--- title: 100 Best Colleges for Sports Lovers description: These colleges are for students who love sports and who want a high-quality, affordable education that positions them for career success. authors: - name: Money Magazine url: https://money.com/author/money-magazine/ at_money_since: 2017 articles: 2 covers: - Education - Investing former_staff: true - name: Sports Illustrated url: https://money.com/author/sports-illustrated/ at_money_since: 2017 articles: 1 covers: - Education former_staff: true published: '2017-03-09T13:00:15.000Z' modified: '2020-07-07T11:18:36.000Z' section: Education tags: - best colleges for athletes - best colleges for fans - best sports colleges - college athletics - college ranking - MONEY's Best Colleges word_count: 4444 canonical: https://money.com/best-colleges-sports-lovers/ type: Article source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/). ![100 Best Colleges for Sports Lovers](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_duke1.jpg?quality=85&w=1012&h=569&crop=1) It’s no secret that colleges often breed lifelong sports fans. Whether they were players or spectators, alumni share common team traditions, memories of against-all-odds victories, and a connection they’ll cherish for years. Of course, Money would never advocate choosing a school based solely on gridiron greatness or Olympic medal hauls. That’s why we partnered with *Sports Illustrated* to compile a list of great colleges for students who love sports—but who also want a high-quality, affordable education that positions them for career success. To build this list, we began with colleges that made the cut in our annual Best Colleges ranking, which scores schools on affordability, academic excellence, and career outcomes. Then we added 15 sports-specific data points and split them into two buckets: athlete opportunities and fan experience. (Read a [full breakdown of the methodology here](http://money.us/2mCSxdv).) The results? A mix of familiar big-time schools and smaller colleges that are less known for their sports prowess, but no less competitive at their level. In other words, there’s a college for sports lovers of all types.*—Kaitlin Mulhere* ## **1\. Stanford University** Athlete opportunities rank: 1 Fan experience rank: 19 Best Colleges rank: 10 ![Texas Stanford NCAA Championship Volleyball](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_stanford1.jpg) *Stanford volleyball team cuts the net after winning the NCAA Volleyball National Championship against Texas on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016.* ***Highlights:*** 47 Olympians on past four U.S. Olympic teams 17 national championships in the past 10 years 94% of student-athletes graduate in 6 years If you value the student-athlete, then you’ll love being on The Farm. You’re just as likely to come across the next tech genius as an Olympian (hi, Katie Ledecky!) as you stroll across the gorgeous Palo Alto campus, where the sun is often shining but not overpowering. Football coach David Shaw, who just completed his sixth season, once said that the lack of fanfare surrounding his team, which he’s led to three Rose Bowls, is understandable because at Stanford everyone is doing something extraordinary. Need a pro football fix? Levi’s Stadium, where the 49ers play, is just a 20-minute drive down the highway. — *Lindsay Schnell* ## 2\. University of Notre Dame Athlete opportunities rank: 21 Fan experience rank: 9 Best Colleges rank: 31 ![Michigan State Spartans v Notre Dame Fighting Irish](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_notredame.jpg) *The Notre Dame Fighting Irish mascot carries the school flag on the field before the game against the Michigan State Spartans.* ***Highlights:*** 50 players in major professional leagues 80,795 average attendance at football games Notre Dame prides itself on being different. Saturdays hit all the big notes of tradition, faith and community: The staunchly independent football team plays in a stadium with four statues of former coaches outside its gates, a reflection of 11 national championships won, and a massive mural of Jesus visible to the north. Meanwhile, athletes graduate from a top-20 university at a rate of 98% (per the NCAA’s graduation success metric) and largely enjoy broad success. Since 2000, Notre Dame women’s basketball has reached six Final Fours and won one national championship, while soccer, lacrosse, hockey and fencing teams account for six other national titles and seven national semifinal appearances. — *Brian Hamilton* ## 3\. University of Michigan Athlete opportunities rank: 33 Fan experience rank: 14 Best Colleges rank: 2 ![Michigan State v Michigan](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_mich.jpg) *The Michigan Wolverines kick off to the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on October 17, 2015. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)* ***Highlights:*** 54 conference championships in the past 10 years $25.3 million raised for athletics in 2016 24 Olympians on past four U.S. Olympic teams. The epicenter of Michigan athletic culture is 107,601-seat Michigan Stadium, with the mad genius of Jim Harbaugh lifting a bellwether Big Ten football program back to prominence. But Michigan has six national championships since 2000 in non-revenue sports and its men’s basketball team played for a title in 2013, all while the sports program as a whole posts a student-athlete graduation rate of 80%, 20th among all Division I schools. Ann Arbor’s downtown and its 157 municipal parks make it a place worth visiting for fans, and it’s a mere 45-minute drive to Detroit and the three pro teams (NFL’s Lions, MLB’s Tigers, NHL’s Red Wings) who have downtown homes there. — *B.H.* ## 4\. Duke University Athlete opportunities rank: 4 Fan experience rank: 37 Best Colleges rank: 39 ![Wake Forest v Duke](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_duke1.jpg) *Cameron Crazies and fans of the Duke Blue Devils cheer prior to their game against Wake Forest on February 18, 2017. Duke won 99-94.* ***Highlights:*** 86% of student-athletes graduate in 6 years $30.9 million raised for athletics in 2016 Students rate athletics scene a 4 out of 5 on [Niche.com](https://www.niche.com/colleges/duke-university/) Duke athletics can be summed up with a building: Cameron Indoor Stadium. The 9,314-seat, 77-year-old stone venue is hallowed ground in college basketball, and its size has given birth to perhaps the greatest ritual in college sports. In order to gain admission to big games, students erect tents outside of the stadium in what’s known as K-Ville (short for Krzyzewskiville), camping by a strict set of rules for weeks at a time. It’s worth it; Duke has won five national championships, two since 2010. But the Blue Devils are more than just hoops. Despite the traditional football tailgate—which involved elaborate costumes and low attendance to the actual game—being outlawed in 2010, under coach David Cutcliffe the team has earned a bowl berth in four of the past five seasons. — *Joan Niesen* ## 5\. University of Virginia Athlete opportunities rank: 46 Fan experience rank: 11 Best Colleges rank: 9 ![North Carolina v Virginia](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_uva1.jpg) *The Virginia Cavaliers bench celebrates during Virginia's game against the North Carolina Tar Heels on February 27, 2017.* ***Highlights:*** 14,111 average attendance at men’s basketball games 51 conference championships in the past 10 years 56 intramural sports played on campus There are few prettier settings than the campus at Virginia, and it has the high-end athletic experience to match. The school has won six NCAA titles and 21 ACC championships in the last five years and finished in the top 20 in the Director’s Cup each of the last 10 years. Even the student section is something to cheer for, as the vaunted “Hoo Crew” won the 2014 Naismith Student Section of the Year. They take intramurals and club sports seriously enough in Charlottesville that there’s a $12.4 million squash facility. And who could resist entering an intramural Cornhole tournament? Overall, it’s quite the scene. — *Pete Thamel* ## 6\. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Athlete opportunities rank: 28 Fan experience rank: 18 Best Colleges rank: 45 ![NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_unc.jpg) *The North Carolina Tar Heels celebrate after defeating the Maryland Terrapins in overtime in the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship in 2016.* ***Highlights:*** 10 national championships in the past 10 years 55 players in major professional leagues 18,328 average attendance at men’s basketball games You probably know about Tar Heels basketball, but the true powerhouse program at North Carolina is women’s soccer. With 21 national championships to its name, UNC’s women’s soccer program has won more titles than any other women’s program in the country, in any sport. Of course the men’s basketball program isn’t too shabby either, boasting an NCAA-best 18 Final Four appearances and notable alumni like that talented small forward from Wilmington, N.C., Michael Jordan. There are a few bigger events on the sporting calendar than UNC–Duke on the hardwood, a historic rivalry in which the Tar Heels hold the edge in the all-time record. — *Colin Becht* ## 7\. University of Florida Athlete opportunities rank: 68 Fan experience rank: 4 Best Colleges rank: 15 ![North Texas v Florida](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_florida1.jpg) *Head coach Jim McElwain leads the Florida Gators onto the field during the 2016 season.* ***Highlights:*** 16 national championships in the past 10 years 61 conference championships in the past 10 years 57 players in major professional leagues Florida is that rare school where football and basketball rule, evidenced by a period between 2006 and '08 when the Gators’ football and men’s basketball teams won two national titles apiece. The crowds at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (nickname: The Swamp) and Exactech Arena are among the nation’s rowdiest. Students can celebrate wins or drown the sorrows of losses at The Swamp (the bar, not the stadium), The Grog House or the Salty Dog. And while some schools keep their mascots in a cage, multiple versions of Florida’s mascot swim freely in Lake Alice on the southwestern edge of campus. Just don’t feed the Gators. — *Andy Staples* ## 8\. Middlebury College Athlete opportunities rank: 15 Fan experience rank: 53 Best Colleges rank: 48 ![170307_sportscolleges_middlebury](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_middlebury.jpg) *Middlebury's Women's Lacrosse defeated Trinity 9-5 to win the 2016 NCAA Championship.* ***Highlights:*** 27% of students play varsity level sports 7 national championships in the past 10 years One of the nation’s finest liberal arts schools, Middlebury is one of the top Division III athletic programs in the nation—typically ranking at the top of the New England Small College Athletic Conference in soccer, tennis, hockey as well as lacrosse, field hockey and skiing. Ironically, the Panthers had a school-wide ban on NCAA participation until 1994. The school owns the Middlebury College Snow Bowl, which is one of two college-owned ski areas in the nation and hosts ski races throughout the winter. Middlebury also has one of the best student participation rates in college athletics, with 27% of the student body playing a varsity sport. — *Gabriel Baumgaertner* ## 9\. Yale University Athlete opportunities rank: 18 Fan experience rank: 75 Best Colleges rank: 12 ![The 52nd Head of the Charles Regatta](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_yale1.jpg) *Members of the Yale championship eight crew team make their way up the Charles River during the 52nd Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Mass.* ***Highlights:*** 41 conference championships 20,547 average attendance at football games Yale took college basketball by storm last year by winning its first Ivy League tournament in 54 years, upsetting Baylor for its first-ever NCAA tournament win and nearly knocking off Duke in the next round. Its ice hockey program has emerged as a recent force under head coach Keith Allain and won the national championship in 2013. And don’t forget about its long-standing football and regatta rivalry with Harvard. — *G.B.* ## 10\. Bowdoin College Athlete opportunities rank: 13 Fan experience rank: 71 Best Colleges rank: 20 ![College basketball](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_bowdoin1.jpg) *Bowdoin teammates celebrate a play late in a game against the University of Southern Maine.* ***Highlights:*** 35% of students play a varsity sport Students rank the athletic scene a 3.9 out of 5 on [Niche.com](https://www.niche.com/colleges/bowdoin-college/) Bowdoin is a small liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. It doesn’t have many students. Only 1,806 were enrolled for the fall 2016 semester, according to the school’s website. But athletically, there’s plenty for those students to do. The NCAA Division III (no athletic scholarships) Polar Bears field 31 varsity teams, making its program one of the biggest in the nation across all divisions (only 16 schools offer as many as 30 teams). Among its variety of offerings: Nordic skiing for men and women, co-ed sailing, squash for men and women, and, of course, ice hockey for men and women. — *Mike Harris* ## 11\. Dartmouth College Athlete opportunities rank: 90 Fan experience rank: 3 Best Colleges rank: 33 ![COLLEGE BASEBALL: MAR 05 Dartmouth at Miami](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_dartmouth1.jpg) *Dartmouth catcher Adam Gauthier (18) at bat during a game between the Big Green and the University of Miami Hurricanes on March 5, 2017. Dartmouth defeated Miami 5-0.* ***Highlights:*** 18 Olympians on past four U.S. Olympic teams 21% of students participate in varsity sports The school may be buried in rural Hanover, N.H., but Dartmouth has one of the most unique nicknames (The Big Green), a most unusual and unofficial mascot (Keggy the Keg), and a sterling academic reputation. The Big Green check in at No. 3 in the student athlete ranking, the highest of any Ivy League school evaluated for this project (they trail only Stanford and Trinity College). While Dartmouth’s football and basketball teams usually finish toward the bottom of the Ivy League, its baseball team is one of the finest in the Ivy League. Alumni include Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, who finished second in last year’s National League Cy Young voting, and Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. ­ — *G.B.* ## 12\. University of California-Los Angeles Athlete opportunities rank: 77 Fan experience rank: 26 Best Colleges rank: 20 ![David Crisp, Lonzo Ball](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_ucla.jpg) *UCLA's Lonzo [f500link]Ball[/f500link] (2) looks for room to pass around Washington's David Crisp in a February 2017 game.* ***Highlights:*** 13 national championships in past 10 years 58 players in major professional leagues Bright lights, big city and plenty of Hollywood flair make the Westwood campus a must-visit destination. The Bruins ooze tradition, talent and are good at basically everything: UCLA boasts 113 total NCAA team championships, more than any other school in the Pac-12. Take your picture next to the John Wooden statue outside legendary Pauley Pavilion, watch the resurgent Bruins basketball team and then head across town to watch any of the local pro sports teams (Lakers, Clippers, Rams, Kings, Dodgers or, soon enough, Chargers). — *L.S.* ## 13\. Rice University Athlete opportunities rank: 41 Fan experience rank: 79 Best Colleges rank: 4 ![NCAA BASEBALL: APR 05 Texas A&M at Rice](https://img.money.com/2017/03/170307_sportscolleges_rice1.jpg) *Rice third base Dane Myers (10) is greeted by teammates after scoring a run during a game between the Texas A&M Aggies and Rice Owls in Houston, Texas.* ***Highlights:*** 28 conference championships in the past 10 years 10% of students play a varsity sport While moving from the Southwest Conference to the Western Athletic Conference to Conference USA, the Owls’ dominance in baseball never slowed. They claimed conference titles in all but one year from 1996–2015 and appeared in the College World Series seven times during that stretch, including one national championship in ‘03. Despite being one of the smallest schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision, Rice has also won eight conference championships in football, most recently a Conference USA title in ‘13. Not bad for one of the top academic schools in the country. — *C.B.* ## 14\. University of Maryland Athlete opportunities rank: 101 Fan experience rank: 23 Best Colleges rank: 19 ![Women's Big Ten Tournament finals pits Maryland against Purdue](https://img.money.com/2017/03/university-of-maryland-sports-college-basketball-gettyimages-648501806.jpg) *The Maryland Terrapins hoist the trophy after beating the Purdue Boilermakers 74-64 to win the Big Ten Tournament championship game on March 05, 2017.* ***Highlights:*** 31 conference championships in the past 10 years 17,863 average attendance at men’s basketball games Maryland’s men’s basketball program is renowned for its long history of success in the ACC. The program has continued to shine since Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2014, a move that ensures the Terrapins will host a handful of quality opponents at the Xfinity Center every year. Maryland hasn’t won a national championship since 2002, but the program routinely makes the NCAA tournament and ranks in the top 25 of the major polls. Few schools offer better environments for hoops zealots keen on watching a winning program in one of the nation’s top conferences. — *Chris Johnson* ## 15\. University of Georgia Athlete opportunities rank: 72 Fan experience rank: 35 Best Colleges rank: 56 ![Louisiana Lafayette v Georgia](https://img.money.com/2017/03/university-of-georgia-college-sports-football-gettyimages-624382948.jpg) *Isaiah McKenzie (16) of the Georgia Bulldogs returns a punt for an 82-yard touchdown against the Lousiana-Lafayette Rajin' Cajuns on November 19, 2016.* ***Highlights:*** 92,746 average attendance at football games 39 players in major professional leagues Before Wrigley Field had ivy, Georgia had the hedges. Privet hedges have surrounded the football field at Sanford Stadium since 1929, and ever since, boys in the Peach State have grown up dreaming of playing between them. The school that produced Frank Sinkwich, Herschel Walker and Matthew Stafford sits in one of America’s great college towns. Dozens of restaurants and bars populate the downtown and Five Points areas—both a short walk from campus—and the Bulldogs love to throw a party whether they’re preparing for a football game or celebrating a win by the GymDogs, the women’s gymnastics program that won seven national titles between 1998 and 2009. — *A.S.* ## 16\. University of Southern California Athlete opportunities rank: 24 Fan experience rank: 36 Best Colleges rank: 155 ![UCLA v USC](https://img.money.com/2017/03/university-of-southern-california-trojans-fans-gettyimages-640184414.jpg) *USC Trojans student section cheers during a basketball game against the UCLA Bruins on January 25, 2017. The Trojans won 84-76.* ***Highlights:*** 18 national championships in the past 10 years 25 Olympians on past four U.S. Olympic teams The perfect weather and easy access to one of the nation’s largest cities is probably enough to entice most students to enroll at USC, but another of the school’s biggest points of attraction is its football team. The Trojans are a national powerhouse with a long track record of success. For gridiron enthusiasts eager to spend fall Saturdays watching games, it’s hard to beat a sunny afternoon at the Coliseum. — *C.J.* ## 17\. University of Connecticut Athlete opportunities rank: 97 Fan experience rank: 34 Best Colleges rank: 38 ![COLLEGE BASKETBALL: FEB 13 Women's - South Carolina at UConn](https://img.money.com/2017/03/university-of-connecticut-college-sports-basketball-gettyimages-635189438.jpg) *UConn Huskies Forward Napheesa Collier (24) under the rim during a game against the University of South Carolina on February 13, 2017.* ***Highlights:*** 8,920 average attendance at women’s basketball games 8 national championships in the past 10 years With no men’s professional sports teams in Connecticut, UConn men’s hoops is a major draw for sports fans in the state. The Huskies have won two men’s national titles this decade, tied with Duke for the most during that span. But the school’s women’s program has been even more successful. Coach Geno Auriemma’s squad has won more than 100 consecutive games and will be a heavy favorite to win another national title this year. For students hoping to enjoy good basketball, there may not be a better choice than UConn. — *C.J.* ## 18\. Ohio State University Athlete opportunities rank: 86 Fan experience rank: 1 Best Colleges rank: 130 ![Ohio State v Maryland](https://img.money.com/2017/03/ohio-state-university-sports-college-wrestling-gettyimages-640153540.jpg) *Kyle Snyder of the Ohio State Buckeyes wrestles against Youssif Hemida of the Maryland Terrapins on January 22, 2017.* ***Highlights:*** 54 players in major professional leagues $33.5 million raised for athletics in 2016 107,244 average attendance at football games Ohio State’s enduring draw will always be its juggernaut football program, which is 61-6 in coach Urban Meyer’s five seasons. An astounding 28,808 students hold season tickets, giving Ohio Stadium one of the most electric environments in the country. Outside those fall Saturdays, the entire campus bustles with activity. More than 2,500 students play in 60 club sports and OSU has captured national championships in men’s basketball, swimming and more. The school offers 738,500 square feet of indoor recreation space, which means you don’t need to be running down on kick coverage in the Horseshoe to get swept up in the campus athletic vibe. — *P.T.* ## 19\. Princeton University Athlete opportunities rank: 5 Fan experience rank: 147 Best Colleges rank: 1 ![Penn State v Princeton](https://img.money.com/2017/03/princeton-university-sports-hockey-gettyimages-640264436.jpg) *Princeton Tigers hug after a goal against the Penn State Nittany Lions on January 28, 2017. Princeton won 5-4.* ***Highlights:*** 123 conference championships in the past 10 years 20% of students play varsity sports Princeton’s devotion to athletics may best be encapsulated by the quiet of its classrooms every afternoon. With nearly one in every four students participating in varsity athletics, Princeton doesn’t hold classes from 4:30 to 7 p.m. to avoid practice conflicts for the school’s 37 varsity teams. Something is working, as the school has won 203 national titles and boasts both a Heisman Trophy winner (Dick Kazmaier) and a Bill Bradley-led Final Four team. The school in 2014 ended a 41-year streak with at least one national champion, be it individual or team. If heartbroken by that, take solace in the No. 1 academic ranking. — *P.T.* ## 20\. University of Texas at Austin Athlete opportunities rank: 103 Fan experience rank: 31 Best Colleges rank: 50 ![NCAA FOOTBALL: NOV 25 TCU at Texas](https://img.money.com/2017/03/university-of-texas-college-sports-football-gettyimages-625835202.jpg) *Texas Longhorn running back D'Onta Foreman (33) runs for yardage during a match up with the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs during the 2016 season.* ***Highlights:*** 58 conference championships in the past 10 years 23 Olympians on past four U.S. Olympic teams $39.4 million raised for athletics in 2016 To attend Texas is to worship at the altar of Bevo, the famed and downright gargantuan Longhorn mascot now in his 15th iteration. Football games in Austin are one mass of burnt orange, cowboy boots and "hook ’em" hand signs, a ceremony performed to the tune of “Texas Fight.” The team has won four national titles, but beyond the hallowed confines of Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, UT prides itself on its women’s athletics and Olympic-program sports, which consistently play to packed houses. Then there’s the weather to consider—at the Longhorns’ final football game in 2016, the high was 66 degrees—and barbecue, which needs no further explanation. — *J.N*. ## 21\. Clemson University Athlete opportunities rank: 100 Fan experience rank: 49 Best Colleges rank: 21 ![CFP National Championship](https://img.money.com/2017/03/clemson-university-cheerleaders-college-sports-gettyimages-631370110.jpg) *Clemson Tigers cheerleaders celebrate in confetti after the Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31 in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.* ***Highlights:*** 46 players in major professional leagues 5th-highest athletics scene rating on [Niche.com](https://www.niche.com/colleges/clemson-university/) How do you find Clemson? Just exit from Interstate 85 in Anderson, S.C., and follow the tiger paws painted on the road. The home of college football’s reigning national champion is a leafy, hilly campus on the shores of Lake Hartwell. The centerpiece of the athletics complex is Memorial Stadium, better known as Death Valley. It's home to the most exciting entrance in college football. Clemson players rub Howard's Rock at the top of the hill behind the east end zone and then charge down the hill, ready to face their next opponent. After each game, fans take the field to "meet at the paw" painted on the 50-yard line. — *A. S. * ## 22\. Colgate University Athlete opportunities rank: 35 Fan experience rank: 96 Best Colleges rank: 59 ![Cornell v Colgate](https://img.money.com/2017/03/colgate-university-college-sports-lacrosse-gettyimages-516195814.jpg) *Tyler Rigo (2) of the Colgate Raiders dodges to the goal during a game against Cornell University on March 15, 2016.* ***Highlights:*** 19% of students participate in varsity sports 89% of student-athletes graduate in 6 years Want to know how big sports are on Colgate’s campus? Talk to five students—odds are one of them is a Raiders varsity student-athlete. Despite a total enrollment of under 3,000 students, Colgate boasts 25 Division I teams. And true to its strong liberal-arts roots, Colgate posts a federal grad rate of 89%, fifth-best among all Division I schools. The Raiders are a force in Patriot League football, winning eight league titles since joining in 1986. Just don’t bring up the ‘32 season; it’s still a bit of a sore subject after Colgate went undefeated and didn’t give up a *single* point, yet was snubbed by the Rose Bowl. — *C.B.* ## 23\. Lafayette College Athlete opportunities rank: 79 Fan experience rank: 51 Best Colleges rank: 69 ![Lafayette v American](https://img.money.com/2017/03/lafayette-college-sports-basketball-gettyimages-639343010.jpg) *The Lafayette Leopards huddle during a basketball game against American University on January 18, 2017.* ***Highlights:*** 21% of students participate in varsity sports 87% of student-athletes graduate in 6 years At first glance, Lafayette College of Easton, Pa., offers the usual array of athletic choices to its 2,450 students. There’s football, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball among its 22 varsity teams. One sport stands out: Lafayette is one of the few schools that offers fencing, fielding a men’s team and a women’s team. How rare is that? In a 35-year period starting in 1981, the number of men’s teams across the country fell from 79 to 34 and the number of women’s teams fell from 76 to 43. Elsewhere, Lafayette’s football team has met arch-rival Lehigh 152 times, the most of any Division I rivalry. Lafayette lost 45-21 in the most-recent meeting but leads the overall series 78-69-5. — *M.H. * ## 24\. Boston College Athlete opportunities rank: 30 Fan experience rank: 61 Best Colleges rank: 150 ![Women's Beanpot: Boston College Vs Northeastern University](https://img.money.com/2017/03/boston-college-sports-hockey-gettyimages-634254362.jpg) *Boston College hockey players celebrate winning the Women's Beanpot hockey championship game against Northeastern University on Feb. 7, 2017.* ***Highlights:*** 37 players in major professional leagues $9 million raised for athletics in 2016 With total undergraduate enrollment under 10,000, Boston College and its sports scene are known for their intimacy and family feel. The Eagles can thank Doug Flutie and his 1984 Hail Mary for that, as they established a football tradition that’s marked by a close-knit alumni base that turns up to tailgate, even with the team missing bowl berths in three of the last six seasons. That makes the pregame scene a communal (and tipsy) one outside the aptly named Alumni Stadium on Saturdays. Throw in a much-loved hockey team that’s made the Frozen Four 10 times since 2000 (and won it all in four of those years), and there’s plenty for Eagles fans to cheer. — *J.N.* ## 25\. University of Wisconsin-Madison Athlete opportunities rank: 84 Fan experience rank: 60 Best Colleges rank: 63 ![NCAA FOOTBALL: JAN 02 Cotton Bowl - Western Michigan v Wisconsin](https://img.money.com/2017/03/university-of-wisconsins-fans-gettyimages-632263082.jpg) *Wisconsin Badgers fans celebrate a touchdown during the Cotton Bowl matchup against the Western Michigan Broncos. Wisconsin won the game 24-16.* ***Highlights:*** 35 conference championships in the past 10 years 27 Olympians on past four U.S. Olympic teams Before the fourth quarter of football games, Camp Randall Stadium literally shakes as 80,000-plus fans jump around to, well, “Jump Around,” the rap anthem from House of Pain. Lively Madison is one of the country’s best good-time college cities, whether you stroll the farmer’s market circling the state capitol building in warmer months or walk iced-over Lake Mendota in the winter. Football (three Big Ten titles since 2011) and men’s basketball (Final Four trips in ‘14 and ‘15) are regular contenders boasting tremendous home-game atmospheres. With a federal student athlete grad rate of 70%, the school also does serious pursuits almost as well as fun. *— B.H.* * * * **26\. University of Richmond** Best Colleges: **114**; Athletes: **45**; Fans: **76** **27\. Amherst College** Best Colleges: **7**; Athletes: **10**; Fans: **169** **28\. Providence College** Best Colleges: **134**; Athletes: **89**; Fans: **32** **29\. Villanova University** Best Colleges: **157**; Athletes: **54**; Fans: **59** **30\. Wake Forest University** Best Colleges: **150**; Athletes: **119**; Fans: **27** **31\. Michigan State University** Best Colleges: **54**; Athletes: **144**; Fans: **21** **32\. Harvard University** Best Colleges: **3**; Athletes: **8**; Fans: **185** **33\. Bates College** Best Colleges: **61**; Athletes: **14**; Fans: **167** **34\. University of Washington** Best Colleges: **30**; Athletes: **151**; Fans: **46** **35\. Gettysburg College** Best Colleges: **114**; Athletes: **34**; Fans: **122** **36\. Gustavus Adolphus College** Best Colleges: **74**; Athletes: **50**; Fans: **127** **37\. Vanderbilt University** Best Colleges: **27**; Athletes: **155**; Fans: **47** **38\. Northwestern Univesrity** Best Colleges: **70**; Athletes: **69**; Fans: **117** **39\. Williams College** Best Colleges: **49**; Athletes: **6**; Fans: **192** **40\. Claremont McKenna College** Best Colleges: **71**; Athletes: **19**; Fans: **182** **41\. (tie) Denison University** Best Colleges: **140**; Athletes: **25**; Fans: **182** **41\. (tie) Davidson College** Best Colleges: **46**; Athletes: **94**; Fans: **120** **43\. Texas A&M University** Best Colleges: **13**; Athletes: **228**; Fans: **6** **44\. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign** Best Colleges: **22**; Athletes: **172**; Fans: **58** **45\. College of the Holy Cross** Best Colleges: **65**; Athletes: **107**; Fans: **107** **46\. (tie) Syracuse University** Best Colleges: **294**; Athletes: **56**; Fans: **57** **46\. (tie) Hamilton College** Best Colleges: **40**; Athletes: **26**; Fans: **214** **48\. DePauw University** Best Colleges: **67**; Athletes: **87**; Fans: **140** **49\. Bucknell University** Best Colleges: **152**; Athletes: **32**; Fans: **160** **50\. Georgia Institute of Technology** Best Colleges: **35**; Athletes: **223**; Fans: **30** **51\. McDaniel College** Best Colleges: **100**; Athletes: **104**; Fans: **123** **52\. Union College** Best Colleges: **98**; Athletes: **27**; Fans: **202** **53\. University of Iowa** Best Colleges: **198**; Athletes: **185**; Fans: **5** **54\. Brown University** Best Colleges: **31**; Athletes: **7**; Fans: **268** **55\. Pennsylvania State University** Best Colleges: **220**; Athletes: **93**; Fans: **93** **56\. University of Minnesota** Best Colleges: **58**; Athletes: **225**; Fans: **43** **57\. Pomona College** Best Colleges: **22**; Athletes: **31**; Fans: **267** **58\. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University** Best Colleges: **18**; Athletes: **241**; Fans: **66** **59\. Ursinus College** Best Colleges: **278**; Athletes: **43**; Fans: **136** **60\. Tufts University** Best Colleges: **89**; Athletes: **22**; Fans: **252** **61\. Georgetown University** Best Colleges: **84**; Athletes: **66**; Fans: **215** **62\. Wheaton College** Best Colleges: **75**; Athletes: **40**; Fans: **255** **63\. Wofford College** Best Colleges: **121**; Athletes: **93**; Fans: **184** **64\. Florida State University** Best Colleges: **197**; Athletes: **222**; Fans: **17** **65\. Gonzaga University** Best Colleges: **114**; Athletes: **213**; Fans: **70** **66\. Westminster College** Best Colleges: **206**; Athletes: **58**; Fans: **181** **67\. University of California-Berkeley** Best Colleges: 6; Athletes: **162**; Fans: **180** **68\. College of William and Mary** Best Colleges: **36**; Athletes: **158**; Fans: **171** **69\. Indiana University** Best Colleges: **77**; Athletes: **263**; Fans: **56** **70\. Trinity College** Best Colleges: **104**; Athletes: **2**; Fans: **308** **71\. Furman University** Best Colleges: **208**; Athletes: **44**; Fans: **226** **72\. University of Delaware** Best Colleges: **54**; Athletes: **177**; Fans: **172** **73\. University of Oklahoma** Best Colleges: **246**; Athletes: **236**; Fans: **20** **74\. Texas Christian University** Best Colleges: **500**; Athletes: **96**; Fans: **40** **75\. Simpson College** Best Colleges: **296**; Athletes: **141**; Fans: **100** **76\. Colby College** Best Colleges: **75**; Athletes: **9**; Fans: **343** **77\. Auburn University** Best Colleges: **206**; Athletes: **285**; Fans: **3** **78\. Hobart and William Smith Colleges** Best Colleges: **175**; Athletes: **42**; Fans: **274** **79\. Centre College** Best Colleges: **274**; Athletes: **47**; Fans: **274** **80\. Linfield College** Best Colleges: **221**; Athletes: **147**; Fans: **148** **81\. Washington and Lee University** Best Colleges: **29**; Athletes: **20**; Fans: **373** **82\. Brigham Young University** Best Colleges: **5**; Athletes: **329**; Fans: **77** **83\. James Madison University** Best Colleges: **112**; Athletes: **282**; Fans: **72** **84\. Lehigh University** Best Colleges: **103**; Athletes: **60**; Fans: **302** **85\. Loras College** Best Colleges: **376**; Athletes: **160**; Fans: **69** **86\. Southern Methodist University** Best Colleges: **452**; Athletes: **131**; Fans: **62** **87\. (tie) Muhlenberg College** Best Colleges: **87**; Athletes: **88**; Fans: **291** **87\. (tie) Rutgers University-New Brunswick** Best Colleges: **105**; Athletes: **261**; Fans: **109** **89\. University of Pennsylvania** Best Colleges: **26**; Athletes: **59**; Fans: **351** **90\. University of Nebraska** Best Colleges: **364**; Athletes: **242**; Fans: **2** **91\. Augustana College (South Dakota)** Best Colleges: **306**; Athletes: **248**; Fans: **28** **92\. (tie) Augustana College (Illinois)** Best Colleges: **521**; Athletes: **39**; Fans: **135** **92\. (tie) Baylor University** Best Colleges: **565**; Athletes: **111**; Fans: **41** **94\. Assumption College** Best Colleges: **193**; Athletes: **207**; Fans: **137** **95\. Sewanee - The University of the South** Best Colleges: **312**; Athletes: **51**; Fans: **236** **96\. The Citadel** Best Colleges: **86**; Athletes: **255**; Fans: **149** **97\. University of Utah** Best Colleges: **106**; Athletes: **315**; Fans: **80** **98\. Columbia University** Best Colleges: **52**; Athletes: **16**; Fans: **408** **99\. Messiah College** Best Colleges: **147**; Athletes: **99**; Fans: **280** **100\. 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