Log In
Questions? Call 866-495-5172
Already a member? 877-845-6272

Best College Athletic Programs

Home > Best Colleges > Best College Athletic Programs

Top College Athletic Programs

Each year, NCSA Power Rankings recognize the best college athletic programs, broken down by sport and division level. NCSA analyzed over 1,000 college athletic programs across five division levels (D1-FBS, D1-FCS, D2, D3 and NAIA) to develop a list of the Top 100 College Athletic Programs for Student-Athletes.

NCSA understands that the college experience includes more than just athletics for student-athletes. For this reason, NCSA uses a variety of data sources to compile our rankings.

NCSA Power Rankings are based on proprietary analysis of NCSA Favorites data obtained from the college search activity of the over 2 million student-athletes on the NCSA recruiting network,  U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges general academic rankings, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard graduation rates and average cost after aid.

For more information on the NCSA Power Rankings, visit our press kit or email us.

Filter rankings:

1

Stanford University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$51,354

Avg. Cost After Aid

$12,265

NCSA Favorites

33973

General Rank

4

Grad Rank

15


Favorite

2

Princeton University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$50,340

Avg. Cost After Aid

$9,749

NCSA Favorites

17258

General Rank

1

Grad Rank

3


Favorite

3

University of Florida
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$28,659

Avg. Cost After Aid

$8,057

NCSA Favorites

40094

General Rank

30

Grad Rank

57


Favorite

4

Harvard University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$50,420

Avg. Cost After Aid

$15,561

NCSA Favorites

18313

General Rank

1

Grad Rank

1


Favorite

5

University of California – Los Angeles – UCLA
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$42,218

Avg. Cost After Aid

$14,171

NCSA Favorites

37220

General Rank

19

Grad Rank

45


Favorite

6

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$35,170

Avg. Cost After Aid

$13,918

NCSA Favorites

29618

General Rank

28

Grad Rank

51


Favorite

7

University of California
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$43,176

Avg. Cost After Aid

$14,846

NCSA Favorites

25314

General Rank

22

Grad Rank

41


Favorite

8

University of Michigan
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$49,350

Avg. Cost After Aid

$16,010

NCSA Favorites

30438

General Rank

24

Grad Rank

37


Favorite

9

Yale University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$53,430

Avg. Cost After Aid

$18,770

NCSA Favorites

14452

General Rank

4

Grad Rank

2


Favorite

10

University of Georgia
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$30,404

Avg. Cost After Aid

$13,971

NCSA Favorites

30908

General Rank

55

Grad Rank

85


Favorite

11

Georgia Tech
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$33,020

Avg. Cost After Aid

$14,927

NCSA Favorites

20650

General Rank

34

Grad Rank

77


Favorite

12

Florida State University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$18,786

Avg. Cost After Aid

$10,744

NCSA Favorites

39632

General Rank

76

Grad Rank

135


Favorite

13

University of Virginia
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$49,032

Avg. Cost After Aid

$20,281

NCSA Favorites

21674

General Rank

24

Grad Rank

13


Favorite

14

Vanderbilt University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$49,816

Avg. Cost After Aid

$20,253

NCSA Favorites

19684

General Rank

13

Grad Rank

31


Favorite

15

University of Washington
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$36,588

Avg. Cost After Aid

$12,001

NCSA Favorites

17731

General Rank

76

Grad Rank

99


Favorite

16

Duke University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$55,695

Avg. Cost After Aid

$23,442

NCSA Favorites

39800

General Rank

12

Grad Rank

8


Favorite

17

University of California – San Diego
NCAA Division 2

Tuition

$43,159

Avg. Cost After Aid

$13,318

NCSA Favorites

11413

General Rank

34

Grad Rank

87


Favorite

18

University of Texas – Austin
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$37,580

Avg. Cost After Aid

$16,505

NCSA Favorites

29889

General Rank

42

Grad Rank

116


Favorite

19

University of Wisconsin
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$36,805

Avg. Cost After Aid

$18,219

NCSA Favorites

18716

General Rank

42

Grad Rank

71


Favorite

20

University of California – Davis
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$43,394

Avg. Cost After Aid

$14,729

NCSA Favorites

11471

General Rank

39

Grad Rank

80


Favorite

21

Columbia University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$59,430

Avg. Cost After Aid

$22,637

NCSA Favorites

14045

General Rank

1

Grad Rank

7


Favorite

22

Ohio State University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$30,742

Avg. Cost After Aid

$17,704

NCSA Favorites

41770

General Rank

65

Grad Rank

113


Favorite

23

William & Mary
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$45,272

Avg. Cost After Aid

$16,383

NCSA Favorites

8509

General Rank

39

Grad Rank

38


Favorite

24

Purdue University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$28,794

Avg. Cost After Aid

$12,527

NCSA Favorites

16935

General Rank

65

Grad Rank

165


Favorite

25

University of California – Irvine
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$42,692

Avg. Cost After Aid

$14,604

NCSA Favorites

9219

General Rank

34

Grad Rank

101


Favorite

26

Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$51,832

Avg. Cost After Aid

$18,278

NCSA Favorites

6342

General Rank

4

Grad Rank

19


Favorite

27

University of Illinois
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$31,664

Avg. Cost After Aid

$17,302

NCSA Favorites

13555

General Rank

55

Grad Rank

93


Favorite

28

University of Maryland
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$35,216

Avg. Cost After Aid

$18,457

NCSA Favorites

17390

General Rank

76

Grad Rank

81


Favorite

29

Northwestern University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$54,568

Avg. Cost After Aid

$24,840

NCSA Favorites

15096

General Rank

8

Grad Rank

18


Favorite

30

Rice University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$47,350

Avg. Cost After Aid

$20,879

NCSA Favorites

9941

General Rank

16

Grad Rank

27


Favorite

31

University of Pennsylvania – Penn
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$55,584

Avg. Cost After Aid

$25,033

NCSA Favorites

13080

General Rank

8

Grad Rank

5


Favorite

32

Clemson University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$37,128

Avg. Cost After Aid

$18,252

NCSA Favorites

40723

General Rank

104

Grad Rank

121


Favorite

33

University of Notre Dame
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$53,391

Avg. Cost After Aid

$32,096

NCSA Favorites

25499

General Rank

19

Grad Rank

4


Favorite

34

University of California – Santa Barbara
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$43,383

Avg. Cost After Aid

$16,236

NCSA Favorites

11220

General Rank

30

Grad Rank

134


Favorite

35

Texas A&M University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$37,495

Avg. Cost After Aid

$18,944

NCSA Favorites

34494

General Rank

89

Grad Rank

128


Favorite

36

Brigham Young University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$5,620

Avg. Cost After Aid

$13,181

NCSA Favorites

8660

General Rank

116

Grad Rank

95


Favorite

37

University of Southern California
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$56,225

Avg. Cost After Aid

$30,453

NCSA Favorites

24390

General Rank

24

Grad Rank

33


Favorite

38

Indiana University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$35,456

Avg. Cost After Aid

$13,428

NCSA Favorites

17230

General Rank

109

Grad Rank

184


Favorite

39

North Carolina State University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$28,444

Avg. Cost After Aid

$16,404

NCSA Favorites

24446

General Rank

116

Grad Rank

161


Favorite

40

Cornell University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$55,188

Avg. Cost After Aid

$30,494

NCSA Favorites

16427

General Rank

16

Grad Rank

20


Favorite

41

Georgetown University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$54,104

Avg. Cost After Aid

$30,169

NCSA Favorites

14455

General Rank

22

Grad Rank

14


Favorite

42

Brown University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$55,466

Avg. Cost After Aid

$31,685

NCSA Favorites

13121

General Rank

13

Grad Rank

9


Favorite

43

Virginia Tech
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$31,908

Avg. Cost After Aid

$20,964

NCSA Favorites

22809

General Rank

104

Grad Rank

103


Favorite

44

Dartmouth College
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$55,453

Avg. Cost After Aid

$31,449

NCSA Favorites

11979

General Rank

13

Grad Rank

6


Favorite

45

Boston College
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$55,464

Avg. Cost After Aid

$33,562

NCSA Favorites

20483

General Rank

34

Grad Rank

35


Favorite

46

Michigan State University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$39,766

Avg. Cost After Aid

$18,984

NCSA Favorites

30347

General Rank

116

Grad Rank

158


Favorite

47

University of Minnesota
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$30,438

Avg. Cost After Aid

$17,479

NCSA Favorites

13216

General Rank

89

Grad Rank

152


Favorite

48

Davidson College
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$51,447

Avg. Cost After Aid

$22,109

NCSA Favorites

10100

General Rank

70

Grad Rank

49


Favorite

49

Wake Forest University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$53,322

Avg. Cost After Aid

$32,129

NCSA Favorites

17049

General Rank

28

Grad Rank

61


Favorite

50

Johns Hopkins University
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$53,740

Avg. Cost After Aid

$30,701

NCSA Favorites

10137

General Rank

8

Grad Rank

29


Favorite

51

University of Chicago
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$58,230

Avg. Cost After Aid

$26,160

NCSA Favorites

6101

General Rank

4

Grad Rank

22


Favorite

52

University of Connecticut
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$38,098

Avg. Cost After Aid

$21,588

NCSA Favorites

11540

General Rank

85

Grad Rank

106


Favorite

53

Penn State
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$34,858

Avg. Cost After Aid

$30,996

NCSA Favorites

35249

General Rank

85

Grad Rank

90


Favorite

54

Amherst College
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$56,426

Avg. Cost After Aid

$25,208

NCSA Favorites

6549

General Rank

47

Grad Rank

16


Favorite

55

University of Miami
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$50,226

Avg. Cost After Aid

$30,841

NCSA Favorites

28304

General Rank

55

Grad Rank

115


Favorite

56

Pomona-Pitzer Colleges
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$52,780

Avg. Cost After Aid

$13,622

NCSA Favorites

3359

General Rank

50

Grad Rank

23


Favorite

57

Boston University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$53,948

Avg. Cost After Aid

$30,729

NCSA Favorites

11694

General Rank

42

Grad Rank

69


Favorite

58

Villanova University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$53,308

Avg. Cost After Aid

$40,134

NCSA Favorites

14507

General Rank

65

Grad Rank

47


Favorite

59

Appalachian State University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$22,171

Avg. Cost After Aid

$14,018

NCSA Favorites

17903

General Rank

159

Grad Rank

254


Favorite

60

Emory University
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$51,306

Avg. Cost After Aid

$24,593

NCSA Favorites

5830

General Rank

19

Grad Rank

48


Favorite

61

Rutgers University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$31,282

Avg. Cost After Aid

$20,623

NCSA Favorites

10832

General Rank

85

Grad Rank

151


Favorite

62

James Madison University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$28,416

Avg. Cost After Aid

$21,281

NCSA Favorites

12009

General Rank

134

Grad Rank

112


Favorite

63

University of Richmond
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$52,610

Avg. Cost After Aid

$25,911

NCSA Favorites

9567

General Rank

83

Grad Rank

67


Favorite

64

University of Iowa
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$31,233

Avg. Cost After Aid

$15,893

NCSA Favorites

13466

General Rank

134

Grad Rank

245


Favorite

65

Tufts University
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$56,382

Avg. Cost After Aid

$31,485

NCSA Favorites

6597

General Rank

30

Grad Rank

28


Favorite

66

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$21,696

Avg. Cost After Aid

$20,592

NCSA Favorites

10953

General Rank

134

Grad Rank

129


Favorite

67

Williams College
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$55,450

Avg. Cost After Aid

$21,239

NCSA Favorites

4123

General Rank

47

Grad Rank

11


Favorite

68

Colgate University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$55,870

Avg. Cost After Aid

$26,041

NCSA Favorites

7399

General Rank

81

Grad Rank

52


Favorite

69

Syracuse University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$51,853

Avg. Cost After Aid

$34,472

NCSA Favorites

17956

General Rank

76

Grad Rank

117


Favorite

70

University of Pittsburgh
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$32,052

Avg. Cost After Aid

$28,758

NCSA Favorites

13801

General Rank

76

Grad Rank

123


Favorite

71

Lehigh University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$52,930

Avg. Cost After Aid

$30,832

NCSA Favorites

8362

General Rank

55

Grad Rank

75


Favorite

72

University of South Florida
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$17,324

Avg. Cost After Aid

$9,838

NCSA Favorites

18781

General Rank

252

Grad Rank

265


Favorite

73

University of Massachusetts – Amherst
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$34,570

Avg. Cost After Aid

$21,396

NCSA Favorites

9168

General Rank

89

Grad Rank

177


Favorite

74

University of Delaware
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$34,310

Avg. Cost After Aid

$16,127

NCSA Favorites

6890

General Rank

215

Grad Rank

130


Favorite

75

Northeastern University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$51,522

Avg. Cost After Aid

$31,855

NCSA Favorites

6752

General Rank

55

Grad Rank

70


Favorite

76

Bucknell University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$56,092

Avg. Cost After Aid

$39,294

NCSA Favorites

10286

General Rank

101

Grad Rank

55


Favorite

77

Tulane University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$54,820

Avg. Cost After Aid

$35,132

NCSA Favorites

7859

General Rank

39

Grad Rank

97


Favorite

78

Texas Christian University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$46,950

Avg. Cost After Aid

$37,513

NCSA Favorites

19272

General Rank

116

Grad Rank

120


Favorite

79

University of California – Riverside
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$42,819

Avg. Cost After Aid

$12,743

NCSA Favorites

5199

General Rank

134

Grad Rank

218


Favorite

80

Pepperdine University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$53,932

Avg. Cost After Aid

$34,701

NCSA Favorites

8625

General Rank

55

Grad Rank

105


Favorite

81

Santa Clara University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$51,711

Avg. Cost After Aid

$37,399

NCSA Favorites

6641

General Rank

65

Grad Rank

50


Favorite

82

Baylor University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$45,542

Avg. Cost After Aid

$32,601

NCSA Favorites

31978

General Rank

109

Grad Rank

181


Favorite

83

Carnegie Mellon University
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$55,465

Avg. Cost After Aid

$32,674

NCSA Favorites

5092

General Rank

24

Grad Rank

58


Favorite

84

University of Oregon
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$35,478

Avg. Cost After Aid

$16,355

NCSA Favorites

28486

General Rank

252

Grad Rank

262


Favorite

85

California State University – Long Beach
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$18,678

Avg. Cost After Aid

$8,982

NCSA Favorites

11338

General Rank

196

Grad Rank

319


Favorite

86

Washington University in St. Louis
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$53,399

Avg. Cost After Aid

$27,427

NCSA Favorites

3903

General Rank

16

Grad Rank

12


Favorite

87

Auburn University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$30,524

Avg. Cost After Aid

$23,696

NCSA Favorites

37359

General Rank

215

Grad Rank

189


Favorite

88

Gonzaga University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$43,210

Avg. Cost After Aid

$33,545

NCSA Favorites

8074

General Rank

116

Grad Rank

76


Favorite

89

Lafayette College
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$53,630

Avg. Cost After Aid

$29,884

NCSA Favorites

6194

General Rank

113

Grad Rank

64


Favorite

90

College of the Holy Cross
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$52,770

Avg. Cost After Aid

$35,692

NCSA Favorites

5843

General Rank

106

Grad Rank

36


Favorite

91

Arizona State University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$28,336

Avg. Cost After Aid

$11,644

NCSA Favorites

34953

General Rank

252

Grad Rank

385


Favorite

92

Bowdoin College
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$53,922

Avg. Cost After Aid

$21,300

NCSA Favorites

3044

General Rank

50

Grad Rank

10


Favorite

93

New York University
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$51,828

Avg. Cost After Aid

$42,397

NCSA Favorites

5548

General Rank

30

Grad Rank

96


Favorite

94

Elon University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$35,319

Avg. Cost After Aid

$35,160

NCSA Favorites

10849

General Rank

134

Grad Rank

111


Favorite

95

University of San Diego
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$49,358

Avg. Cost After Aid

$32,576

NCSA Favorites

11990

General Rank

134

Grad Rank

140


Favorite

96

California Institute of Technology
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$52,362

Avg. Cost After Aid

$23,820

NCSA Favorites

3155

General Rank

8

Grad Rank

44


Favorite

97

SUNY Stony Brook University
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$27,295

Avg. Cost After Aid

$14,893

NCSA Favorites

4820

General Rank

134

Grad Rank

253


Favorite

98

Washington & Lee University
NCAA Division 3

Tuition

$52,455

Avg. Cost After Aid

$27,083

NCSA Favorites

3855

General Rank

61

Grad Rank

25


Favorite

99

University of Utah
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$29,215

Avg. Cost After Aid

$14,364

NCSA Favorites

11499

General Rank

215

Grad Rank

336


Favorite

100

Southern Methodist University – SMU
NCAA Division 1

Tuition

$54,492

Avg. Cost After Aid

$36,575

NCSA Favorites

8892

General Rank

89

Grad Rank

166


Favorite

Creating a list of your favorite colleges is a great way to get proactive in the recuiting process.

If you want to save this list of your favorite schools, create a free NCSA profile.

Please enter your email to continue
Parent
Athlete

Get Started for Free!

A profile only takes 60 seconds

Athlete Information

Parent Information

Get Started for Free!

A profile only takes 60 seconds

Athlete Information

Parent Information

Recruiting in your hands.

Tools and advice to find the right fit.

NCSA 1333 N Kingsbury St Chicago, IL 60642 866-495-5172 NCSAweb@ncsasports.org
© 2002-2021 Next College Student Athlete All Rights Reserved
Questions? Call 866-495-5172, 8am-6pm CST Every Day Questions? Call 855-410-6272, 8am-6pm CST Every Day

Get Started for Free!

A profile only takes 60 seconds

Athlete Information

Parent Information

Get Started for Free!

A profile only takes 60 seconds

Athlete Information

Parent Information