2026 College Rankings

Best D3 Colleges

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Best D3 Colleges

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Division III, or D3, is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). D3 colleges and universities do not offer athletic scholarships to their student-athletes. However, these schools generally try to offer other scholarships that can be granted for your leadership skills, grades, and demonstrated financial need. For students who want to play sports at a competitive level, but want to prioritize their studies and other extracurriculars, D3 colleges offer a fantastic opportunity.

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Rank	Institution	Undergraduates	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	4576	4.85	1,510 – 1,590	21519	131633	#1 Best D3 Colleges Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, offers up to a Doctor's degree. It became a land grant-college in 1863. Top majors include Management Science, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering. Alumni have gone on to found well-known companies, such as Intel, Koch Industries, Dropbox, and Campbell Soup. Undergraduates 4,576 Acceptance Rate 4.9% SAT Score 1,510 – 1,590 Avg. Net Price $21,519 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $131,633
2	California Institute of Technology	987	2.57	1,540 – 1,590	23397	132140	#2 Best D3 Colleges California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA Also known as Caltech, the California Institute of Technology is a private, doctoral/research university located on a 124-acre campus in Pasadena. The school's motto is, “the truth shall make you free.” Computer Science, Physics, and General are top majors among students, and there have been over 75 Nobel laureates that have......Read more Undergraduates 987 Acceptance Rate 2.6% SAT Score 1,540 – 1,590 Avg. Net Price $23,397 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $132,140
3	University of Chicago	7519	4.48	1,510 – 1,570	27979	80870	#3 Best D3 Colleges University of Chicago Chicago, IL The University of Chicago receives 43,600 applications annually and the school is considered extremely selective. It's made up of an undergraduate college and five graduate research divisions. UChicago also has campuses all over the world, from Hong Kong to Paris....Read more Undergraduates 7,519 Acceptance Rate 4.5% SAT Score 1,510 – 1,570 Avg. Net Price $27,979 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $80,870
4	Swarthmore College	1623	7.46	1,490 – 1,560	17930	56211	#4 Best D3 Colleges Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA Swarthmore College was one of the first coeducational colleges in the country. It is associated with the Tri-College Consortium and the Quaker Consortium, which means students can take classes at the University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr, and Haverford, in addition to Swarthmore....Read more Undergraduates 1,623 Acceptance Rate 7.5% SAT Score 1,490 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $17,930 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,211
5	Pomona College	1766	7.09	1,490 – 1,560	17423	60850	#5 Best D3 Colleges Pomona College Claremont, CA Pomona College is a private, liberal arts college offering 39 major programs. Three commonly chosen majors include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Computer Science, and Neuroscience. The school was created with a “college of the New England type” in mind. Their mascot is Cecil the Sagehen. Undergraduates 1,766 Acceptance Rate 7.1% SAT Score 1,490 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $17,423 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,850
6	Bowdoin College	1881	7.13	1,470 – 1,550	23110	61692	#6 Best D3 Colleges Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME Bowdoin College is an extremely selective private liberal arts school. The college offers more than 40 majors, including joint Engineering programs with Columbia, Dartmouth, Caltech, and the University of Maine....Read more Undergraduates 1,881 Acceptance Rate 7.1% SAT Score 1,470 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $23,110 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,692
7	Williams College	2101	8.25	1,500 – 1,560	16988	71754	#7 Best D3 Colleges Williams College Williamstown, MA Although it was originally founded as a men’s college in 1793, Williams College is composed of 48% men and 51% women today. It was created out of the funds of Ephraim Williams, who died in the French and Indian War. The college received 15,000 applications during the last admissions cycle and accepted 1,270. Undergraduates 2,101 Acceptance Rate 8.3% SAT Score 1,500 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $16,988 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $71,754
8	Johns Hopkins University	6356	6.44	1,520 – 1,580	22844	86306	#8 Best D3 Colleges Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1876 and named for its first benefactor. The first research university in the country, its motto in Latin is “veritas vos liberabit,” or “the truth will set you free.” The Blue Jays men’s lacrosse team plays in the Big Ten Conference as an affiliate member and has over 40 national titles....Read more Undergraduates 6,356 Acceptance Rate 6.4% SAT Score 1,520 – 1,580 Avg. Net Price $22,844 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $86,306
9	Washington University in St Louis	8220	12.06	1,480 – 1,560	22440	78073	#9 Best D3 Colleges Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO Washington University in St. Louis was named after George Washington and founded in 1853. A private research university, the school received 33,000 applications and accepted just 3,950. Commonly chosen majors are Business Statistics, Financial Mathematics, and Computer Science....Read more Undergraduates 8,220 Acceptance Rate 12.1% SAT Score 1,480 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $22,440 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $78,073
10	Amherst College	1914	9.01	1,480 – 1,570	17965	62537	#10 Best D3 Colleges Amherst College Amherst, MA Amherst College is an extremely selective school. A majority of their first-year students come from NY. The third oldest institution of higher education in the state, Amherst was originally a men’s college, becoming coeducational in 1975....Read more Undergraduates 1,914 Acceptance Rate 9.0% SAT Score 1,480 – 1,570 Avg. Net Price $17,965 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,537
11	Washington and Lee University	1886	13.97	1,450 – 1,530	24667	76516	#11 Best D3 Colleges Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA Originally known as the Augusta Academy and established in 1749, it would later be named after George Washington and Robert E. Lee, the latter of which was the president of the school for five years....Read more Undergraduates 1,886 Acceptance Rate 14.0% SAT Score 1,450 – 1,530 Avg. Net Price $24,667 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $76,516
12	Wellesley College	2407	14.05	1,460 – 1,560	21501	65961	#12 Best D3 Colleges Wellesley College Wellesley, MA Wellesley College is a private women’s liberal arts college going back to 1870. It’s the largest women’s college, and it has seen famous alumni including Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, and Katharine Lee Bates. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics is the most commonly chosen area of study. Undergraduates 2,407 Acceptance Rate 14.1% SAT Score 1,460 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $21,501 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $65,961
13	Harvey Mudd College	921	12.66	1,500 – 1,580	42720	115107	#13 Best D3 Colleges Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA Harvey Mudd College only offers programs related to Science and Engineering. Part of the Claremont Colleges, their colors are black and gold. The men’s teams are known as the Stags, and the women are known as the Athenas. It has a 96% first year retention rate and 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Undergraduates 921 Acceptance Rate 12.7% SAT Score 1,500 – 1,580 Avg. Net Price $42,720 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $115,107
14	Claremont McKenna College	1390	9.59	1,470 – 1,560	29978	87603	#14 Best D3 Colleges Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA Claremont McKenna College, a private liberal arts school, was founded as a men’s college in 1946. It became co-educational in 1976. The most commonly chosen major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. With an 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, 98% of students will stay after their freshman year. Undergraduates 1,390 Acceptance Rate 9.6% SAT Score 1,470 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $29,978 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $87,603
15	Tufts University	7126	11.53	1,470 – 1,560	33333	68337	#15 Best D3 Colleges Tufts University Medford, MA Opened in 1852 as Tufts College, Tufts University is a small liberal arts school. It became a doctoral/research university in the 1970s. The university offers over 70 undergraduate major programs. International Relations and Affairs, Computer Science, and Dentistry are popular areas of study. Undergraduates 7,126 Acceptance Rate 11.5% SAT Score 1,470 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $33,333 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $68,337
16	Emory University	7407	10.29	1,460 – 1,550	27986	74980	#16 Best D3 Colleges Emory University Atlanta, GA Emory University is a private, doctoral/research college. It has a 96% first year retention rate, 83% four year graduation rate, and 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. There are nine academic divisions, including the Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Laney Graduate School, and Rollins School of Public Health, among others. Undergraduates 7,407 Acceptance Rate 10.3% SAT Score 1,460 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $27,986 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $74,980
17	Carnegie Mellon University	7824	11.66	1,500 – 1,570	32964	105360	#17 Best D3 Colleges Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA Some popular majors at Carnegie Mellon University include Information Technology, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. A merger in 1900 between Carnegie Institute of Technology and the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research created the school we know today....Read more Undergraduates 7,824 Acceptance Rate 11.7% SAT Score 1,500 – 1,570 Avg. Net Price $32,964 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $105,360
18	Hamilton College	2037	13.62	1,460 – 1,550	26021	60082	#18 Best D3 Colleges Hamilton College Clinton, NY With nearly 60 areas of study, a majority of Hamilton College students opt to major in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. Their motto is in Ancient Greek: Γνῶθι Σεαυτόν, which translates to “Know Thyself.” The school has been coeducational since 1978 after merging with its sister school, Kirkland College. Undergraduates 2,037 Acceptance Rate 13.6% SAT Score 1,460 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $26,021 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,082
19	Babson College	2793	17.09	1,400 – 1,530	30220	60556	#19 Best D3 Colleges Babson College Wellesley, MA Babson College began as an all-male school in 1919, originally known as Babson Institute, and became coeducational in 1969. It has an astounding 95% first year retention rate and 90% four year graduation rate. The only available undergraduate major is Business Administration and Management, General....Read more Undergraduates 2,793 Acceptance Rate 17.1% SAT Score 1,400 – 1,530 Avg. Net Price $30,220 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,556
20	New York University	29060	9.23	1,490 – 1,560	30730	64543	#20 Best D3 Colleges New York University New York, NY Often called NYU, you can find New York University in the heart of Manhattan. Computer and Information Sciences, General is the most selected major among students. The school has produced a number of famous alumni including Martin Scorsese, Jack Dorsey, Robert Muller III, and Alec Baldwin. Undergraduates 29,060 Acceptance Rate 9.2% SAT Score 1,490 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $30,730 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $64,543
21	Carleton College	2128	20.41	1,450 – 1,560	29434	53989	#21 Best D3 Colleges Carleton College Northfield, MN Part of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the most popular sports at Carleton College are Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Football, and Swimming and Diving (combined). They’re known as the Knights and wear blue and maize. Computer Science is a commonly chosen undergraduate major. Undergraduates 2,128 Acceptance Rate 20.4% SAT Score 1,450 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $29,434 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,989
22	Smith College	2549	21	1,430 – 1,540	27823	45731	#22 Best D3 Colleges Smith College Northampton, MA Located just west of the Connecticut River, Smith College is among the largest women’s colleges in the US. It doesn’t cost anything to apply as an undergraduate. Students enjoy a cozy 7 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and a 94% first year retention rate. Notable alumni include Julia Child, Gloria Steinman, and Sylvia Plath. Undergraduates 2,549 Acceptance Rate 21.0% SAT Score 1,430 – 1,540 Avg. Net Price $27,823 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,731
23	Vassar College	2462	18.57	1,460 – 1,550	29733	49177	#23 Best D3 Colleges Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY Vassar College offers 50 majors and programs, with the most popular being Economics, General. A few former students of Vassar include Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Anthony Bourdain. Opened in 1861, it was the second institution in the United States that granted degrees to women. Undergraduates 2,462 Acceptance Rate 18.6% SAT Score 1,460 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $29,733 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,177
24	Wesleyan University	3805	16.49	1,330 – 1,510	20463	60385	#24 Best D3 Colleges Wesleyan University Middletown, CT Wesleyan University’s most popular major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. The school, located on the bends of the Connecticut River, was founded as a men’s college and became fully coeducational in 1970. Their athletes, known as the Cardinals, appropriately wear cardinal and black. Undergraduates 3,805 Acceptance Rate 16.5% SAT Score 1,330 – 1,510 Avg. Net Price $20,463 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,385
25	Middlebury College	2760	10.75	1,460 – 1,550	22912	57291	#25 Best D3 Colleges Middlebury College Middlebury, VT The first operating higher education institution in Vermont was Middlebury College, founded in 1800. It’s also the first in the United States to award a bachelor’s degree to an African American (in 1823). Although it was originally all-male, the school started admitting women in 1883. Undergraduates 2,760 Acceptance Rate 10.8% SAT Score 1,460 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $22,912 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,291