by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 57 schools for Men’s Outdoor Track and Field (Division II) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found Colorado School of Mines to be the best college for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II) in the United States. Based in Golden, CO, Colorado School of Mines is a public institution. The program generates about $5,002 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $5,002 per participant. Athletic aid averages $7,984 per athlete.
Michigan Technological University earned the #2 place for student athletes. Located in Houghton, MI, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. The program generates about $5,222 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $5,262 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,159.
Rockhurst University earned the #3 place for student athletes. Located in Kansas City, MO, Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $3,003 per participant, against $3,003 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,130.
Ouachita Baptist University landed the #4 spot for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Arkadelphia, AR, Ouachita Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $4,481 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $5,763 per participant. Athletic aid averages $6,935 per athlete.
Cedarville University came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Cedarville University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cedarville, OH. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,684, compared with $3,684 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,791.
North Greenville University landed the #6 spot this year. Based in Tigerville, SC, North Greenville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $10,798 per participant, compared with $10,773 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $15,158 per athlete.
Thomas Jefferson University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $2,221 per participant, against $2,221 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,341.
Adelphi University placed #8 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Garden City, NY, Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,838, against $1,838 in expenses. The school awards about $7,963 in athletic aid per athlete.
Holy Family University placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Philadelphia, PA, Holy Family University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $4,849 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $4,511 per participant. Athletic aid averages $5,523 per athlete.
California State University-Chico landed the #10 spot this year. Located in Chico, CA, California State University-Chico is a public institution. The program generates about $6,884 in revenue per athlete, against $7,109 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $2,367 per athlete.
Molloy University ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Based in Rockville Centre, NY, Molloy University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $2,506 in revenue per athlete, against $2,601 in expenses. The school awards about $5,589 in athletic aid per athlete.
Emory & Henry University ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Emory, VA. The program generates about $9,090 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $9,090 per participant. Athletic aid averages $5,871 per athlete.
Goldey-Beacom College placed #13 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Wilmington, DE, Goldey-Beacom College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $5,991, compared with $5,991 spent per athlete. The school awards about $5,149 in athletic aid per athlete.
Carson-Newman University ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Jefferson City, TN. The program generates about $14,953 in revenue per athlete, against $14,486 in expenses. The school awards about $10,904 in athletic aid per athlete.
Palm Beach Atlantic University landed the #15 spot this year. Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private not-for-profit school based in West Palm Beach, FL. Team revenue averages $2,246 per participant, with expenses of about $2,246 per participant. Athletic aid averages $10,383 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Tyler placed #16 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Tyler, TX, The University of Texas at Tyler is a public institution. The program generates about $6,391 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $6,391 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,209.
Barton College landed the #17 spot this year. Based in Wilson, NC, Barton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,222, with expenses of about $6,222 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,654.
Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Trevecca Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. Team revenue averages $3,869 per participant, compared with $3,869 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $5,766 per athlete.
University of California-Merced ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This public school is set in Merced, CA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,857, with expenses of about $3,784 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $1,179.
Dominican University New York did well this year, earning the #20 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Orangeburg, NY. The program generates about $4,173 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $4,173 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $4,678.
Southwest Baptist University ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Bolivar, MO, Southwest Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,122 per participant, with expenses of about $4,122 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $7,015.
Southern Nazarene University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bethany, OK. The program generates about $4,409 in revenue per athlete, against $1,596 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $7,122 per athlete.
Roberts Wesleyan University landed the #23 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rochester, NY. The program generates about $3,299 in revenue per athlete, against $2,655 in expenses. The school awards about $3,925 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Los Angeles did well this year, earning the #24 position. This public school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,684, with expenses of about $3,684 per participant. Athletic aid averages $3,687 per athlete.
Converse University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Spartanburg, SC, Converse University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $4,276 in revenue per athlete, against $4,198 in expenses. The school awards about $7,241 in athletic aid per athlete.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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.
