Find the colleges and universities that have the biggest impact in basketball based on the influence of their alumni in basketball. See which schools have proven histories of attracting and cultivating some of the most influential athletes today.
The best colleges and universities for basketball are exactly the schools you’d expect to see on this list—a who’s who of storied college athletics programs, legendary coaches, and Hall of Fame players. Our list of the best basketball colleges includes programs famous for winning national titles and sending superstar players to the NBA. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill boasts not just the most influential basketball program in the world, but the most influential college athletics program in any sport. Credit this title to the massive influence of Michael Jordan, whose global visibility, fame and commercial impact as an NBA player both expanded the international reach of basketball and transcended the sport itself. UNC can also credit future Hall of Fame player Vince Carter and long-time college and professional coach Larry Brown for their landmark contributions to the NBA and the game as a whole. Other programs rounding out the top 10 include March Madness perennials such as Duke, University of Kentucky, and UCLA.
Tuition + fees $9K Acceptance 25% Graduation 91% Student body 25K Median SAT/ACT 1405/30 Tuition + fees $60K Acceptance 8% Graduation 96% Student body 15K Median SAT/ACT 1525/34 Tuition + fees $12K Acceptance 96% Graduation 66% Student body 25K Median SAT/ACT 1195/25 Tuition + fees $13K Acceptance 14% Graduation 91% Student body 45K Median SAT/ACT 1415/32 Tuition + fees $18K Acceptance 56% Graduation 83% Student body 24K Median SAT/ACT 1305/29 Tuition + fees $16K Acceptance 76% Graduation 81% Student body 44K Median SAT/ACT 1210/26 Tuition + fees $11K Acceptance 91% Graduation 63% Student body 23K Tuition + fees $11K Acceptance 80% Graduation 80% Student body 41K Median SAT/ACT 1255/27 Tuition + fees $12K Acceptance 85% Graduation 65% Student body 39K Median SAT/ACT 1235/25 Tuition + fees $17K Acceptance 26% Graduation 93% Student body 45K Median SAT/ACT 1435/32 Tuition + fees $60K Acceptance 17% Graduation 94% Student body 14K Median SAT/ACT 1465/33 Tuition + fees $58K Acceptance 69% Graduation 83% Student body 23K Median SAT/ACT 1280/28 Tuition + fees $12K Acceptance 68% Graduation 87% Student body 56K Median SAT/ACT 1355/30 Tuition + fees $11K Acceptance 32% Graduation 88% Student body 44K Median SAT/ACT 1355/30 Tuition + fees $60K Acceptance 32% Graduation 89% Student body 8K Tuition + fees $46K Acceptance 82% Graduation 84% Student body 11K Median SAT/ACT 1220/26 Tuition + fees $10K Acceptance 84% Graduation 72% Student body 26K Median SAT/ACT 1235/25 Tuition + fees $6K Acceptance 31% Graduation 89% Student body 47K Median SAT/ACT 1390/30 Tuition + fees $62K Acceptance 16% Graduation 92% Student body 40K Median SAT/ACT 1445/32 Tuition + fees $12K Acceptance 56% Graduation 82% Student body 44K Median SAT/ACT 1345/30 Tuition + fees $11K Acceptance 76% Graduation 73% Student body 33K Median SAT/ACT 1235/26 Tuition + fees $56K Acceptance 54% Graduation 85% Student body 5K Median SAT/ACT 1280/29 Tuition + fees $11K Acceptance 51% Graduation 87% Student body 37K Median SAT/ACT 1375/31 Tuition + fees $14K Acceptance 17% Graduation 92% Student body 43K Median SAT/ACT 1430/33 Tuition + fees $13K Acceptance 21% Graduation 91% Student body 31K Median SAT/ACT 1405/31 If basketball is your jam, we have a fun look at the Best College Basketball Mascots today. And for even more colleges with strong athletics programs, take a look at the Most Influential Colleges in Sports Today.The Most Influential Colleges in Basketball Today
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University of North Carolina’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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Duke University’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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University of Kentucky’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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University of Kentucky’s Online Degrees
BA in Liberal Studies
BS or BA in Communication
BS or BA in General Business
BS or BA in Information Communication Technology
BA in Health Science
Degree Concentrations
BA in Social Work
BS Nursing
BS Nursing (RN-to-BSN)
BS Medical Laboratory Science
BS/BA Communication
BS General Business
BS/BA Information Communication Technology
Bachelor of Liberal Studies
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UCLA’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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University of Connecticut’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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Michigan State University’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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University of Kansas’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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Indiana University’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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University of Arizona’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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University of Arizona’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
BA in Psychology
BS in Biology
BA in Applied Humanities
Degree Concentrations
BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
BA in Law
BAS in Early Childhood
BA in History
BS in Special Education
Degree Concentrations
BA in Communication
BS in Public Health
BA in Africana Studies
BAS in Applied Computing
Degree Concentrations
BGS in Arts, Media and Entertainment
BS in Care, Health and Society
BAS in Cyber Operations
Degree Concentrations
BA in Design Arts and Practices
BS in Geographic Information Systems Technology (GIST)
BGS in Global and Intercultural Understanding
BA in Global Media
BA in Government and Public Service
BA in Human Rights Practice
BAS in Human Services
BA in Information Science and ESociety
BAS in Intelligence and Information Operations
BS in Literacy, Learning and Leadership
BS in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science
BS in Nutritional Sciences
BAS in Organizational Leadership
BA in Philosophy
Degree Concentrations
BA in Political Science
BS in Public Management and Policy
BAS in Regional Commerce
Bachelor of General Studies in Science, Technology, Health and Society
BGS in Social Behavior and Human Understanding
BS in Software Engineering
BA in Spanish
BGS in Sports and Society
BS in Sustainable Built Environments
BA in Wellness and Health Promotion Practice
Degree Concentrations
BS in Emergency Medical Services
BGS in Economy and Industry
BS in Environmental Science
BAS in Administration of Justice
BA in Africana Studies
BGS in Arts, Media and Entertainment
BS in Care, Health and Society
BS in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
BA in Communication
BAS in Cyber Operations
Degree Concentrations
BAS in Early Childhood
BGS in Economy and Industry
BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
BS in Emergency Medical Services
BS in Environmental Science
BS in Geographic Information Systems Technology (GIST)
BGS in Global and Intercultural Understanding
BA in Global Media
BA in Government and Public Service
BA in History
BA in Human Rights Practice
BAS in Human Services
BA in Information Science and ESociety
BAS in Intelligence and Information Operations
BA in Law
BS in Literacy, Learning and Leadership
BS in Nutritional Sciences
BAS in Organizational Leadership
BA in Philosophy
Degree Concentrations
BA in Political Science
BA in Psychology
BS in Public Health
BAS in Regional Commerce
BGS in Science, Technology, Health and Society
BGS in Social Behavior and Human Understanding
BA in Spanish
BGS in Sports and Society
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University of Michigan’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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Georgetown University’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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Syracuse University’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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Syracuse University’s Online Degrees
BPS in Applied Data and Predictive Analytics
BPS in Business Management
BPS in Computer Programming
BPS in Creative Leadership
BPS in Cybersecurity Administration
BPS in Healthcare Administration
BS in Information Management and Technology
BPS in Knowledge Management
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Ohio State University’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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UT Austin’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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Wake Forest University’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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Marquette University’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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Marquette University’s Online Degrees
Bachelor of Business Administration
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University of Iowa’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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University of Iowa’s Online Degrees
BA in Liberal Studies
Degree Concentrations
BA in Applied Studies
Degree Concentrations
BA in Enterprise Leadership
BS in Nursing
BS in Radiation Sciences
BA in Political Science
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University of Florida’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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University of Florida’s Online Degrees
BS in Advertising
Degree Concentrations
BA in Anthropology
BA in Biology
BA in Business Administration
BS in Communication Science and Disorders
BS in Computer Science
BA in Criminology
BA in Digital Arts and Sciences
BA in Education Sciences
BS in Environmental Management
BS in Fire and Emergency Services
BA in Geography
Degree Concentrations
BA in Geology
BS in Health Education
BS in Journalism: Sports and Media
BS in Microbiology and Cell Science
BS in Nursing
BA in Psychology
BS in Public Relations
BA in Sociology
BS in Sport Management
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University of Southern California’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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University of Washington’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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University of Washington’s Online Degrees
BA Integrated Social Sciences
BA Early Care & Education
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University of Cincinnati’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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University of Cincinnati’s Online Degrees
BBA in Business Administration
BS in Medical Laboratory Science
BBS in Criminal Justice
BS in Social Work
BS in Early Childhood Education (ECE)
BS in Health Information Management
BS in Health Sciences
Degree Concentrations
BS in Law & Paralegal Studies
BS in Public Health
BS in Information Technology
Degree Concentrations
BS in Respiratory Therapy
BAS in Technical and Applied Studies (BTAS)
Degree Concentrations
BS in Substance Abuse Counseling
BA in Communication
BS in Radiation Science Technology
Degree Concentrations
BBA in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
BA in Communication
BBS in Criminal Justice
BS in Education in Early Childhood Education
Degree Concentrations
BS in Health Information Management
BS in Health Sciences
Degree Concentrations
BS in Law & Paralegal Studies
BS in Medical Laboratory Science
BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
Degree Concentrations
BS in Public Health
BS in Radiation Science Technology
Degree Concentrations
BS in Respiratory Therapy
BS in Social Work
BS in Substance Abuse Counseling
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Providence College’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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Providence College’s Online Degrees
BA in Liberal Studies
BA in Healthcare Administration
BA in Social Science
BA in History
BA in Leadership Development
BS in Fire Administration
BA in Professional Studies
BA in Theology
BS in Fire Administration
BA in Healthcare Administration
BA in History
BA in Leadership Development
BA in Liberal Studies
BA in Professional Studies
BA in Social Science
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Maryland University’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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UC Berkeley’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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GA Tech’s Most Influential Basketball Players
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