by our College Data Analytics Team
When pursuing a degree in today's world, student athletes have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Colleges for Division II Men's Football ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 160 schools in the United States, we came up with our list of those that offered the best educational experiences for D2 Men's Football athletes. To come up with this ranking, we look at a number of factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include the school's overall quality as determined by our Best Colleges ranking and the athletic competitiveness of the school. Thus, in order to rank well, the school must offer a quality education in addition to having a great sports team.
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as online students or returnings adults.
See which schools came out on top of our ranking:
California University of Pennsylvania tops this year’s ranking as the best school for D2 Men’s Football athletes. The D2 Men’s Football team at Cal U brought home $1,374,361 in revenue in a single year. Full California University of Pennsylvania Sports Report
You’ll join some of the best athletes around if you attend Northwest Missouri State University. The school came in at #2 in this year’s ranking. Northwest Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school located in Maryville, Missouri that handed out 1,208 bachelor’s degrees in . On the financial side of things, the D2 Men’s Football team at Northwest made $3,015,563 in revenue. Full Northwest Missouri State University Sports Report
A rank of #3 on our list means Grand Valley State University is a great place for D2 Men’s Football athletes working on their bachelor’s degree. GVSU is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 5,413 bachelor’s degrees in . The team at GVSU took home $3,494,492 in revenue and paid out $2,890,927 in expenses in recent times. So, the team made money for the school, bringing in $603,565 in profit. Read full sports report on Grand Valley State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pittsburg State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Colleges for D2 Men’s Football athletes list. Pitt State is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In , this school awarded 1,024 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates. The D2 Men’s Football team at Pitt State brought home $2,363,517 in revenue in a single year. Read full sports report on Pittsburg State University
The excellent sports programs at Ashland University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for D2 Men’s Football athletes. Located in Ashland, Ohio, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 697 bachelor’s degrees in . On the financial side of things, the D2 Men’s Football team at Ashland made $2,295,157 in revenue. Read full sports report on Ashland University
Mercyhurst University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. Mercyhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Erie, Pennsylvania that handed out 549 bachelor’s degrees in . The D2 Men’s Football team at Mercyhurst brought home $2,660,071 in revenue in a single year. Read More…
LIU Post landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. LIU Post is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Brookville, New York. It awarded 1,461 bachelor’s degrees in . On the financial side of things, the D2 Men’s Football team at LIU Post made $4,661,693 in revenue. Full LIU Post Sports Report
Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking, coming in at #8. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 4,132 students in . Speaking financially, the D2 Men’s Football team at Wayne State took home $2,259,090 in revenue. Read full sports report on Wayne State University
Tuskegee University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking, coming in at #9. Tuskegee, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 413 students in . On the financial side of things, the D2 Men’s Football team at Tuskegee made $2,429,762 in revenue. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Full Tuskegee University Sports Report
University of Central Missouri ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football list. Located in Warrensburg, Missouri, the fairly large public school handed out 1,593 bachelor’s degrees in . On the financial side of things, the D2 Men’s Football team at UCM made $1,983,238 in revenue. Full University of Central Missouri Sports Report
Ohio Dominican University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking, coming in at #11. ODU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 211 bachelor’s degrees in . Speaking financially, the D2 Men’s Football team at ODU took home $1,182,828 in revenue. Read More…
Valdosta State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football list. Located in Valdosta, Georgia, the fairly large public school handed out 1,503 bachelor’s degrees in . The D2 Men’s Football team at VSU brought home $1,438,829 in revenue in a single year. Full Valdosta State University Sports Report
University of North Alabama landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. University of North Alabama is a medium-sized public school located in Florence, Alabama that handed out 1,169 bachelor’s degrees in . Speaking financially, the D2 Men’s Football team at UNA took home $2,801,782 in revenue. The academic progress rate of the team is 946. Read full sports report on University of North Alabama
With a ranking of #14, Northern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In , this school awarded 1,235 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates. Speaking financially, the D2 Men’s Football team at Northern Michigan University took home $2,116,332 in revenue. Full Northern Michigan University Sports Report
Lenoir - Rhyne University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. Lenoir - Rhyne University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Hickory, North Carolina that handed out 323 bachelor’s degrees in . The D2 Men’s Football team at Lenoir - Rhyne University brought home $2,426,570 in revenue in a single year. Read More…
Lake Erie College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. Located in Painesville, Ohio, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 150 bachelor’s degrees in . The D2 Men’s Football team at LEC brought home $1,444,223 in revenue in a single year. Full Lake Erie College Sports Report
McKendree University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Lebanon, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 440 bachelor’s degrees in . Speaking financially, the D2 Men’s Football team at McKendree took home $1,929,470 in revenue. Full McKendree University Sports Report
Saint Augustine’s University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. SAU is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In , this school awarded 67 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates. Speaking financially, the D2 Men’s Football team at SAU took home $292,686 in revenue. Full Saint Augustine’s University Sports Report
With a ranking of #19, Quincy University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Quincy, Illinois, and it awarded 226 bachelor’s degrees in . Quincy U brought in $2,207,668 while tallying up $1,783,808 in expenses for its D2 Men’s Football team. Thus, the team actually made $423,860, which isn’t bad at all. Read More…
University of Sioux Falls landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. University of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 434 bachelor’s degrees in . The team at University of Sioux Falls took home $1,719,573 in revenue and paid out $1,694,621 in expenses in recent times. That boils down to a yearly profit of $24,952 for the sports team. Full University of Sioux Falls Sports Report
Benedict College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 258 bachelor’s degrees in . The D2 Men’s Football team at Benedict College made $1,757,984 in revenue, while incurring $1,503,238 in expenses. Happily, this means that the team turned a profit of $254,746. Read full sports report on Benedict College
Michigan Technological University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football list. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 1,198 bachelor’s degrees in . The D2 Men’s Football team at Michigan Tech brought home $2,102,739 in revenue in a single year. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Michigan Tech also is in the top 15% of our overall quality ranking. Full Michigan Technological University Sports Report
Delta State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. Delta State University is located in Cleveland, Mississippi and, has a small student population. In , this school awarded 474 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates. Speaking financially, the D2 Men’s Football team at Delta State University took home $1,483,884 in revenue. Full Delta State University Sports Report
Tiffin University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking, coming in at #24. Tiffin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Tiffin, Ohio that handed out 377 bachelor’s degrees in . Speaking financially, the D2 Men’s Football team at Tiffin University took home $2,380,772 in revenue. Full Tiffin University Sports Report
Ouachita Baptist University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking. Located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 382 bachelor’s degrees in . The team at Ouachita Baptist took home $2,478,004 in revenue and paid out $2,407,254 in expenses in recent times. So, the team made money for the school, bringing in $70,750 in profit. Full Ouachita Baptist University Sports Report
These schools also performed well in our Best Colleges for Division II Men’s Football ranking:
| Rank | College | Links |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK |
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| 27 | Miles College Fairfield, AL |
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| 28 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO |
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| 29 | American International College Springfield, MA |
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| 30 | University of West Alabama Livingston, AL |
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| 31 | Gannon University Erie, PA |
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| 31 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI |
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Footnotes
*Avg Tuition and Fees and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 25 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.