by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 103 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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Learn more about these schools below:
Our analysis found Vanderbilt University to be the best college for Men's Golf (Division I) in the Southeast Region. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $266,683 in revenue per athlete, compared with $266,683 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $42,235.
Duke University is one of the top schools for Men's Golf (Division I), at #2. This private not-for-profit school is set in Durham, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $111,488 per participant, against $131,374 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,321.
University of Virginia-Main Campus ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. 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 $110,637, compared with $110,637 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $26,976.
Wake Forest University landed the #4 spot for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 78%. Team revenue averages $173,465 per participant, compared with $173,465 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $38,933 per athlete.
Clemson University came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Clemson University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 90%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $101,950, with expenses of about $101,950 per participant. The school awards about $21,730 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Kentucky placed #6 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). University of Kentucky is a public school based in Lexington, KY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (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, compared with $86,483 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,921.
Elon University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Elon, NC, Elon 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 73% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $93,566, against $93,566 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,795.
University of Mississippi ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in University, MS. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. The program generates about $167,951 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $167,951 per participant. Athletic aid averages $22,457 per athlete.
University of Richmond did well this year, earning the #9 position. University of Richmond is a private not-for-profit school based in University of Richmond, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $69,681 per participant, with expenses of about $69,681 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,609.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill placed #10 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $66,820, compared with $145,613 spent per athlete. The school awards about $17,771 in athletic aid per athlete.
Mississippi State University placed #11 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Mississippi State, MS. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Team revenue averages $111,191 per participant, with expenses of about $111,191 per participant. The school awards about $24,143 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Alabama placed #12 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Tuscaloosa, AL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $188,845 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $188,845 per participant. The school awards about $20,760 in athletic aid per athlete.
James Madison University ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Harrisonburg, VA, James Madison University is a public institution. James Madison University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $68,674, compared with $68,674 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,945 per athlete.
University of South Carolina-Columbia did well this year, earning the #14 position. University of South Carolina-Columbia is a public school based in Columbia, SC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $148,129 per participant, compared with $148,129 spent per athlete. The school awards about $18,645 in athletic aid per athlete.
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Team revenue averages $85,930 per participant, compared with $85,930 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,187.
Furman University placed #16 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Furman University is a private not-for-profit school based in Greenville, SC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $57,110, compared with $57,110 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $28,699 per athlete.
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Atlanta, GA. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 91% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $21,447 per participant, compared with $250,686 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $22,289 per athlete.
University of Central Florida landed the #18 spot this year. Based in Orlando, FL, University of Central Florida is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 33%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $121,542, compared with $80,360 spent per athlete. The school awards about $25,195 in athletic aid per athlete.
Auburn University ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Auburn University is a public school based in Auburn, AL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, alongside a GSR of 88%. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $54,484 in revenue per athlete, against $244,483 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $28,233 per athlete.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh landed the #20 spot this year. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $44,602 per participant, with expenses of about $87,126 per participant. The school awards about $18,384 in athletic aid per athlete.
William & Mary placed #21 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Williamsburg, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $104,614 per participant, compared with $22,327 spent per athlete. The school awards about $15,943 in athletic aid per athlete.
Belmont University placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Team revenue averages $49,874 per participant, compared with $49,874 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,742 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Knoxville, TN, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. Team revenue averages $6,396 per participant, with expenses of about $189,658 per participant. Athletic aid averages $29,054 per athlete.
University of Georgia placed #24 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). University of Georgia is a public school based in Athens, GA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 92%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $23,797, with expenses of about $141,604 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,925.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public school based in Blacksburg, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $19,777 in revenue per athlete, against $89,461 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $29,706 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. 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.