by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 59 programs for Men’s Golf by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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 Southern Methodist University to be the best college for Men's Golf in the Southwest Region. Based in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist 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 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $133,289, against $133,289 in expenses. The school awards about $56,388 in athletic aid per athlete.
Baylor University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Men's Golf. Located in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $148,695, compared with $148,695 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $30,455 per athlete.
Rice University earned the #3 place for student athletes. Rice University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $98,179 per participant, compared with $98,179 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $41,166 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin earned the #4 place for student athletes. The University of Texas at Austin is a public school based in Austin, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $61,404, compared with $221,451 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,650.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion is one of the top schools for Men's Golf, at #5. Located in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University Campus Immersion is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. The program generates about $268,261 in revenue per athlete, against $268,261 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,490.
Dallas Baptist University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Dallas, TX, Dallas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $48,847, compared with $46,714 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,215.
Abilene Christian University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Abilene, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $63,510 per participant, compared with $59,394 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $26,012 per athlete.
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus did well this year, earning the #8 position. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is a public school based in Norman, OK. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Team revenue averages $40,631 per participant, against $189,134 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $27,789 per athlete.
University of Dallas came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Irving, TX, University of Dallas is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $7,672 per participant, with expenses of about $7,672 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
The University of Texas at San Antonio did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $65,068 in revenue per athlete, against $65,068 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,155.
University of New Mexico-Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf. Located in Albuquerque, NM, University of New Mexico-Main Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 91%. Its federal graduation rate is 73%. The program generates about $64,264 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $64,264 per participant. Athletic aid averages $19,510 per athlete.
Texas Christian University landed the #12 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Worth, TX. Texas Christian University records an NCAA APR of 973, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $134,971, compared with $134,971 spent per athlete. The school awards about $37,174 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus landed the #13 spot this year. This public school is set in Stillwater, OK. Oklahoma State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 29%. The program generates about $75,891 in revenue per athlete, against $150,966 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,335.
University of Arizona landed the #14 spot this year. Located in Tucson, AZ, University of Arizona is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 973, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 46%. Team revenue averages $153,171 per participant, against $153,171 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $20,887 per athlete.
LeTourneau University ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf. This private not-for-profit school is set in Longview, TX. The program generates about $6,311 in revenue per athlete, against $6,311 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Lamar University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Located in Beaumont, TX, Lamar University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $58,335, compared with $57,580 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,491.
Oklahoma Christian University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Oklahoma Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Edmond, OK. The program generates about $24,444 in revenue per athlete, compared with $18,815 spent per athlete. The school awards about $7,286 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas Lutheran University placed #18 among the best colleges for Men's Golf. Texas Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit school based in Seguin, TX. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,613, against $7,877 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas State University placed #19 among the best colleges for Men's Golf. Texas State University is a public school based in San Marcos, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $56,661, with expenses of about $56,661 per participant. Athletic aid averages $16,371 per athlete.
The University of Texas at El Paso did well this year, earning the #20 position. The University of Texas at El Paso is a public school based in El Paso, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 991, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $42,663, against $65,925 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,754.
University of Houston landed the #21 spot this year. This public school is set in Houston, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, alongside a GSR of 85%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $72,173, with expenses of about $72,173 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,948.
University of North Texas placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Golf. University of North Texas is a public school based in Denton, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $48,831, with expenses of about $48,831 per participant. The school awards about $11,504 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf. This private not-for-profit school is set in Belton, TX. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,375, compared with $14,375 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Houston Christian University placed #24 among the best colleges for Men's Golf. Based in Houston, TX, Houston Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 57%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $46,370, with expenses of about $46,370 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,924.
Hardin-Simmons University landed the #25 spot this year. Located in Abilene, TX, Hardin-Simmons University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $16,510 in revenue per athlete, against $9,216 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid 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 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
