by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 28 colleges for Men’s Soccer (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Pick a path below.
Explore the leading programs below:
Stanford University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Men's Soccer (Division I). Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school based in Stanford, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 95%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $93,424, with expenses of about $93,424 per participant. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Los Angeles earned the #2 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Los Angeles, CA. University of California-Los Angeles records an NCAA APR of 993, alongside a GSR of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 56%. The program generates about $80,603 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $80,603 per participant. The school awards about $24,306 in athletic aid per athlete.
Santa Clara University landed the #3 spot for Men's Soccer (Division I). Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school based in Santa Clara, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 990, alongside a GSR of 94%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $61,084 per participant, compared with $61,084 spent per athlete. The school awards about $19,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus landed the #4 spot for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Seattle, WA, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a public institution. University of Washington-Seattle Campus records an NCAA APR of 997, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 58%. The program generates about $21,758 in revenue per athlete, against $97,561 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $26,539.
University of San Francisco is one of the top schools for Men's Soccer (Division I), at #5. University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school based in San Francisco, CA. University of San Francisco records an NCAA APR of 982, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $50,501 per participant, compared with $50,501 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $31,788.
Gonzaga University landed the #6 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Spokane, WA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. The federal graduation rate stands at 92%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $52,447, compared with $55,183 spent per athlete. The school awards about $14,963 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oregon State University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Corvallis, OR. The team's NCAA APR score is 987, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $60,726, compared with $60,726 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,022 per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 980, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 60%. The program generates about $50,324 in revenue per athlete, compared with $50,324 spent per athlete. The school awards about $40,056 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of the Pacific ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Stockton, CA, University of the Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 996, alongside a GSR of 87%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Team revenue averages $46,749 per participant, with expenses of about $46,749 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,596.
San Diego State University landed the #10 spot this year. This public school is set in San Diego, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 987, and a 76% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $58,275, against $47,264 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,450.
University of California-Davis came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Davis, CA, University of California-Davis is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, alongside a GSR of 94%. Its federal graduation rate is 88%. Team revenue averages $29,258 per participant, with expenses of about $29,258 per participant. The school awards about $14,267 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in Berkeley, CA, University of California-Berkeley is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 77%. About 70% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $16,977 per participant, with expenses of about $37,551 per participant. The school awards about $21,267 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Moraga, CA, Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 982, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. About 62% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $40,785, against $40,785 in expenses. The school awards about $18,999 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of San Diego did well this year, earning the #14 position. Based in San Diego, CA, University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 969, alongside a GSR of 88%. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $45,186, against $45,186 in expenses. The school awards about $19,537 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-San Diego placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). University of California-San Diego is a public school based in La Jolla, CA. University of California-San Diego records an NCAA APR of 992, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. The program generates about $39,326 in revenue per athlete, against $39,326 in expenses. The school awards about $9,847 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Portland placed #16 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Portland, OR, University of Portland is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 980, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. The program generates about $53,019 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $53,019 per participant. The school awards about $17,618 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Baptist University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Riverside, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 977, with a Graduation Success Rate of 77%. Its federal graduation rate is 23%. Team revenue averages $53,179 per participant, compared with $48,039 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,790 per athlete.
Seattle University ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Seattle, WA, Seattle University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 969, alongside a GSR of 80%. Its federal graduation rate is 43%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $47,665, with expenses of about $46,815 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,482.
University of California-Irvine ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). University of California-Irvine is a public school based in Irvine, CA. University of California-Irvine records an NCAA APR of 985, with a Graduation Success Rate of 76%. About 65% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $34,911 per participant, against $34,911 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,955.
University of California-Riverside ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Riverside, CA, University of California-Riverside is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, alongside a GSR of 88%. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $34,673, with expenses of about $34,673 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,154.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public school based in San Luis Obispo, CA. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo records an NCAA APR of 963, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $27,225, against $27,225 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,344.
California State University-Northridge placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). This public school is set in Northridge, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 965, and a 79% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 47%. The program generates about $42,134 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $49,407 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,174.
University of California-Santa Barbara did well this year, earning the #23 position. This public school is set in Santa Barbara, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 961, and a 79% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 43%. Team revenue averages $43,557 per participant, with expenses of about $43,557 per participant. The school awards about $11,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas landed the #24 spot this year. This public school is set in Las Vegas, NV. The team's NCAA APR score is 948, and a 63% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 52%. The program generates about $24,397 in revenue per athlete, against $41,059 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $23,395 per athlete.
San Jose State University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. San Jose State University is a public school based in San Jose, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 944, alongside a GSR of 67%. Its federal graduation rate is 55%. The program generates about $26,294 in revenue per athlete, against $26,294 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $16,034 per athlete.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.