AffordableSchools.net Releases Its Ranking of Ideal U.S. Colleges and Universities for Student Athletes for 2015

SUNNYVALE, CA – AffordableSchools.net (affordableschools.net), an independent college search and rankings site that centers on unique and affordable offerings within higher education, has released a ranking of the 25 Best Colleges for Student Athletes in America.

Stanford University (CA) leads the ranking, which was compiled by looking at the number of NCAA team sport national championships each school has at the division one level, as well as the academic prestige of the school as noted by other top ranking sites. The University of California Los Angeles (CA) and the University of Southern California (CA) ranked as second and third, respectively.

Other schools in the ranking include (in alphabetical order):

  • Duke University (Durham, NC)
  • Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)
  • Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA)
  • Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
  • Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK)
  • Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA)
  • Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
  • University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)
  • University of California–Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
  • University of Denver (Denver, CO)
  • University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
  • University of Georgia (Athens, GA)
  • University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign, IL)
  • University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)
  • University of Maryland (College Park, MD)
  • University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC)
  • University of Notre Dame (South Bend, IN)
  • University of Texas (Austin, TX)
  • University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
  • University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI)
  • Yale University (New Haven, CT)

According to Raj Dash, managing editor at AffordableSchools.net, “While perhaps the centerpiece of fandom, the assumption that the best schools for athletes in America are generally large flagship state schools with potentially less-than-rigorous academics is misplaced. When looking across the wide range of male, female, and coed sports, many of the nation's top performing schools are also many of the most academically rigorous.”

Many of the nation's top schools are also the oldest, allowing them to have developed long lineages of sending student athletes to the Olympics, or on to win individual or team NCAA titles. Notable trends include the inclusion of eight Big Ten teams, four California schools (including all of the top three), four SEC teams, three ACC teams, and two Ivy League Schools. In total, the ranking looked at the top 60 universities in terms of total NCAA team and individual titles, in the end narrowing them down to the top 25 schools in regards to academic rigor as well as athletic performance in the nation.

AffordableSchools.net (affordableschools.net) is an independent college search and rankings site with a focus on affordable colleges and programs within higher education. It publishes a number of rankings series focusing on affordable bachelor's degrees (various topics), affordable bachelor's degree colleges by state, affordable online degree programs, resource lists and much more.

Featured

  • dormitory with green roofs, solar panels, balconies, and labeled architectural annotations

    2025 Residence Hall Design Trends Focus on Sustainability, Flexibility, Community, Technology, and Well-Being

    With the most technically advanced Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) at the helm, residence hall design trends for 2025 look to focus on flexible spaces, health and wellness, sustainability, community, and digital technology.

  • ClassVR Wins Tech & Learning Best of Show at ISTELive 25

    Avantis Education recently announced that its flagship product, ClassVR, won the Tech & Learning Best of Show Award at ISTELive 25 in San Antonio, Texas, according to a news release. The program is designed to celebrate products that are “transforming education in schools around the world and that show the greatest promise for the industry,” and this is the fourth consecutive year that Avantis has claimed the award.

  • Beeville ISD Starts Construction on New Elementary School

    The Beeville Independent School District near Corpus Christi, Texas, recently began a construction project that will consolidate two existing, aging schools into a new elementary school, according to a news release. The district is partnering with Pfluger Architects and Spawglass General Contractors for the design and construction, respectively, of the new facility.

  • ECM Technologies Wins ‘Most Innovative Business of the Year’ Award

    HVAC preventative maintenance and efficiency solutions provider ECM Technologies was recently named the “Most Innovative Business of the Year” at the 2025 Champions of Change Awards, according to a news release. The program recognizes Arizona business leaders and organizations taking steps to make a positive impact on the state through innovative thinking and philanthropy.

Digital Edition