by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 10 schools for Men’s Golf (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found The University of Alabama to be the best college for Men's Golf (Division I) in Alabama. Based in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University of Alabama is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 57%. The program generates about $188,845 in revenue per athlete, against $188,845 in expenses. The school awards about $20,760 in athletic aid per athlete.
Samford University landed the #2 spot for Men's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Birmingham, AL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $47,423, with expenses of about $42,349 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,864.
Auburn University landed the #3 spot for Men's Golf (Division I). Auburn University is a public school based in Auburn, AL. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, alongside a GSR of 88%. Its federal graduation rate is 55%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $54,484, with expenses of about $244,483 per participant. Athletic aid averages $28,233 per athlete.
University of Alabama at Birmingham ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Birmingham, AL. The team's NCAA APR score is 985, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $55,844, against $51,237 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,655.
University of South Alabama earned the #5 place for student athletes. University of South Alabama is a public school based in Mobile, AL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. The program generates about $42,090 in revenue per athlete, compared with $42,090 spent per athlete. The school awards about $15,705 in athletic aid per athlete.
Troy University did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Troy, AL. Troy University records an NCAA APR of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $55,565, compared with $46,514 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,487 in athletic aid per athlete.
Jacksonville State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Jacksonville State University is a public school based in Jacksonville, AL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 977, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 78%. The program generates about $25,983 in revenue per athlete, compared with $25,983 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $14,761 per athlete.
University of North Alabama came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Florence, AL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 968, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 90%. The program generates about $38,711 in revenue per athlete, against $38,711 in expenses. The school awards about $13,402 in athletic aid per athlete.
Alabama A & M University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Normal, AL, Alabama A & M University is a public institution. Alabama A & M University records an NCAA APR of 972, and a 75% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Team revenue averages $8,329 per participant, compared with $9,670 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $8,274 per athlete.
Alabama State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Montgomery, AL. The team's NCAA APR score is 939, alongside a GSR of 60%. About 22% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $29,029 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $29,029 per participant. The school awards about $8,418 in athletic aid per athlete.
*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.