an NCAA APR of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $88,798 in revenue per athlete, compared with $88,798 spent per athlete. The school awards about $31,788 in athletic aid per athlete.
Pepperdine University landed the #6 spot this year. Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit school based in Malibu, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 987, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $200,127 per participant, with expenses of about $200,127 per participant. Athletic aid averages $27,861 per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Berkeley, CA, University of California-Berkeley is a public institution. University of California-Berkeley records an NCAA APR of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. About 92% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $83,301 per participant, against $115,836 in expenses. The school awards about $21,267 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Davis did well this year, earning the #8 position. University of California-Davis is a public school based in Davis, CA. 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 89%. The program generates about $82,633 in revenue per athlete, compared with $82,633 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $14,267 per athlete.
Santa Clara University landed the #9 spot this year. Located in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. About 90% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $58,912, with expenses of about $58,912 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,355.
Loyola Marymount University ranked #10 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 963, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. The program generates about $90,105 in revenue per athlete, against $90,105 in expenses. The school awards about $40,056 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of San Diego ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in San Diego, CA. University of San Diego records an NCAA APR of 970, alongside a GSR of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. The program generates about $111,627 in revenue per athlete, against $111,627 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,537 per athlete.
San Diego State University did well this year, earning the #12 position. This public school is set in San Diego, CA. 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%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $153,538, against $191,599 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,450.
California State University-Fresno did well this year, earning the #13 position. California State University-Fresno is a public school based in Fresno, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. The program generates about $73,564 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $73,564 per participant. The school awards about $15,577 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-San Diego landed the #14 spot this year. Based in La Jolla, CA, University of California-San Diego is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $46,180 per participant, against $46,180 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,847.
Saint Mary's College of California placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Moraga, CA, Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 986, alongside a GSR of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Team revenue averages $80,331 per participant, compared with $80,331 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,999.
California State University-Northridge ranked #16 on our 2026 list 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%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Team revenue averages $68,304 per participant, against $82,405 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,174 per athlete.
University of California-Santa Barbara placed #17 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Santa Barbara, CA. University of California-Santa Barbara records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $44,732, with expenses of about $44,732 per participant. The school awards about $11,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Baptist University landed the #18 spot this year. California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Riverside, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 985, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 55%. The program generates about $60,993 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $60,732 per participant. Athletic aid averages $23,790 per athlete.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo landed the #19 spot this year. Located in San Luis Obispo, CA, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public institution. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo records an NCAA APR of 976, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. Team revenue averages $116,207 per participant, with expenses of about $75,861 per participant. Athletic aid averages $10,344 per athlete.
California State University-Long Beach came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Long Beach, CA, California State University-Long Beach is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $62,807 in revenue per athlete, compared with $62,807 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,770.
University of California-Riverside did well this year, earning the #21 position. This public school is set in Riverside, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $34,252, compared with $34,252 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $11,154 per athlete.
San Jose State University landed the #22 spot this year. Located in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 973, and a 78% Graduation Success Rate. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $62,959 in revenue per athlete, compared with $62,959 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,034 per athlete.
California State University-Sacramento came in at #23 in this year's ranking. California State University-Sacramento is a public school based in Sacramento, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 75% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 57%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $43,120, against $43,120 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,560 per athlete.
University of California-Irvine landed the #24 spot this year. Based in Irvine, CA, University of California-Irvine is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 975, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. The program generates about $37,025 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $37,025 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,955.
California State University-Fullerton came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Fullerton, CA, California State University-Fullerton is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 987, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. About 56% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $59,816 per participant, against $59,816 in expenses. The school awards about $9,497 in athletic aid per athlete.
*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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.