Featuring verified alumni, degrees, sports, and school data.
These schools are selected based on:
- Number of Olympians
- Number of professional athletes (NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, MLS)
- National championships
- Historical athletic influence
1. 🟥 University of Southern California (USC)
Location: Los Angeles, CA Founded: 1880 Type: Private Acceptance Rate: ~12% Enrollment: ~49,000
Top Athletic Alumni (Verified)
- O.J. Simpson – B.A. Sociology, Football (Heisman Trophy)
- Cheryl Miller – B.A. Communications, Basketball
- Mark McGwire – Studied Physical Education, Baseball
- Allyson Felix – B.A. Elementary Education, Track & Field
Why USC ranks #1
More Olympic medals than any other U.S. university.
2. 🟦 University of Florida (UF)
Location: Gainesville, FL Founded: 1853 Type: Public Acceptance Rate: ~23% Enrollment: ~60,000
Top Athletic Alumni
- Tim Tebow – B.A. Family & Community Sciences, Football
- Joakim Noah – Studied Anthropology, Basketball
- Caeleb Dressel – B.A. Natural Resource Conservation, Swimming
- Abby Wambach – B.A. Women’s Studies, Soccer
Why UF ranks high
Dominant in football, swimming, and track.
3. 🟧 University of Alabama
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Founded: 1831 Type: Public Acceptance Rate: ~79% Enrollment: ~39,000
Top Athletic Alumni
- Derrick Henry – B.A. Communications, Football
- Joe Namath – Studied Physical Education, Football
- Julio Jones – Studied Communications, Football
- Tua Tagovailoa – B.A. Communications, Football
Why Alabama ranks high
Produces more NFL stars than almost any school.
4. 🟩 University of North Carolina (UNC)
Location: Chapel Hill, NC Founded: 1789 Type: Public Acceptance Rate: ~17% Enrollment: ~31,000
Top Athletic Alumni
- Michael Jordan – B.A. Geography, Basketball
- Mia Hamm – B.A. Political Science, Soccer
- Vince Carter – Studied African-American Studies, Basketball
- Tyler Hansbrough – B.A. Communications, Basketball
Why UNC ranks high
Legendary basketball and women’s soccer programs.
5. 🟨 UCLA
Location: Los Angeles, CA Founded: 1919 Type: Public Acceptance Rate: ~9% Enrollment: ~46,000
Top Athletic Alumni
- Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar – B.A. History, Basketball
- Jackie Robinson – Studied Sociology, Baseball/Football/Track
- Rafer Johnson – B.A. Political Science, Track & Field
- Troy Aikman – B.A. Sociology, Football
Why UCLA ranks high
118+ NCAA championships — the most of any school.
6. 🟪 Ohio State University
Location: Columbus, OH Founded: 1870 Type: Public Acceptance Rate: ~53% Enrollment: ~67,000
Top Athletic Alumni
- Jesse Owens – Studied Agriculture, Track & Field
- Archie Griffin – B.A. Industrial Relations, Football
- Ezekiel Elliott – Studied Marketing, Football
- Katie Smith – B.A. History, Basketball
Why OSU ranks high
Elite football and Olympic track legacy.
7. 🟫 University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)
Location: Austin, TX Founded: 1883 Type: Public Acceptance Rate: ~29% Enrollment: ~52,000
Top Athletic Alumni
- Kevin Durant – Studied African-American Studies, Basketball
- Ricky Williams – B.A. Education, Football
- Earl Campbell – B.A. Speech Communications, Football
- Cat Osterman – B.S. Psychology, Softball
Why UT ranks high
Powerhouse in football, baseball, and track.
8. 🟦 University of Michigan
Location: Ann Arbor, MI Founded: 1817 Type: Public Acceptance Rate: ~18% Enrollment: ~51,000
Top Athletic Alumni
- Tom Brady – B.A. General Studies, Football
- Desmond Howard – B.A. Communications, Football
- Michael Phelps – Studied Sports Marketing, Swimming
- Dylan Larkin – Studied Psychology, Hockey
Why Michigan ranks high
Produces elite NFL, NHL, and Olympic athletes.
9. 🟩 Louisiana State University (LSU)
Location: Baton Rouge, LA Founded: 1860 Type: Public Acceptance Rate: ~73% Enrollment: ~37,000
Top Athletic Alumni
- Shaquille O’Neal – B.A. General Studies, Basketball
- Joe Burrow – B.A. Consumer & Family Sciences, Football
- Odell Beckham Jr. – B.A. Human Sciences, Football
- Lolo Jones – B.S. Economics, Track & Field
Why LSU ranks high
Dominant in football, baseball, and track.
10. 🟦 University of Oregon
Location: Eugene, OR Founded: 1876 Type: Public Acceptance Rate: ~84% Enrollment: ~23,000
Top Athletic Alumni
- Phil Knight – B.S. Journalism (co‑founder of Nike), Track
- Ashton Eaton – B.S. Psychology, Track & Field
- Marcus Mariota – B.A. General Science, Football
- Sabrina Ionescu – B.A. General Social Science, Basketball
Why Oregon ranks high
Birthplace of Nike + elite track program.