NCSA Power Rankings: The Best Schools for Student-Athletes

Target schools should be realistic fits based on your child’s athletic and academic achievements.

Being a college student-athlete is about more than sports—it’s also about getting an education that will set you up for success for life. To help families identify schools where they would most likely achieve academic and athletic success, we created the first NCSA Power Rankings over 10 years ago. This definitive list ranks the best colleges and universities by sport and division level: Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 and NAIA. 

BEST OF DIVISION 1

BEST OF DIVISION 2

BEST OF DIVISION 3

BEST OF NAIA

2018 NCSA Power Rankings: Fall Sports
Football
Field Hockey
Men’s and Women’s Soccer
Men’s and Women’s Water Polo

2018 NCSA Power Rankings: Winter Sports
Men’s and Women’s Basketball
Men’s Ice Hockey and Women’s Ice Hockey
Men’s and Women’s Wrestling
Men’s and Women’s Swimming

2018 NCSA Power Rankings: Spring Sports
Baseball
Softball
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field
Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse
Men’s and Women’s Tennis
Men’s and Women’s Golf
Men’s Volleyball
Women’s Beach Volleyball
Women’s Rowing

HOW DOES NCSA CALCULATE THE POWER RANKINGS?

The 2018 NCSA Power Rankings incorporate data from the US News and World Report Best Colleges, the IPEDS graduation rate rankings and our very own “NCSA Favorites” stats. This data features the most popular schools selected by over two million student-athletes in the NCSA network.

HOW DOES THE 2018 NCSA POWER RANKINGS HELP YOU FIND THE RIGHT COLLEGE?

Even if your child’s college decision is years away, these Power Rankings can help you identify strong athletic and academic schools to add to your list of potential colleges. This list should include at least five dream schools, at least 10 target schools and at least five safety schools.

Dream schools give student-athletes something to aim for. To qualify for these schools, your child may need to significantly improve their grades or athletic abilities. Or maybe tuition would be too expensive without tons of financial aid. It can help to identify your child’s dream schools early on and use them as motivation to improve. 

Target schools should be realistic fits based on your child’s athletic and academic achievements. During the recruiting process, you should focus the majority of your time and effort on these schools. 

Finally, several safety schools should be on your athlete’s list as a backup plan. From injuries to coach departures, the recruiting journey is full of unexpected twists and turns. It always pays to be prepared. 

WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN A COLLEGE?

Strong academics and a top-notch athletic program are important, but so is finding an environment that feels like home. After all, your student-athlete will most likely be there for the next four years.

Be sure to go on plenty of unofficial and official campus visits to walk around campus, check out the dorms and meet the coaching staff and current team members. Some students like the excitement of a state school, while others feel more comfortable at a smaller liberal arts school. Some students dream of attending college in the middle of a big city, while others prefer a suburban or rural vibe.

In addition to personal preference, cost can be a huge factor. Keep in mind that academic and need-based scholarships can be worth just as much—if not more—than athletic scholarships. Plus, unlike athletic scholarships, other forms of aid are usually good for all four years.