by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 41 programs for Men’s Golf by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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:
No school ranked higher than Southern Methodist University this year for Men's Golf. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $133,289 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $133,289 per participant. Athletic aid averages $56,388 per athlete.
Baylor University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Men's Golf. Based in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Baylor 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 $148,695, with expenses of about $148,695 per participant. The school awards about $30,455 in athletic aid per athlete.
Rice University landed the #3 spot for Men's Golf. Located in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rice University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. The program generates about $98,179 in revenue per athlete, against $98,179 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $41,166.
The University of Texas at Austin ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Golf. This public school is set in Austin, TX. The University of Texas at Austin records an NCAA APR of 993, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. Team revenue averages $61,404 per participant, against $221,451 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,650.
Abilene Christian University came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Men's Golf. Located 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%. Its federal graduation rate is 88%. The program generates about $63,510 in revenue per athlete, compared with $59,394 spent per athlete. The school awards about $26,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at San Antonio came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. The University of Texas at San Antonio records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Team revenue averages $65,068 per participant, with expenses of about $65,068 per participant. The school awards about $16,155 in athletic aid per athlete.
Dallas Baptist University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Dallas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. The program generates about $48,847 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $46,714 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,215.
University of Dallas did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Irving, TX, University of Dallas is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,672, against $7,672 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Texas Christian University landed the #9 spot this year. Located 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, alongside a GSR of 88%. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $134,971 per participant, with expenses of about $134,971 per participant. Athletic aid averages $37,174 per athlete.
Lamar University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based 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%. The program generates about $58,335 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $57,580 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,491.
University of North Texas ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf. Based in Denton, TX, University of North Texas is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 44%. The program generates about $48,831 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $48,831 per participant. Athletic aid averages $11,504 per athlete.
The University of Texas at El Paso came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in El Paso, TX, The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution. The University of Texas at El Paso records an NCAA APR of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. 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.
Texas State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf. 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, against $56,661 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,371.
LeTourneau University placed #14 among the best colleges for Men's Golf. Based in Longview, TX, LeTourneau University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,311, with expenses of about $6,311 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Houston did well this year, earning the #15 position. University of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. University of Houston records an NCAA APR of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $72,173, against $72,173 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,948.
Houston Christian University landed the #16 spot this year. Based in Houston, TX, Houston Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 57%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $46,370, compared with $46,370 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,924.
Texas Lutheran University did well this year, earning the #17 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Seguin, TX. The program generates about $7,613 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $7,877 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor placed #18 among the best colleges 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. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas A&M University-College Station placed #19 among the best colleges for Men's Golf. Texas A&M University-College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 969, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. The program generates about $21,012 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $157,499 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,123.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf. This public school is set in Edinburg, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. The program generates about $37,571 in revenue per athlete, compared with $37,571 spent per athlete. The school awards about $9,144 in athletic aid per athlete.
Tarleton State University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Tarleton State University is a public school based in Stephenville, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 977. The program generates about $52,656 in revenue per athlete, against $52,656 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,883 per athlete.
Sam Houston State University placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Golf. Sam Houston State University is a public school based in Huntsville, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, and a 75% Graduation Success Rate. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $60,326 in revenue per athlete, compared with $60,326 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $11,743 per athlete.
Hardin-Simmons University landed the #23 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Abilene, TX. The program generates about $16,510 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $9,216 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Texas Tech University landed the #24 spot this year. Texas Tech University is a public school based in Lubbock, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 981, with a Graduation Success Rate of 86%. Its federal graduation rate is 40%. The program generates about $33,626 in revenue per athlete, compared with $170,135 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,662.
Lubbock Christian University ranked #25 on our 2026 list for Men's Golf. Based in Lubbock, TX, Lubbock Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $21,664, against $21,664 in expenses. The school awards about $8,404 in athletic aid per athlete.
These programs also stood out among the best 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
See our data sources and methodologies.