by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 6 programs for Men’s Outdoor Track and Field by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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:
Grinnell College tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field. Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit school based in Grinnell, IA. Team revenue averages $2,067 per participant, against $2,067 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Cornell College earned the #2 place for student athletes. Located in Mount Vernon, IA, Cornell College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $1,336 in revenue per athlete, against $1,138 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Loras College ranked #3 among the best colleges for Men's Outdoor Track and Field. Located in Dubuque, IA, Loras College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $1,504 per participant, compared with $1,504 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Coe College earned the #4 place for student athletes. Based in Cedar Rapids, IA, Coe College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $1,849 in revenue per athlete, against $1,849 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Wartburg College landed the #5 spot for Men's Outdoor Track and Field. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waverly, IA. Team revenue averages $1,036 per participant, compared with $1,036 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Dubuque landed the #6 spot this year. University of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit school based in Dubuque, IA. Team revenue averages $1,523 per participant, compared with $1,271 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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.