by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. We have ranked 43 colleges 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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Learn more about these schools below:
No school ranked higher than University of Notre Dame this year for Men's Golf (Division I). University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school based in Notre Dame, IN. University of Notre Dame records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $169,372 in revenue per athlete, compared with $169,372 spent per athlete. The school awards about $34,391 in athletic aid per athlete.
Northwestern University earned the #2 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Evanston, IL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $73,536 per participant, compared with $170,271 spent per athlete. The school awards about $53,919 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earned the #3 place for student athletes. Located in Champaign, IL, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. 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. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,398.
Ohio State University-Main Campus ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Columbus, OH. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 89% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $98,025 in revenue per athlete, against $98,025 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,151.
Michigan State University earned the #5 place for student athletes. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. Team revenue averages $211,251 per participant, with expenses of about $211,251 per participant. The school awards about $22,500 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus placed #6 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Cincinnati, OH, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. Team revenue averages $105,133 per participant, against $105,133 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,882.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor placed #7 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $22,347 in revenue per athlete, against $107,091 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $28,650.
Indiana University-Bloomington ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University-Bloomington is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 980, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $86,566, against $86,566 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $23,161 per athlete.
Marquette University placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Milwaukee, WI, Marquette 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%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $121,735, with expenses of about $121,143 per participant. The school awards about $14,770 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Madison did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public institution. University of Wisconsin-Madison records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $20,377 in revenue per athlete, against $118,568 in expenses. The school awards about $21,586 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loyola University Chicago did well this year, earning the #11 position. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. Team revenue averages $43,004 per participant, compared with $43,004 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,325 per athlete.
Miami University-Oxford came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Miami University-Oxford is a public school based in Oxford, OH. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $54,321, against $54,321 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $17,790 per athlete.
Northern Illinois University placed #13 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Dekalb, IL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $59,260, compared with $59,260 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,138 in athletic aid per athlete.
Purdue University-Main Campus landed the #14 spot this year. This public school is set in West Lafayette, IN. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $35,349, compared with $105,628 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,382.
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Bowling Green, OH, Bowling Green State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. The program generates about $51,873 in revenue per athlete, against $51,103 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,840.
University of Toledo came in at #16 in this year's ranking. University of Toledo is a public school based in Toledo, OH. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 89%. About 56% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $61,168, against $61,168 in expenses. The school awards about $21,660 in athletic aid per athlete.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #17 spot this year. Eastern Michigan University is a public school based in Ypsilanti, MI. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $103,297 per participant, with expenses of about $103,297 per participant. Athletic aid averages $16,547 per athlete.
Bradley University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Peoria, IL, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bradley University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $30,505, with expenses of about $30,505 per participant. The school awards about $16,583 in athletic aid per athlete.
Butler University placed #19 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Indianapolis, IN, Butler University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $58,616, with expenses of about $52,381 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,113.
Ball State University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in Muncie, IN, Ball State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $46,483 per participant, against $46,483 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,206.
University of Dayton placed #21 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Dayton, OH, University of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. The program generates about $31,158 in revenue per athlete, against $42,407 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,913.
Ohio University-Main Campus placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Athens, OH, Ohio University-Main Campus is a public institution. Ohio University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 86%. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. The program generates about $38,728 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $38,728 per participant. The school awards about $17,284 in athletic aid per athlete.
DePaul University ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). DePaul University is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 971, with a Graduation Success Rate of 80%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $71,930, against $71,930 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,928.
Xavier University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Cincinnati, OH, Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 45% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $6,530 per participant, against $48,822 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,280.
Kent State University at Kent placed #25 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Kent, OH. The team's NCAA APR score is 981, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. The program generates about $53,160 in revenue per athlete, against $53,160 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,976.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.