by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. This list ranks 14 schools for Men’s Lacrosse (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Pick a path below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found Syracuse University to be the best college for Men's Lacrosse (Division I) in New York. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school based in Syracuse, NY. Syracuse University records an NCAA APR of 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $62,334, compared with $93,511 spent per athlete. The school awards about $33,068 in athletic aid per athlete.
Colgate University landed the #2 spot for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Hamilton, NY, Colgate University 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 90%. The program generates about $33,969 in revenue per athlete, against $33,969 in expenses. The school awards about $22,658 in athletic aid per athlete.
St. John's University-New York ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Queens, NY, St. John's University-New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $43,542 in revenue per athlete, against $43,542 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,040.
Hofstra University ranked #4 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, alongside a GSR of 96%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $43,594 per participant, against $43,594 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $22,514 per athlete.
Stony Brook University earned the #5 place for student athletes. Based in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 986, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 74% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $30,413 per participant, compared with $30,413 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,341.
Binghamton University landed the #6 spot this year. Based in Vestal, NY, Binghamton University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 97% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. The program generates about $29,842 in revenue per athlete, compared with $23,671 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,522.
Wagner College placed #7 among the best colleges for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Staten Island, NY, Wagner College is a private not-for-profit institution. Wagner College records an NCAA APR of 993, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $18,985, compared with $18,985 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,661.
Marist University ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Poughkeepsie, NY. Marist University records an NCAA APR of 976, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. 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.
Cornell University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Team revenue averages $33,203 per participant, with expenses of about $33,203 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Iona University placed #10 among the best colleges for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in New Rochelle, NY, Iona University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 990. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $16,907, against $16,907 in expenses. The school awards about $10,814 in athletic aid per athlete.
Manhattan University placed #11 among the best colleges for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Riverdale, NY. Manhattan University records an NCAA APR of 984, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 73% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $20,068 per participant, compared with $17,783 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,484.
University at Albany landed the #12 spot this year. Located in Albany, NY, University at Albany is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 969, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. About 79% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $24,280 per participant, against $23,217 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,856.
St Bonaventure University ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Men's Lacrosse (Division I). St Bonaventure University is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Bonaventure, NY. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $21,709, compared with $21,709 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $12,194 per athlete.
Canisius University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Canisius University is a private not-for-profit school based in Buffalo, NY. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. About 73% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $14,455 in revenue per athlete, compared with $14,455 spent per athlete. The school awards about $9,300 in athletic aid per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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.