by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. This list ranks 9 programs 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 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.
Not quite what you need? Use the shortcuts below.
Explore the leading programs below:
No school ranked higher than Gardner-Webb University this year for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I). Gardner-Webb University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boiling Springs, NC. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $16,185, against $16,185 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,936 per athlete.
Hampton University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I). Hampton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Hampton, VA. Team revenue averages $11,083 per participant, against $13,002 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $18,394 per athlete.
University of South Alabama landed the #3 spot for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I). Located in Mobile, AL, University of South Alabama is a public institution. The program generates about $7,484 in revenue per athlete, against $7,484 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,705 per athlete.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University earned the #4 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Tallahassee, FL. Team revenue averages $15,168 per participant, compared with $6,600 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,235.
University of Southern Mississippi landed the #5 spot for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I). Based in Hattiesburg, MS, University of Southern Mississippi is a public institution. Team revenue averages $9,756 per participant, compared with $9,756 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,309 in athletic aid per athlete.
North Carolina Central University landed the #6 spot this year. North Carolina Central University is a public school based in Durham, NC. The program generates about $7,631 in revenue per athlete, against $7,631 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,804 per athlete.
East Tennessee State University placed #7 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division I). Located in Johnson City, TN, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. Team revenue averages $3,104 per participant, with expenses of about $3,104 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,444.
University of New Orleans came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in New Orleans, LA, University of New Orleans is a public institution. The program generates about $11,736 in revenue per athlete, against $11,736 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $9,626 per athlete.
Bethune-Cookman University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Bethune-Cookman University is a private not-for-profit school based in Daytona Beach, FL. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,312, compared with $4,312 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $6,940 per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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.