by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 26 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 scores each program on 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:
Our analysis found Ouachita Baptist University to be the best college for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II) in the Southeast Region. Based in Arkadelphia, AR, Ouachita Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,481, with expenses of about $5,763 per participant. The school awards about $6,935 in athletic aid per athlete.
North Greenville University landed the #2 spot for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Tigerville, SC, North Greenville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $10,798, against $10,773 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,158.
Carson-Newman University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Based in Jefferson City, TN, Carson-Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $14,953 per participant, with expenses of about $14,486 per participant. The school awards about $10,904 in athletic aid per athlete.
Emory & Henry University is one of the top schools for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II), at #4. Located in Emory, VA, Emory & Henry University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $9,090, with expenses of about $9,090 per participant. The school awards about $5,871 in athletic aid per athlete.
Palm Beach Atlantic University earned the #5 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in West Palm Beach, FL. Team revenue averages $2,246 per participant, compared with $2,246 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,383.
Barton College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wilson, NC. The program generates about $6,222 in revenue per athlete, compared with $6,222 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $6,654 per athlete.
Trevecca Nazarene University placed #7 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,869, with expenses of about $3,869 per participant. The school awards about $5,766 in athletic aid per athlete.
Converse University ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Converse University is a private not-for-profit school based in Spartanburg, SC. The program generates about $4,276 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $4,198 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $7,241.
Erskine College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Erskine College is a private not-for-profit school based in Due West, SC. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,003, compared with $3,202 spent per athlete. The school awards about $3,924 in athletic aid per athlete.
Coker University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Hartsville, SC, Coker University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,535 per participant, compared with $4,500 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,938.
Tuskegee University did well this year, earning the #11 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Tuskegee, AL. Team revenue averages $738 per participant, with expenses of about $738 per participant. The school awards about $3,470 in athletic aid per athlete.
Claflin University landed the #12 spot this year. Claflin University is a private not-for-profit school based in Orangeburg, SC. Team revenue averages $2,096 per participant, against $2,096 in expenses. The school awards about $4,337 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of South Carolina Beaufort ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public school based in Bluffton, SC. Team revenue averages $3,868 per participant, with expenses of about $4,241 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,478.
Barry University placed #14 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Barry University is a private not-for-profit school based in Miami, FL. The program generates about $951 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $951 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,733.
Belmont Abbey College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Belmont, NC, Belmont Abbey College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,032 per participant, with expenses of about $4,032 per participant. The school awards about $2,908 in athletic aid per athlete.
Thomas More University ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Thomas More University is a private not-for-profit school based in Crestview Hills, KY. Team revenue averages $3,041 per participant, against $2,921 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $4,453 per athlete.
Columbus State University landed the #17 spot this year. Columbus State University is a public school based in Columbus, GA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,577, with expenses of about $1,577 per participant. The school awards about $4,670 in athletic aid per athlete.
Johnson C Smith University did well this year, earning the #18 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Charlotte, NC. The program generates about $4,480 in revenue per athlete, compared with $4,480 spent per athlete. The school awards about $6,550 in athletic aid per athlete.
Fort Valley State University placed #19 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Fort Valley, GA, Fort Valley State University is a public institution. The program generates about $2,694 in revenue per athlete, against $2,694 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $2,378 per athlete.
Tusculum University placed #20 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Tusculum University is a private not-for-profit school based in Greeneville, TN. The program generates about $3,680 in revenue per athlete, against $3,794 in expenses. The school awards about $6,457 in athletic aid per athlete.
Virginia Union University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Virginia Union University is a private not-for-profit school based in Richmond, VA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $904, against $904 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $5,465 per athlete.
Clayton State University placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Clayton State University is a public school based in Morrow, GA. Team revenue averages $2,646 per participant, compared with $1,835 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $3,906 per athlete.
Bluefield State University landed the #23 spot this year. This public school is set in Bluefield, WV. The program generates about $1,192 in revenue per athlete, against $1,192 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $5,976 per athlete.
Benedict College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Benedict College is a private not-for-profit school based in Columbia, SC. The program generates about $5,962 in revenue per athlete, against $3,466 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,098.
Lane College ranked #25 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Lane College is a private not-for-profit school based in Jackson, TN. Team revenue averages $4,253 per participant, against $4,253 in expenses. The school awards about $3,306 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.
This ranking is produced 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.