by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 33 programs for Men’s Soccer (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Use the shortcuts below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Leading the list is University of Notre Dame, our #1 college for Men's Soccer (Division I). University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school based in Notre Dame, IN. University of Notre Dame records an NCAA APR of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 94% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $88,707 per participant, against $88,707 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $34,391 per athlete.
Northwestern University is one of the top schools for Men's Soccer (Division I), at #2. Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 999, alongside a GSR of 95%. The federal graduation rate stands at 95%. Team revenue averages $25,417 per participant, against $56,925 in expenses. The school awards about $53,919 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Soccer (Division I). Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public school based in Columbus, OH. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. The federal graduation rate stands at 65%. The program generates about $81,452 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $81,452 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,151.
Michigan State University came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Men's Soccer (Division I). Michigan State University is a public school based in East Lansing, MI. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, alongside a GSR of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 92%. Team revenue averages $64,164 per participant, with expenses of about $64,164 per participant. Athletic aid averages $22,500 per athlete.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor earned the #5 place for student athletes. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 92% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $5,544 per participant, against $73,829 in expenses. The school awards about $28,650 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 56%. The program generates about $45,004 in revenue per athlete, compared with $45,004 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,325 per athlete.
Indiana University-Bloomington ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). Indiana University-Bloomington is a public school based in Bloomington, IN. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. About 59% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $73,287, with expenses of about $73,287 per participant. The school awards about $23,161 in athletic aid per athlete.
Marquette University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Marquette University is a private not-for-profit school based in Milwaukee, WI. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 57%. Team revenue averages $40,452 per participant, with expenses of about $40,452 per participant. Athletic aid averages $14,770 per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Madison placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public school based in Madison, WI. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 974, alongside a GSR of 80%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $28,767, against $87,025 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $21,586 per athlete.
Western Michigan University landed the #10 spot this year. This public school is set in Kalamazoo, MI. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, and a 87% Graduation Success Rate. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $30,350 per participant, against $30,350 in expenses. The school awards about $19,248 in athletic aid per athlete.
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus landed the #11 spot this year. Located in Bowling Green, OH, Bowling Green State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Bowling Green State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 991, alongside a GSR of 83%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. The program generates about $29,033 in revenue per athlete, compared with $28,559 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,840.
Bradley University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Peoria, IL, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bradley University records an NCAA APR of 977, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 47%. The program generates about $34,982 in revenue per athlete, compared with $34,982 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,583 in athletic aid per athlete.
Northern Illinois University did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Dekalb, IL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 983, with a Graduation Success Rate of 86%. The federal graduation rate stands at 65%. The program generates about $33,280 in revenue per athlete, against $32,909 in expenses. The school awards about $16,138 in athletic aid per athlete.
Butler University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Indianapolis, IN, Butler University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 975, and a 81% Graduation Success Rate. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $44,762 per participant, against $44,820 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $12,113 per athlete.
Xavier University ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Cincinnati, OH. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 969, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,856, against $41,009 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $20,280 per athlete.
DePaul University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 960, with a Graduation Success Rate of 78%. Its federal graduation rate is 61%. Team revenue averages $43,694 per participant, with expenses of about $43,694 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,928.
University of Dayton ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Dayton, OH, University of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Dayton records an NCAA APR of 966, alongside a GSR of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 55%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $26,713, against $47,313 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,913.
University of Evansville ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). Located in Evansville, IN, University of Evansville is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Evansville records an NCAA APR of 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 87%. The federal graduation rate stands at 53%. Team revenue averages $22,268 per participant, against $22,268 in expenses. The school awards about $16,525 in athletic aid per athlete.
Indiana University-Indianapolis placed #19 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Located in Indianapolis, IN, Indiana University-Indianapolis is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 69%. The program generates about $19,120 in revenue per athlete, against $19,120 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $8,962 per athlete.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #20 spot this year. This public school is set in Edwardsville, IL. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville records an NCAA APR of 983, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 52%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $29,895, against $29,895 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,334.
University of Detroit Mercy landed the #21 spot this year. University of Detroit Mercy is a private not-for-profit school based in Detroit, MI. University of Detroit Mercy records an NCAA APR of 970, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. The program generates about $20,512 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $20,512 per participant. The school awards about $11,135 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Akron Main Campus came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Akron, OH. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 973, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. About 25% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $41,814 per participant, against $41,814 in expenses. The school awards about $12,189 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Illinois Chicago came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Chicago, IL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 970, alongside a GSR of 71%. The federal graduation rate stands at 59%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $33,875, compared with $33,875 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $15,167 per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay placed #24 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). This public school is set in Green Bay, WI. The team's NCAA APR score is 981, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 47%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $23,965, against $23,965 in expenses. The school awards about $9,741 in athletic aid per athlete.
Western Illinois University placed #25 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Macomb, IL, Western Illinois University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 969, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. Team revenue averages $19,229 per participant, against $19,229 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $10,303 per athlete.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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.