by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. This list ranks 204 schools for Men’s Soccer (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual weighs 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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Explore the leading programs below:
No school ranked higher than Stanford University this year for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 95%. Team revenue averages $93,424 per participant, compared with $93,424 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $42,012 per athlete.
University of Notre Dame ranked #2 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Located in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Notre Dame records an NCAA APR of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 94%. The program generates about $88,707 in revenue per athlete, compared with $88,707 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $34,391 per athlete.
Duke University earned the #3 place for student athletes. Duke University is a private not-for-profit school based in Durham, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 988, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $69,942, compared with $80,673 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,321.
Northwestern University is one of the top schools for Men's Soccer (Division I), at #4. Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University records an NCAA APR of 999, alongside a GSR of 95%. About 95% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $25,417 per participant, with expenses of about $56,925 per participant. The school awards about $53,919 in athletic aid per athlete.
Fordham University is one of the top schools for Men's Soccer (Division I), at #5. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bronx, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 62%. The program generates about $48,207 in revenue per athlete, against $48,207 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $32,443.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public school based in Pittsburgh, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 28%. Team revenue averages $79,338 per participant, compared with $79,338 spent per athlete. The school awards about $30,613 in athletic aid per athlete.
Villanova University placed #7 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Located in Villanova, PA, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $50,242, with expenses of about $50,242 per participant. The school awards about $25,480 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ohio State University-Main Campus placed #8 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. About 65% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $81,452 in revenue per athlete, against $81,452 in expenses. The school awards about $27,151 in athletic aid per athlete.
Clemson University placed #9 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 53%. The program generates about $105,408 in revenue per athlete, compared with $105,408 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,730.
Michigan State University landed the #10 spot this year. Based in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, alongside a GSR of 93%. Its federal graduation rate is 92%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $64,164, compared with $64,164 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $22,500 per athlete.
Wake Forest University landed the #11 spot this year. Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, alongside a GSR of 87%. The federal graduation rate stands at 53%. Team revenue averages $97,661 per participant, compared with $97,661 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $38,933 per athlete.
Georgetown University ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). Located in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 94%. Team revenue averages $71,368 per participant, against $71,368 in expenses. The school awards about $14,232 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Tulsa landed the #13 spot this year. University of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit school based in Tulsa, OK. University of Tulsa records an NCAA APR of 997, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 54%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $56,560, compared with $56,560 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,797.
University of California-Los Angeles ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Los Angeles, CA, University of California-Los Angeles is a public institution. University of California-Los Angeles records an NCAA APR of 993, alongside a GSR of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 56%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $80,603, compared with $80,603 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $24,306 per athlete.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public institution. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 92% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $5,544 per participant, with expenses of about $73,829 per participant. The school awards about $28,650 in athletic aid per athlete.
Indiana University-Bloomington placed #16 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Indiana University-Bloomington is a public school based in Bloomington, IN. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, alongside a GSR of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 59%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $73,287, with expenses of about $73,287 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,161.
Loyola University Chicago placed #17 among the best colleges for Men's Soccer (Division I). Based in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Chicago records an NCAA APR of 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 56%. The program generates about $45,004 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $45,004 per participant. The school awards about $23,325 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Denver landed the #18 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Denver, CO. University of Denver records an NCAA APR of 981, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 68%. Team revenue averages $66,306 per participant, with expenses of about $66,306 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $42,890.
Lafayette College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Easton, PA, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. Team revenue averages $47,569 per participant, against $47,569 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,987.
Santa Clara University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Santa Clara University records an NCAA APR of 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Team revenue averages $61,084 per participant, with expenses of about $61,084 per participant. The school awards about $19,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). This public school is set in New Brunswick, NJ. The team's NCAA APR score is 986, alongside a GSR of 94%. About 65% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $79,966 per participant, with expenses of about $79,966 per participant. Athletic aid averages $26,379 per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Charlottesville, VA, University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $56,639, compared with $56,639 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $26,976 per athlete.
Bucknell University ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Lewisburg, PA. Bucknell University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $39,126 per participant, with expenses of about $39,126 per participant. Athletic aid averages $19,655 per athlete.
Boston University ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Men's Soccer (Division I). Located in Boston, MA, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. About 85% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $54,888, compared with $54,888 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,954.
James Madison University did well this year, earning the #25 position. James Madison University is a public school based in Harrisonburg, VA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. Team revenue averages $55,076 per participant, against $55,076 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,945.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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
See our data sources and methodologies.