by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 18 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:
Duke University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Durham, NC. Duke University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $111,488, with expenses of about $131,374 per participant. Athletic aid averages $34,321 per athlete.
Wake Forest University landed the #2 spot for Men's Golf (Division I). Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit school based in Winston-Salem, NC. Wake Forest University records an NCAA APR of 988, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $173,465, against $173,465 in expenses. The school awards about $38,933 in athletic aid per athlete.
Elon University ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Elon University is a private not-for-profit school based in Elon, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 73% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $93,566 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $93,566 per participant. The school awards about $25,795 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 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 100%. The program generates about $66,820 in revenue per athlete, against $145,613 in expenses. The school awards about $17,771 in athletic aid per athlete.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is one of the top schools for Men's Golf (Division I), at #5. Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $44,602 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $87,126 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,384 per athlete.
Campbell University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Buies Creek, NC, Campbell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. The program generates about $52,294 in revenue per athlete, compared with $52,294 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,433 per athlete.
High Point University placed #7 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in High Point, NC, High Point University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 83% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. The program generates about $43,450 in revenue per athlete, against $42,949 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,469.
East Carolina University landed the #8 spot this year. Based in Greenville, NC, East Carolina University is a public institution. East Carolina University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $45,746 in revenue per athlete, against $45,015 in expenses. The school awards about $12,584 in athletic aid per athlete.
Davidson College landed the #9 spot this year. Located in Davidson, NC, Davidson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 987, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $50,241, compared with $71,254 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,830.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte placed #10 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public school based in Charlotte, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 86%. Its federal graduation rate is 40%. Team revenue averages $51,194 per participant, against $51,400 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,522.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #11 spot this year. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a public school based in Greensboro, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 980, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. About 89% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $57,358 in revenue per athlete, compared with $57,358 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,162.
Appalachian State University placed #12 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Appalachian State University is a public school based in Boone, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 75% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 60%. Team revenue averages $34,349 per participant, against $34,349 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,299.
North Carolina Central University landed the #13 spot this year. Based in Durham, NC, North Carolina Central University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 80% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $14,420 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $14,420 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,804.
Queens University of Charlotte placed #14 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Charlotte, NC, Queens University of Charlotte is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 75% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 57%. Team revenue averages $24,089 per participant, compared with $24,089 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $13,282 per athlete.
North Carolina A & T State University landed the #15 spot this year. Located in Greensboro, NC, North Carolina A & T State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 988, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $37,457 in revenue per athlete, compared with $37,457 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,465.
Gardner-Webb University placed #16 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Boiling Springs, NC, Gardner-Webb University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 972, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 45%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $23,859, against $23,859 in expenses. The school awards about $14,936 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Carolina Wilmington landed the #17 spot this year. Based in Wilmington, NC, University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 946, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. Team revenue averages $32,385 per participant, with expenses of about $32,385 per participant. Athletic aid averages $7,667 per athlete.
Western Carolina University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Western Carolina University is a public school based in Cullowhee, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 966, and a 67% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 38%. Team revenue averages $30,225 per participant, with expenses of about $30,225 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,960.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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.