2026 Best Colleges for Men’s Volleyball (Division I)
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 27 schools for Men’s Volleyball (Division I) 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Not quite what you need? Pick a path below.
Get your FREE recruiting profile, assessment & game plan!
Top 25 Colleges for Men’s Volleyball (Division I)
Explore the leading programs below:
No school ranked higher than University of Southern California this year for Men's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Los Angeles, CA, University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 996, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 92% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $77,690 per participant, with expenses of about $77,690 per participant. The school awards about $40,006 in athletic aid per athlete.
Stanford University is one of the top schools for Men's Volleyball (Division I), at #2. Located in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $76,378 per participant, with expenses of about $76,378 per participant. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ohio State University-Main Campus earned the #3 place for student athletes. Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. About 90% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $78,843 per participant, with expenses of about $78,843 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,151.
University of California-Los Angeles earned the #4 place for student athletes. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University of California-Los Angeles is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 987, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 82%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $111,571, against $111,571 in expenses. The school awards about $24,306 in athletic aid per athlete.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Men's Volleyball (Division I). Located in University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $11,923, compared with $61,430 spent per athlete. The school awards about $25,170 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Santa Barbara did well this year, earning the #6 position. University of California-Santa Barbara is a public school based in Santa Barbara, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 90%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $46,963, against $46,963 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,355 per athlete.
Loyola University Chicago placed #7 among the best colleges for Men's Volleyball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 983, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 79%. Team revenue averages $38,010 per participant, with expenses of about $38,010 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,325.
University of California-San Diego did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in La Jolla, CA, University of California-San Diego is a public institution. University of California-San Diego records an NCAA APR of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $34,721, with expenses of about $34,721 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,847.
Princeton University placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Volleyball (Division I). Princeton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Princeton, NJ. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The program generates about $34,510 in revenue per athlete, against $34,510 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Pepperdine University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Malibu, CA, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 976, and a 75% Graduation Success Rate. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $58,465, with expenses of about $58,465 per participant. The school awards about $27,861 in athletic aid per athlete.
New Jersey Institute of Technology placed #11 among the best colleges for Men's Volleyball (Division I). Based in Newark, NJ, New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, alongside a GSR of 83%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Team revenue averages $44,196 per participant, compared with $41,784 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $15,477 per athlete.
University of Hawaii at Manoa landed the #12 spot this year. This public school is set in Honolulu, HI. University of Hawaii at Manoa records an NCAA APR of 961, alongside a GSR of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $95,751, compared with $78,276 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $18,398 per athlete.
Brigham Young University landed the #13 spot this year. Located in Provo, UT, Brigham Young University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 987, alongside a GSR of 70%. Its federal graduation rate is 46%. The program generates about $99,815 in revenue per athlete, against $121,372 in expenses. The school awards about $13,191 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Long Beach came in at #14 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Long Beach, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 985, alongside a GSR of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 69%. Team revenue averages $82,026 per participant, against $82,026 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $8,770 per athlete.
Ball State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Men's Volleyball (Division I). This public school is set in Muncie, IN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 981, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $34,064 in revenue per athlete, compared with $34,064 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,206 in athletic aid per athlete.
Merrimack College ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Men's Volleyball (Division I). Located in North Andover, MA, Merrimack College is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 948. The program generates about $23,351 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $23,351 per participant. The school awards about $20,394 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Irvine ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Men's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Irvine, CA, University of California-Irvine is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 971, and a 83% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 60%. Team revenue averages $50,710 per participant, with expenses of about $50,710 per participant. Athletic aid averages $13,955 per athlete.
Harvard University landed the #18 spot this year. Based in Cambridge, MA, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, alongside a GSR of 100%. Team revenue averages $28,911 per participant, compared with $28,911 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Saint Francis University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Saint Francis University is a private not-for-profit school based in Loretto, PA. The Graduation Success Rate here is 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. The program generates about $23,804 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $23,804 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,253.
Grand Canyon University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Phoenix, AZ. Grand Canyon University posts a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 93%. Team revenue averages $31,170 per participant, with expenses of about $31,170 per participant. The school awards about $9,958 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Northridge did well this year, earning the #21 position. California State University-Northridge is a public school based in Northridge, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. The program generates about $39,825 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $35,433 per participant. The school awards about $11,174 in athletic aid per athlete.
Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #22 spot this year. Located in Fort Wayne, IN, Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public institution. Purdue University Fort Wayne records an NCAA APR of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. Team revenue averages $28,179 per participant, against $26,425 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $7,345.
George Mason University landed the #23 spot this year. Located in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 987, and a 80% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 64%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $22,483, compared with $22,483 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,956.
Sacred Heart University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Fairfield, CT, Sacred Heart University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. The program generates about $21,178 in revenue per athlete, compared with $21,178 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $11,128 per athlete.
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Teaneck, NJ, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 990. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $21,791, compared with $21,791 spent per athlete. The school awards about $12,185 in athletic aid per athlete.
Rest of the Top 20% Colleges for Men’s Volleyball (Division I)
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
Explore Other Sports
More Rankings >
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
