Best colleges for NCAA Division II athletes
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division II athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division II athletes292 schools
292 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NCAA Division II (the school's athletics association, from federal and association data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, MI · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Michigan
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 90% graduate
- 2
Bentley University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 87% graduate
- 3
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO · PublicHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 82% graduate
- 4
Rollins College
Winter Park, FL · Private nonprofit#8 in Florida
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 75% graduate
- 5
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 78% graduate
- 6
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH · Private nonprofit#11 in Ohio
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 73% graduate
- 7Tie
- 7Tie
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, CA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 70% graduate
- 9
Union University
Jackson, TN · Private nonprofit#6 in Tennessee
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 66% graduate
- 10
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofitTop 12% for graduation
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 77% graduate
- 11
Saint Anselm College
Manchester, NH · Private nonprofitTop 11% for graduation
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 80% graduate
- 12
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO · PublicTop 7% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 64% graduate
- 13
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI · PublicTop 9% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 68% graduate
- 14
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, AL · Public#4 in Alabama
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 64% graduate
- 15
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 69% graduate
- 16
Augustana University
Sioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit#1 in South Dakota
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 73% graduate
- 17
Florida Southern College
Lakeland, FL · Private nonprofit#12 in Florida
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 71% graduate
- 18
William Jewell College
Liberty, MO · Private nonprofit#11 in Missouri
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 68% graduate
- 19
Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 75% graduate
- 20
Saint Michael's College
Colchester, VT · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 73% graduate
- 21Tie
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 67% graduate
- 21Tie
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · PublicTop 13% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 68% graduate
- 23
The University of Tampa
Tampa, FL · Private nonprofit#15 in Florida
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 64% graduate
- 24
Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, CO · Private nonprofit#6 in Colorado
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 64% graduate
- 25
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 65% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale College | — | — | — | 90% |
| Bentley University | $37,930 | $25,023 | $120,959 | 87% |
| Colorado School of Mines | $28,690 | $23,000 | $97,335 | 82% |
| Rollins College | $34,732 | $25,500 | $58,295 | 75% |
| Dominican University of California | $35,333 | $27,000 | $84,713 | 78% |
| Cedarville University | $24,468 | $20,937 | $55,443 | 73% |
| Truman State University | $12,780 | $21,000 | $56,280 | 69% |
| Westmont College | $29,053 | $23,250 | $64,778 | 70% |
| Union University | $27,171 | $20,714 | $53,990 | 66% |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | $38,729 | $22,990 | $63,998 | 77% |
| Saint Anselm College | $34,779 | $27,000 | $73,371 | 80% |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology | $16,298 | $23,250 | $82,957 | 64% |
| Michigan Technological University | $14,182 | $24,990 | $78,198 | 68% |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | $18,796 | $20,705 | $61,767 | 64% |
| Thomas Jefferson University | $28,928 | $14,744 | $77,449 | 69% |
| Augustana University | $23,894 | $25,000 | $59,217 | 73% |
| Florida Southern College | $28,551 | $25,000 | $55,294 | 71% |
| William Jewell College | $17,562 | $24,498 | $59,268 | 68% |
| Rockhurst University | $25,884 | $18,250 | $67,102 | 75% |
| Saint Michael's College | $25,239 | $26,922 | $61,317 | 73% |
| Adelphi University | $30,783 | $25,000 | $75,482 | 67% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | $11,531 | $16,000 | $71,902 | 68% |
| The University of Tampa | $36,211 | $24,211 | $59,436 | 64% |
| Colorado Christian University | $29,500 | $28,312 | $50,416 | 64% |
| Western Washington University | $21,193 | $18,500 | $62,569 | 65% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
By state
- Alabama 7
- Arkansas 7
- California 23
- Colorado 10
- Connecticut 4
- Florida 13
- Georgia 16
- Hawaii 3
- Illinois 5
- Kansas 5
- Kentucky 3
- Massachusetts 3
- Michigan 10
- Minnesota 9
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 3
- New Hampshire 3
- New Jersey 4
- New Mexico 3
- New York 11
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 10
- Oklahoma 11
- Pennsylvania 17
- South Carolina 14
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 12
- Virginia 4
- Washington 4
- West Virginia 12