by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 24 programs for Men’s Golf (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluates each program using 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.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Pick a path below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found Southern Methodist University to be the best college for Men's Golf (Division I) in Texas. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. 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 $133,289, compared with $133,289 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $56,388 per athlete.
Baylor University landed the #2 spot for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Waco, TX, Baylor 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 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $148,695 per participant, with expenses of about $148,695 per participant. The school awards about $30,455 in athletic aid per athlete.
Rice University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Golf (Division I). Rice University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. Rice University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $98,179, against $98,179 in expenses. The school awards about $41,166 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin is one of the top schools for Men's Golf (Division I), at #4. The University of Texas at Austin is a public school based in Austin, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $61,404 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $221,451 per participant. The school awards about $22,650 in athletic aid per athlete.
Abilene Christian University landed the #5 spot for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Abilene, TX, Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $63,510 in revenue per athlete, against $59,394 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $26,012 per athlete.
The University of Texas at San Antonio landed the #6 spot this year. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. The University of Texas at San Antonio records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. The program generates about $65,068 in revenue per athlete, compared with $65,068 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,155 per athlete.
Texas Christian University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Based in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 973, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $134,971, against $134,971 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $37,174.
Lamar University placed #8 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Beaumont, TX, Lamar University is a public institution. Lamar University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $58,335 per participant, against $57,580 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $13,491 per athlete.
The University of Texas at El Paso did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in El Paso, TX, The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 991, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. The program generates about $42,663 in revenue per athlete, against $65,925 in expenses. The school awards about $18,754 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Houston placed #10 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). University of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, alongside a GSR of 85%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $72,173 per participant, with expenses of about $72,173 per participant. Athletic aid averages $15,948 per athlete.
Texas State University did well this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in San Marcos, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $56,661, with expenses of about $56,661 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,371.
Houston Christian University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Houston Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $46,370 per participant, with expenses of about $46,370 per participant. The school awards about $20,924 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Texas placed #13 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Denton, TX. University of North Texas records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 44%. Team revenue averages $48,831 per participant, with expenses of about $48,831 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,504.
Texas A&M University-College Station ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Texas A&M University-College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. Texas A&M University-College Station records an NCAA APR of 969, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $21,012, with expenses of about $157,499 per participant. The school awards about $17,123 in athletic aid per athlete.
Sam Houston State University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 75%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $60,326 per participant, with expenses of about $60,326 per participant. Athletic aid averages $11,743 per athlete.
Texas Tech University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Texas Tech University records an NCAA APR of 981, alongside a GSR of 86%. The federal graduation rate stands at 40%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $33,626, compared with $170,135 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,662.
University of the Incarnate Word ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in San Antonio, TX, University of the Incarnate Word is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 984, alongside a GSR of 83%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $47,262 per participant, with expenses of about $47,262 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,744 per athlete.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley placed #18 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Located in Edinburg, TX, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. The program generates about $37,571 in revenue per athlete, against $37,571 in expenses. The school awards about $9,144 in athletic aid per athlete.
Tarleton State University placed #19 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Stephenville, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 977. The program generates about $52,656 in revenue per athlete, compared with $52,656 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $11,883 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Arlington, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 948, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. Team revenue averages $39,153 per participant, against $39,153 in expenses. The school awards about $12,666 in athletic aid per athlete.
East Texas A&M University landed the #21 spot this year. This public school is set in Commerce, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 979, and a 80% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 58%. Team revenue averages $39,121 per participant, with expenses of about $35,603 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,747.
Stephen F Austin State University placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Golf (Division I). Stephen F Austin State University is a public school based in Nacogdoches, TX. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $21,086 per participant, with expenses of about $21,086 per participant. Athletic aid averages $8,595 per athlete.
Texas Southern University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Houston, TX, Texas Southern University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, and a 75% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $18,767 per participant, compared with $18,767 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,795.
Prairie View A & M University ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf (Division I). Prairie View A & M University is a public school based in Prairie View, TX. Prairie View A & M University records an NCAA APR of 971, alongside a GSR of 50%. Its federal graduation rate is 33%. Team revenue averages $17,587 per participant, against $17,587 in expenses. The school awards about $7,400 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.