Your Complete List of Men’s Division 1 Wrestling Colleges

For men who want to wrestle against the best competition college has to offer, attending one of the top NCAA Division 1 men’s wrestling colleges is essential. Certain conferences routinely send wrestlers to the Olympics, while top schools boast state champions and high school stars. Before embarking on this intense wrestling journey, it is important to consider the factors below:

• At Division 1 wrestling colleges, student-athletes will have to put in immense amounts of work. There is also a chance that he will need to move up or down a weight class, which can be physically taxing.
• With top tier athletic facilities, equipment, and athletic and medical staff, Division 1 wrestling colleges provide a lot of support to their wrestlers.
• Large D1 schools often provide more resources to help student-athletes who are struggling academically.   

For wrestlers with an incredibly competitive nature, D1 wrestling teams may be the best fit – since you’ll be up against the best competition recruited from high schools all over the country.

How many Division 1 wrestling colleges are there?

There are 78 Division 1 wresting programs across the country with 9.9 maximum scholarships per team, although some programs might have less. With 10 weight classes, it’s typically unlikely for full scholarships to be given, but it is possible for top-end talent. A full scholarship recipient often can wrestle at multiple weight classes and succeed, which amplifies their value to the team. 

Division 1 wrestling rankings. Top D1 wrestling colleges.

The NCAA Division 1 level of competition is unmatched in any other division. NCSA compiled the best D1 wrestling colleges, which take into account a variety of factors in the overall college experience to help families find the right college fit athletically, academically, socially and financially.

1. Stanford University
2. Princeton University
3. Harvard University
4. Columbia University
5. University of Pennsylvania – Penn
6. University of Michigan
7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
8. Duke University
9. University of Virginia
10. Ohio State University

NCAA rankings, on the other hand, are based on performance at conference and national tournaments.