by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 57 colleges for Men’s Soccer (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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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Learn more about these schools below:
Duke University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 988, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $69,942, compared with $80,673 spent per athlete. The school awards about $34,321 in athletic aid per athlete.
Clemson University earned the #2 place for student athletes. Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Clemson University records an NCAA APR of 997, alongside a GSR of 96%. Its federal graduation rate is 53%. The program generates about $105,408 in revenue per athlete, against $105,408 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,730.
Wake Forest University ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, alongside a GSR of 87%. About 53% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $97,661 in revenue per athlete, against $97,661 in expenses. The school awards about $38,933 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $56,639, with expenses of about $56,639 per participant. Athletic aid averages $26,976 per athlete.
James Madison University earned the #5 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Harrisonburg, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. The program generates about $55,076 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $55,076 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,945.
Elon University landed the #6 spot this year. Located in Elon, NC, Elon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 988, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Team revenue averages $41,323 per participant, with expenses of about $41,323 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,795.
University of Kentucky landed the #7 spot this year. This public school is set in Lexington, KY. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 979, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 52% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $84,567 per participant, compared with $84,567 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,921.
Liberty University placed #8 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $49,864, against $49,864 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,589.
Furman University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Greenville, SC, Furman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. About 60% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $38,422 per participant, compared with $38,422 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $28,699 per athlete.
University of South Florida placed #10 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). University of South Florida is a public school based in Tampa, FL. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 61% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $52,639 in revenue per athlete, compared with $52,639 spent per athlete. The school awards about $15,287 in athletic aid per athlete.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 65%. Team revenue averages $34,400 per participant, against $63,730 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $18,384 per athlete.
Georgia State University landed the #12 spot this year. Located in Atlanta, GA, Georgia State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 991, alongside a GSR of 94%. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $33,573, against $33,573 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,875.
Mercer University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Macon, GA, Mercer University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 59%. Team revenue averages $26,896 per participant, against $26,896 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $23,898 per athlete.
Florida International University ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). This public school is set in Miami, FL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $45,055, with expenses of about $45,055 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,058.
Virginia Commonwealth University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 978, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. The program generates about $41,255 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $41,255 per participant. The school awards about $20,187 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of South Carolina-Columbia placed #16 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). University of South Carolina-Columbia is a public school based in Columbia, SC. The team's NCAA APR score is 973, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 59%. The program generates about $74,062 in revenue per athlete, compared with $74,062 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,645.
Belmont University ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). Located in Nashville, TN, Belmont University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 987, with a Graduation Success Rate of 86%. About 30% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $49,206 per participant, with expenses of about $49,206 per participant. The school awards about $21,742 in athletic aid per athlete.
George Mason University landed the #18 spot this year. Based in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. George Mason University records an NCAA APR of 991, alongside a GSR of 91%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $37,839 per participant, with expenses of about $37,839 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,956.
West Virginia University landed the #19 spot this year. This public school is set in Morgantown, WV. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 986, alongside a GSR of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Team revenue averages $41,430 per participant, compared with $41,430 spent per athlete. The school awards about $19,705 in athletic aid per athlete.
William & Mary did well this year, earning the #20 position. William & Mary is a public school based in Williamsburg, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 82%. The federal graduation rate stands at 81%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $39,055, against $35,972 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,943.
Davidson College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Davidson College is a private not-for-profit school based in Davidson, NC. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $23,293 per participant, against $25,811 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,830.
University of Central Florida did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Orlando, FL, University of Central Florida is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 969, and a 84% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 58%. The program generates about $121,973 in revenue per athlete, against $68,967 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $25,195 per athlete.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 978, with a Graduation Success Rate of 84%. About 70% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $9,753 in revenue per athlete, compared with $72,006 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $29,706 per athlete.
High Point University placed #24 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Located in High Point, NC, High Point University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 975, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $39,618, with expenses of about $35,766 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,469 per athlete.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did well this year, earning the #25 position. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 981, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. Its federal graduation rate is 59%. Team revenue averages $28,116 per participant, compared with $47,370 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $17,771 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.