Choosing the best soccer college can feel like a massive decision. Trust me, you are not alone if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed. It’s super common to feel that mix of excitement and pressure when trying to figure out which school to choose especially if you’re a student-athlete balancing both your academic and athletic goals.
Take a deep breath. It’s okay to feel unsure or even confused.
Picking a college is not something you do every day, and i am here to help you break it down step by step. By the end of this, you’ll have a better sense of how to choose a soccer college that fits you, both on the field and in the classroom.
Why Consider Soccer Colleges in the U.S.?
Soccer might not have the same spotlight as football or basketball in the U.S., but make no mistake, it’s a fantastic path for young athletes like you who dream of going pro.
College soccer gives you a chance to refine your skills, compete at a high level, and makes you earn a quality degree. Many top universities have programs that produce professional players while setting them up for success in life beyond soccer.
That said, choosing the right soccer college is not just about looking at rankings or how many championships a team has won. Other factors matter just as much—like location, facilities, affordability, and the academic programs available.
Soccer scholarships are often partial, meaning you’ll want to balance tuition costs with potential financial aid.
At the end of the day, you’re not just an athlete, you’re a student-athlete.
So, while soccer is your passion, your academic program is just as crucial. The ideal soccer college is one that allows you to thrive in both areas.
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How Do You Know Which Soccer College Is the Best?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here.
The “best” soccer college depends on your personal goals and priorities. However, i have compiled a list of 10 standout colleges based on factors like NCSA rankings, athletic competitiveness, and academic quality.
Importantly, we avoided subjective criteria. Just because a school has a solid soccer team does not mean it’ll suit your academic needs or vice versa.
1. University of Virginia
| Soccer Team | Virginia Cavaliers |
| Tuition fee | Estimated fee $18,000 |
One of the best institutions for students willing to choose a career path in soccer is the University of Virginia, with stellar records on the field. Both the men’s and women’s teams, known as the Virginia Cavaliers, are staples of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The men’s soccer team still holds a reputation among the most successful college soccer teams in the United States, having captured 7 NCAA titles and posting the most College Cup tournament appearances in 39 years.
They seem really committed to staying one of the best teams for years to come because they have the facilities and infrastructure to keep things going through bringing in the best recruits year in and year out.
Being one of the toughest state schools in the United States to get into, they have no problem luring talented students in that want to play competitive soccer.
The Men’s Soccer team at the University of Virginia generated $1,846,819 in revenue.
The number of new students that remain with the institution is very high as indicated by the 97 percent first-year student retention rate.
2. University Of Notre Dame
| Soccer Team | Fighting Irish |
| Tuition fee | Estimated fee $57,699 |
The school is a force to be reckoned with in nearly every sporting event, usually ranking in the top in the nation.
In 2020–2021, a large private non–profit college, Notre Dame, Indiana, handed out 2,848 bachelor’s degrees.
The Notre Dame men’s soccer team pulled in revenues of $163,590. The team has an academic progress rate of 1000, which shows they, too, know their way around the books.
They were 10-8-1 last year, but are more often ranked in the top 25. With only one national championship back in 2013, they have the resources and money to compete almost every year
As far as followership by fans, Notre Dame is highly ranked. Some find this surprising since soccer is a fall sport, concurrent with football.
In spite of football having the long history, there are numerous fans for both sports.
3. Wake-Forest University
| Soccer Team | Wake Forest Demon Deacons |
| Tuition fee | Estimated fee $55,440 |
Wake Forest is all-in on being a perennial soccer powerhouse. It started out slowly, about 20 years ago, and they crested with four straight Final Four appearances from 2006 to 2009.
Since a national championship in 2007, they have been steady at the top.
Even though Wake Forest is among the smaller D1 institutions in the United State, it enjoys fervent learning resources. In addition, they do get substantial support in the Winston-Salem region.
Wake Forest University’s men’s soccer team earned $1,989,732 in revenue in one calendar year.
During the 2020-2021 academic year, the private not-for-profit institution conferred bachelor’s degrees on 1,472 students. An impressive academic success rate of 980 shows that soccer team members also excel academically.
Freshmen are very likely to stay at this institution. First-year student retention is 95%.
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4. University Of California
| Soccer Team | UCLA Bruins |
| Tuition fee | Estimate fee $27,712 – $66,521 |
As a member of the Pac-12 Conference, UCLA offers full support to students in terms of scholarship, athletic training, and student services to attract talented athletes into the soccer program.
Both men’s and women’s programs in UCLA are really very outstanding.
While they used to be really good, having won four championships in the past, they have struggled to keep up in recent years. They had a pretty disappointing season in 2019 but always manage to find new, competitive talents.
For years, UCLA has been regarded as one of the best overall environments to play the sport of soccer outdoors.
They have great athletic facilities for student-athletes, and they also do a good job of recruiting.
5. Stanford University
| Soccer Team | Stanford Cardinals |
| Tuition fee | Estimated fee $53,500 |
Stanford is a private research institution in California and is considered one of the most prestigious institutions globally.
It is one of the highest student enrollments in the United States, with high ranking in various surveys and assessments. The university awarded over 1,511 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The annual revenue earned by the Stanford Men’s Soccer team was $339,515. The team performs excellently in academics as well as sports, as it has an academic progress rating of 1000.
After finally winning a men’s soccer national championship in 2015, they have been making up for lost time. After winning three back-to-back national championships, Maryland finally stopped the streak in 2018.
They rebounded and reached the Final Four in 2019, and their team is projected to be among the best sides in the foreseeable future.
The high freshman retention rate of 86 percent suggests that students like the school enough to come back for a second year.
6. University of Maryland
| Soccer Team | Maryland Terrapins |
| Tuition fee | Estimated fee $27,424 to $56,776. |
The Maryland soccer program is certainly one of the most competitive there has ever been. They made three of the first five Final Fours in the early years and won their first national championship back in 1968.
The Maryland Terrapins men’s soccer team is among the most decorated teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference with four NCAA Division 1 College Cup wins to their name.
Similarly, it has won 6 ACC tournament titles and 19 regular-season Atlantic Coast Conference titles.
Maryland is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, invests hugely in strengthening the coaching staff, and seems to take soccer thoughtfully in every league they compete in.
They haven’t slowed down a lick since leaving the ACC for the Big 10. In fact, they play one of the toughest cumulative schedules year in and year out, which steels them for the rigors of the postseason.
The university has a large number of students both graduate and undergraduate and it awarded 8,838 bachelor’s degrees in 2020–2021. The UMCP men’s soccer team generated $153,909 revenue within a calendar year.
7. Indiana University
| Soccer Team | The Indiana Hoosiers |
| Tuition fee | Estimated fee $26,186 – $52,566 |
In 2020–2021, the Bloomington, Indiana-based institution awarded 7,959 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students.
The Men’s Soccer team at Indiana University generated $192,392 in revenue.
Judging by the team’s fantastic 985 academic success rate, soccer team members aren’t real stinkers in their academics, either.
They have won eight national championships altogether, including 8 in the last four decades. Almost every year, Indiana will be at the top of the rankings when looking at the standings.
The college has a 91% freshman retention rate, which is good and indicates that students are happy enough with it to stay for a second year.
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8. Duke University
| Soccer Team | Duke Blue Devils |
| Tuition fee | Estimated fee is $78,828. |
Duke University makes its name in college soccer courtesy of its teams, the Duke Blue Devils men’s and women’s soccer.
The most successful squad is the women’s team that has won the regular season championship of the ACC 3 times, have appeared in the College Cup three times, and in the NCAA Division 1 women’s tournament for a record 23 times.
The men’s team has won only one championship, in 1986, but it still remains a consistent entrant in the NCAA tournament.
The Men’s Soccer team earned $1,377,777. The team performed well on the soccer field as well as in academics: its academic proficiency rating is perfect – 1000.
Students seeking to pursue their bachelor’s will have much more opportunities to speak with your lecturers due to the school’s 6 to 1 student to faculty ratio.
9. Creighton University
| Soccer Team | Creighton Blue Jays |
| Tuition fee | Estimated fee is $41,176. |
During the 2020–2021 academic year, this Nebraska–Omaha-based university conferred 1,429 bachelor’s degrees.
With 22 appearances, it is an excellent team and one of the most consistent in the NCAA Division 1 men’s soccer tournament.
It has five College Cup appearances, 13 regular-season conference championships, and then another 13 tournament titles.
The 6000-seat soccer stadium is just one of the college’s top training facilities in the country.
The Creighton University men’s soccer team brought in $1,369,250 in revenue. With an excellent academic progress rate of 982, the team is showing that its members are also excited about their academics.
First-year student retention at the college is high, with a retention rate of 92%.
10. University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)
| Soccer Team | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| Tuition fee | Estimated fee $24,228 to $27,624 |
The North Carolina Tar Heels have bagged 23 Atlantic Coast Conference championships and 21 NCAA national championships.
They were able to make consecutive Final Fours in 2016 and 2017 but failed to capture their third national championship.
Their longest streak was approximately a decade ago when they advanced to 3 consecutive Final Fours and captured the national championship in 2011.
Chapel Hill has always had a great soccer culture. For each match, they usually draw big crowds, which makes it really hard for visiting teams to win.
Money talking, the men’s soccer team at the University of North Carolina generated $764,712 in revenue. The team has an academic progress rate of 1000, which is perfect, proving that they are ace in their academics too.
The institution is great at retaining its students, boasting a freshman retention rate of 95% percent.
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What Happens After College Soccer?
For many players, college soccer is a stepping stone to a professional career.
While not all players go pro, those who do often credit their college experience for honing their skills and preparing them for the big leagues.
Do College Soccer Players Get Paid?
Nope. College soccer players don’t earn salaries for playing.
However, scholarships can help cover tuition and other expenses, offering financial relief while allowing players to focus on their game and studies.
Benefits of Playing College Soccer
Playing college soccer is about more than just competition.
It’s a chance to stay fit, develop discipline, and form lifelong friendships with teammates. It’s also an opportunity to network and build skills that will serve you well, whether you pursue soccer professionally or take a different path after graduation.
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