by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 5 schools for Men’s Outdoor Track and Field 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.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Jump to the options below.
Explore the leading programs below:
Trevecca Nazarene University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Men's Outdoor Track and Field. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. The program generates about $3,869 in revenue per athlete, against $3,869 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $5,766 per athlete.
Carson-Newman University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Men's Outdoor Track and Field. Based in Jefferson City, TN, Carson-Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $14,953 in revenue per athlete, compared with $14,486 spent per athlete. The school awards about $10,904 in athletic aid per athlete.
East Tennessee State University ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field. Based 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.
Tusculum University is one of the top schools for Men's Outdoor Track and Field, at #4. Located in Greeneville, TN, Tusculum University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $3,680 per participant, compared with $3,794 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,457.
Lane College is one of the top schools for Men's Outdoor Track and Field, at #5. Located in Jackson, TN, Lane College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,253 per participant, compared with $4,253 spent per athlete. The school awards about $3,306 in athletic aid per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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.