by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 355 schools for Men’s Basketball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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.
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Learn more about these schools below:
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 college for Men's Basketball (Division I). Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Evanston, IL. The team's NCAA APR score is 991, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,030,850, with expenses of about $1,052,062 per participant. Athletic aid averages $53,919 per athlete.
Stanford University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $672,836, against $672,836 in expenses. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is one of the top schools for Men's Basketball (Division I), at #3. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public school based in Knoxville, TN. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. The program generates about $2,354,461 in revenue per athlete, against $1,349,461 in expenses. The school awards about $29,054 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Miami landed the #4 spot for Men's Basketball (Division I). University of Miami is a private not-for-profit school based in Coral Gables, FL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,276,083, with expenses of about $1,026,182 per participant. The school awards about $38,474 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Connecticut ranked #5 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Located in Storrs, CT, University of Connecticut is a public institution. University of Connecticut records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,551,948, with expenses of about $1,551,948 per participant. Athletic aid averages $20,776 per athlete.
University of Notre Dame did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 982, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $779,135, compared with $779,135 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $34,391 per athlete.
Fordham University landed the #7 spot this year. Based in Bronx, NY, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $515,062 in revenue per athlete, against $515,062 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $32,443.
Villanova University landed the #8 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Villanova, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $1,103,619 per participant, with expenses of about $1,060,674 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,480.
University of Southern California placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). Based in Los Angeles, CA, University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. About 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $769,105, with expenses of about $769,105 per participant. The school awards about $40,006 in athletic aid per athlete.
Indiana University-Bloomington did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University-Bloomington is a public institution. Indiana University-Bloomington records an NCAA APR of 994, alongside a GSR of 91%. About 44% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $2,751,388 per participant, with expenses of about $1,674,654 per participant. The school awards about $23,161 in athletic aid per athlete.
Clemson University did well this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in Clemson, SC. 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 50%. The program generates about $740,749 in revenue per athlete, compared with $740,749 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,730 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities came in at #12 in this year's ranking. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a public school based in Minneapolis, MN. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 38%. The program generates about $999,871 in revenue per athlete, compared with $976,491 spent per athlete. The school awards about $27,174 in athletic aid per athlete.
Temple University landed the #13 spot this year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 92%. The program generates about $423,156 in revenue per athlete, against $423,156 in expenses. The school awards about $28,567 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus came in at #14 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. University of Virginia-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 83%. The federal graduation rate stands at 55%. The program generates about $939,050 in revenue per athlete, compared with $876,127 spent per athlete. The school awards about $26,976 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of San Francisco placed #15 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school based in San Francisco, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 63%. Team revenue averages $428,846 per participant, against $428,846 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $31,788 per athlete.
Boston College ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). Boston College is a private not-for-profit school based in Chestnut Hill, MA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. About 29% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $664,754 in revenue per athlete, compared with $720,369 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $29,391 per athlete.
Furman University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Greenville, SC, Furman University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $270,199 in revenue per athlete, against $270,199 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $28,699 per athlete.
San Diego State University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in San Diego, CA, San Diego State University is a public institution. San Diego State University records an NCAA APR of 994, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. About 70% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $898,229, against $535,923 in expenses. The school awards about $21,450 in athletic aid per athlete.
Boston University ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Boston, MA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 85%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $214,024, compared with $214,024 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,954.
Hofstra University ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Men's Basketball (Division I). Located in Hempstead, NY, Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 88%. The program generates about $309,642 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $309,642 per participant. Athletic aid averages $22,514 per athlete.
University of Louisville did well this year, earning the #21 position. University of Louisville is a public school based in Louisville, KY. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 40%. Team revenue averages $1,340,728 per participant, with expenses of about $873,769 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,083 per athlete.
Drexel University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Drexel University is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $221,405, against $221,405 in expenses. The school awards about $25,843 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Florida landed the #23 spot this year. Based in Gainesville, FL, University of Florida is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 46%. The program generates about $958,778 in revenue per athlete, against $745,985 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $23,180 per athlete.
University of Richmond came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in University of Richmond, VA, University of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $440,461 in revenue per athlete, compared with $440,461 spent per athlete. The school awards about $27,609 in athletic aid per athlete.
Belmont University placed #25 among the best colleges for Men's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Belmont University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $267,528 in revenue per athlete, compared with $267,528 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,742 per athlete.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
To learn more about the colleges below, click on their names:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Colgate University | Hamilton, NY |
| 52 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
| 53 | University of Nevada-Reno | Reno, NV |
| 54 | University of Mississippi | University, MS |
These schools also stood out this year:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Rice University | Houston, TX |
| 56 | Seton Hall University | South Orange, NJ |
| 57 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA |
| 58 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL |
| 59 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VA |
| 60 | Washington State University | Pullman, WA |
| 61 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL |
| 62 | Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI |
| 63 | Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, IL |
| 64 | Creighton University | Omaha, NE |
| 65 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Fort Collins, CO |
| 66 | Seattle University | Seattle, WA |
| 67 | Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA |
| 68 | St. John’s University-New York | Queens, NY |
| 69 | Lafayette College | Easton, PA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL |
| 71 | George Washington University | Washington, DC |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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.