by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 70 schools for Men’s Wrestling (Division I) 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 Northwestern University to be the best college for Men's Wrestling (Division I) in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Evanston, IL. Northwestern University records an NCAA APR of 996, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $62,714 per participant, against $87,148 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $53,919 per athlete.
Ohio State University-Main Campus landed the #2 spot for Men's Wrestling (Division I). Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $93,674 in revenue per athlete, compared with $93,674 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,151.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Men's Wrestling (Division I). Located in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University Campus Immersion is a public institution. Arizona State University Campus Immersion records an NCAA APR of 985, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 92% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $80,750 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $80,750 per participant. The school awards about $27,490 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus ranked #4 among the best colleges for Men's Wrestling (Division I). Located in Pittsburgh, PA, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 986, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 60%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $57,689, against $57,689 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $30,613 per athlete.
Hofstra University ranked #5 among the best colleges for Men's Wrestling (Division I). Located in Hempstead, NY, Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 85%. Team revenue averages $45,120 per participant, against $45,120 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,514.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities placed #6 among the best colleges for Men's Wrestling (Division I). Based in Minneapolis, MN, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 65%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $25,264, compared with $77,265 spent per athlete. The school awards about $27,174 in athletic aid per athlete.
Stanford University landed the #7 spot this year. Based in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 965, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 89%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $71,448, compared with $71,448 spent per athlete. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Madison ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Men's Wrestling (Division I). University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public school based in Madison, WI. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 68%. The program generates about $12,625 in revenue per athlete, against $70,623 in expenses. The school awards about $21,586 in athletic aid per athlete.
Duke University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Men's Wrestling (Division I). Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Team revenue averages $4,836 per participant, against $39,023 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,321.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Champaign, IL, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 93%. The program generates about $7,527 in revenue per athlete, compared with $57,817 spent per athlete. The school awards about $25,398 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus did well this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Charlottesville, VA, University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 979, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 90%. The program generates about $46,775 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $46,775 per participant. Athletic aid averages $26,976 per athlete.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh did well this year, earning the #12 position. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 76%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $31,967, against $59,048 in expenses. The school awards about $18,384 in athletic aid per athlete.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Men's Wrestling (Division I). This public school is set in University Park, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. The program generates about $149,111 in revenue per athlete, compared with $174,681 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $25,170 per athlete.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick landed the #14 spot this year. This public school is set in New Brunswick, NJ. The team's NCAA APR score is 987, and a 85% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. The program generates about $80,818 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $80,818 per participant. The school awards about $26,379 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Missouri-Columbia came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Columbia, MO, University of Missouri-Columbia is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, alongside a GSR of 85%. Its federal graduation rate is 73%. Team revenue averages $66,241 per participant, against $66,241 in expenses. The school awards about $16,637 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Iowa did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Iowa City, IA, University of Iowa is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 975, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 84%. Team revenue averages $71,763 per participant, with expenses of about $103,472 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,176 per athlete.
Lehigh University did well this year, earning the #17 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bethlehem, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. The program generates about $52,975 in revenue per athlete, compared with $52,975 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,391 per athlete.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Men's Wrestling (Division I). University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public school based in Ann Arbor, MI. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 983, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. About 77% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $15,216 per participant, with expenses of about $85,151 per participant. Athletic aid averages $28,650 per athlete.
Drexel University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $36,349 per participant, compared with $36,349 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,843.
Bucknell University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lewisburg, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 996, and a 82% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 64%. The program generates about $36,226 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $36,226 per participant. The school awards about $19,655 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Maryland-College Park landed the #21 spot this year. This public school is set in College Park, MD. University of Maryland-College Park records an NCAA APR of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 71%. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. The program generates about $10,441 in revenue per athlete, compared with $62,884 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $30,606.
American University placed #22 among the best colleges for Men's Wrestling (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Washington, DC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, and a 78% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 55%. Team revenue averages $50,684 per participant, with expenses of about $50,684 per participant. The school awards about $18,519 in athletic aid per athlete.
Michigan State University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 968, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $44,114, against $44,114 in expenses. The school awards about $22,500 in athletic aid per athlete.
Columbia University in the City of New York did well this year, earning the #24 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 97%. The program generates about $24,785 in revenue per athlete, against $24,785 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Stillwater, OK, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Oklahoma State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 985, alongside a GSR of 87%. The federal graduation rate stands at 55%. The program generates about $88,173 in revenue per athlete, against $144,566 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,335.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
