by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 12 programs for Men’s Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Pick a path below.
Explore the leading programs below:
Grinnell College tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States. Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit school based in Grinnell, IA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,067, against $2,067 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
St Olaf College is one of the top schools for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States, at #2. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit school based in Northfield, MN. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,896, compared with $1,896 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Martin Luther College came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States. Martin Luther College is a private not-for-profit school based in New Ulm, MN. Team revenue averages $1,419 per participant, with expenses of about $1,419 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Cornell College landed the #4 spot for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States. Cornell College is a private not-for-profit school based in Mount Vernon, IA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,336, compared with $1,138 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Northwestern-St Paul is one of the top schools for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States, at #5. University of Northwestern-St Paul is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,592, with expenses of about $1,592 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loras College landed the #6 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dubuque, IA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,504, compared with $1,504 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Webster University landed the #7 spot this year. Webster University is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,848, compared with $2,071 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Bethany Lutheran College did well this year, earning the #8 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Mankato, MN. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,880, with expenses of about $2,757 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wartburg College landed the #9 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waverly, IA. The program generates about $1,036 in revenue per athlete, compared with $1,036 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Augsburg University ranked #10 on our 2026 list for Men's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States. Located in Minneapolis, MN, Augsburg University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,876, with expenses of about $1,876 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Coe College did well this year, earning the #11 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cedar Rapids, IA. The program generates about $1,849 in revenue per athlete, compared with $1,849 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Dubuque landed the #12 spot this year. Based in Dubuque, IA, University of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $1,523 in revenue per athlete, compared with $1,271 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 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.