by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 34 programs for Men’s Lacrosse (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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:
Leading the list is Syracuse University, our #1 college for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Syracuse, NY, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $62,334, against $93,511 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $33,068.
Villanova University ranked #2 among the best colleges 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, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $42,853 per participant, with expenses of about $42,853 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,480.
Georgetown University earned the #3 place for student athletes. Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit school based in Washington, DC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. The program generates about $47,690 in revenue per athlete, against $47,690 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,232 per athlete.
Colgate University earned the #4 place for student athletes. Based in Hamilton, NY, Colgate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 90%. Team revenue averages $33,969 per participant, compared with $33,969 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,658.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick earned the #5 place for student athletes. Located in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a public institution. Rutgers University-New Brunswick records an NCAA APR of 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 97%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Team revenue averages $56,677 per participant, compared with $56,677 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $26,379.
Lehigh University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bethlehem, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 996, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 96% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $38,673 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $38,673 per participant. Athletic aid averages $19,391 per athlete.
Lafayette College ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Easton, PA. Lafayette College records an NCAA APR of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $37,682, with expenses of about $37,682 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,987 per athlete.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public school based in University Park, PA. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 999, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. About 84% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $26,012, against $49,748 in expenses. The school awards about $25,170 in athletic aid per athlete.
St. John's University-New York placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). St. John's University-New York is a private not-for-profit school based in Queens, NY. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. Team revenue averages $43,542 per participant, with expenses of about $43,542 per participant. The school awards about $29,040 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Delaware did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Newark, DE, University of Delaware is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. About 81% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $42,643 in revenue per athlete, compared with $42,643 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,002.
University of Maryland-College Park landed the #11 spot this year. This public school is set in College Park, MD. University of Maryland-College Park records an NCAA APR of 996, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $19,436, with expenses of about $63,931 per participant. The school awards about $30,606 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loyola University Maryland did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Baltimore, MD, Loyola University Maryland is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $45,315, against $45,315 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,638 per athlete.
Hofstra University placed #13 among the best colleges for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Hempstead, NY. Hofstra University records an NCAA APR of 987, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $43,594, compared with $43,594 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $22,514 per athlete.
Binghamton University ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Binghamton University is a public school based in Vestal, NY. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 97%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $29,842 in revenue per athlete, compared with $23,671 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $9,522 per athlete.
Bucknell University did well this year, earning the #15 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lewisburg, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 977, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $34,026, against $34,026 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,655 per athlete.
Stony Brook University ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. Stony Brook University records an NCAA APR of 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 74%. The program generates about $30,413 in revenue per athlete, against $30,413 in expenses. The school awards about $15,341 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Pennsylvania landed the #17 spot this year. Located in Philadelphia, PA, University of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Pennsylvania records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. Team revenue averages $25,306 per participant, against $25,306 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Princeton University landed the #18 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Princeton, NJ. Princeton University records an NCAA APR of 995, alongside a GSR of 98%. The program generates about $29,306 in revenue per athlete, compared with $29,306 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
New Jersey Institute of Technology landed the #19 spot this year. This public school is set in Newark, NJ. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $28,832, with expenses of about $28,808 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,477.
Drexel University landed the #20 spot this year. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 972, alongside a GSR of 89%. Its federal graduation rate is 73%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $31,452, with expenses of about $31,452 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,843.
Towson University landed the #21 spot this year. Based in Towson, MD, Towson University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, alongside a GSR of 95%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. The program generates about $34,561 in revenue per athlete, against $34,561 in expenses. The school awards about $14,919 in athletic aid per athlete.
Marist University ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Poughkeepsie, NY, Marist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 976, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 84%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $35,998, with expenses of about $35,998 per participant. The school awards about $9,661 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wagner College ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Staten Island, NY, Wagner College is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $18,985, against $18,985 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,661 per athlete.
Cornell University placed #24 among the best colleges for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 985, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $33,203, against $33,203 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Robert Morris University placed #25 among the best colleges for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Robert Morris University is a private not-for-profit school based in Moon Township, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. Its federal graduation rate is 69%. The program generates about $17,804 in revenue per athlete, against $17,804 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $17,083 per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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.