by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 10 colleges for Men’s Outdoor Track and Field (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.
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Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Stanford University to be the best college for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I) in the Far Western Region. Located in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $37,873 per participant, against $37,873 in expenses. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
Santa Clara University landed the #2 spot for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I). Located in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $2,973 in revenue per athlete, compared with $2,973 spent per athlete. The school awards about $19,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Irvine came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I). This public school is set in Irvine, CA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $11,204, against $11,204 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,955.
University of San Francisco earned the #4 place for student athletes. University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school based in San Francisco, CA. The program generates about $15,345 in revenue per athlete, against $15,345 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $31,788 per athlete.
Pepperdine University came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Malibu, CA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,311, with expenses of about $7,311 per participant. The school awards about $27,861 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Santa Barbara landed the #6 spot this year. This public school is set in Santa Barbara, CA. Team revenue averages $7,697 per participant, with expenses of about $7,697 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,355.
California Baptist University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Riverside, CA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $28,531, against $28,531 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $23,790 per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California placed #8 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Moraga, CA. The program generates about $2,688 in revenue per athlete, against $2,688 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,999.
California State University-Bakersfield placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I). California State University-Bakersfield is a public school based in Bakersfield, CA. The program generates about $15,352 in revenue per athlete, compared with $15,352 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $10,121 per athlete.
Portland State University landed the #10 spot this year. Portland State University is a public school based in Portland, OR. The program generates about $3,079 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $3,079 per participant. Athletic aid averages $13,026 per athlete.
*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.