by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 68 schools for Men’s Lacrosse (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 Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Duke University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $76,533 per participant, compared with $97,028 spent per athlete. The school awards about $34,321 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Notre Dame earned the #2 place for student athletes. Located in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 97%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $71,376, against $71,376 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $34,391 per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus landed the #3 spot for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 996, alongside a GSR of 95%. The federal graduation rate stands at 87%. The program generates about $54,011 in revenue per athlete, against $54,011 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $26,976 per athlete.
Georgetown University is one of the top schools for Men's Lacrosse (Division I), at #4. Based in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. Team revenue averages $47,690 per participant, compared with $47,690 spent per athlete. The school awards about $14,232 in athletic aid per athlete.
Colgate University ranked #5 among the best colleges for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Colgate University is a private not-for-profit school based in Hamilton, NY. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 90%. The program generates about $33,969 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $33,969 per participant. Athletic aid averages $22,658 per athlete.
Villanova University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school based in Villanova, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. The program generates about $42,853 in revenue per athlete, compared with $42,853 spent per athlete. The school awards about $25,480 in athletic aid per athlete.
Syracuse University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Syracuse, NY, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. The program generates about $62,334 in revenue per athlete, against $93,511 in expenses. The school awards about $33,068 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Richmond ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). University of Richmond is a private not-for-profit school based in University of Richmond, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 97%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. The program generates about $54,235 in revenue per athlete, against $54,235 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,609.
Lehigh University landed the #9 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bethlehem, PA. Lehigh University records an NCAA APR of 996, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 96%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $38,673, against $38,673 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,391 per athlete.
Lafayette College placed #10 among the best colleges for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit school based in Easton, PA. Lafayette College records an NCAA APR of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. The program generates about $37,682 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $37,682 per participant. The school awards about $18,987 in athletic aid per athlete.
Boston University ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Boston, MA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, alongside a GSR of 95%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $38,205 per participant, compared with $38,205 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $27,954 per athlete.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 999, alongside a GSR of 95%. About 84% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $26,012 per participant, with expenses of about $49,748 per participant. Athletic aid averages $25,170 per athlete.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 97%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $56,677, against $56,677 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $26,379.
Ohio State University-Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $70,326 in revenue per athlete, compared with $70,326 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,151.
St. John's University-New York ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Queens, NY, St. John's University-New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 64%. The program generates about $43,542 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $43,542 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,040.
University of Delaware landed the #16 spot this year. Located in Newark, DE, University of Delaware is a public institution. University of Delaware records an NCAA APR of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. The federal graduation rate stands at 81%. The program generates about $42,643 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $42,643 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,002.
University of Maryland-College Park placed #17 among the best colleges for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). University of Maryland-College Park is a public school based in College Park, MD. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 996, alongside a GSR of 95%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. The program generates about $19,436 in revenue per athlete, compared with $63,931 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $30,606 per athlete.
Providence College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Providence, RI, Providence College is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 990, alongside a GSR of 97%. Its federal graduation rate is 78%. The program generates about $42,933 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $42,933 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,955.
Quinnipiac University did well this year, earning the #19 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hamden, CT. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 87%. The federal graduation rate stands at 77%. Team revenue averages $32,916 per participant, compared with $32,916 spent per athlete. The school awards about $27,084 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loyola University Maryland did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in Baltimore, MD, Loyola University Maryland is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, alongside a GSR of 94%. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $45,315, compared with $45,315 spent per athlete. The school awards about $14,638 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 999, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $26,789, against $37,387 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $17,771 per athlete.
Marquette University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 74%. The program generates about $42,933 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $42,933 per participant. The school awards about $14,770 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor landed the #23 spot this year. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public school based in Ann Arbor, MI. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. About 85% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $5,537 in revenue per athlete, compared with $60,229 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $28,650.
University of Denver came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Denver, CO. University of Denver records an NCAA APR of 975, and a 87% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 77%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $51,367, against $51,367 in expenses. The school awards about $42,890 in athletic aid per athlete.
Hofstra University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit school based in Hempstead, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 987, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $43,594, compared with $43,594 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,514.
These programs also stood out among the best 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.