by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 11 colleges for Men’s Swimming & Diving (Division III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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.
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No school ranked higher than Whitman College this year for Men's Swimming & Diving (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Walla Walla, WA. Team revenue averages $9,884 per participant, with expenses of about $8,213 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Lutheran University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Men's Swimming & Diving (Division III). Based in Thousand Oaks, CA, California Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $6,480 in revenue per athlete, compared with $6,480 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Pacific Lutheran University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Swimming & Diving (Division III). Based in Tacoma, WA, Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $13,962 in revenue per athlete, against $13,962 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Lewis & Clark College earned the #4 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Portland, OR. The program generates about $6,506 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $6,506 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Willamette University is one of the top schools for Men's Swimming & Diving (Division III), at #5. Based in Salem, OR, Willamette University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $6,157 per participant, compared with $6,157 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Whitworth University landed the #6 spot this year. Whitworth University is a private not-for-profit school based in Spokane, WA. Team revenue averages $8,252 per participant, with expenses of about $8,208 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
George Fox University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Swimming & Diving (Division III). Located in Newberg, OR, George Fox University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $6,328 per participant, compared with $6,278 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Redlands did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Redlands, CA, University of Redlands is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $5,220, compared with $5,577 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of La Verne came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in La Verne, CA, University of La Verne is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $7,368 in revenue per athlete, compared with $6,584 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Linfield University placed #10 among the best colleges for Men's Swimming & Diving (Division III). Located in McMinnville, OR, Linfield University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,865, compared with $6,265 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Puget Sound did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Tacoma, WA, University of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,029 per participant, with expenses of about $4,029 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.