Most Influential Colleges in Golf Today

Most Influential Colleges in Golf Today

Find the colleges and universities that have the biggest impact in golf based on the influence of their alumni in golf. See which schools have proven histories of attracting and cultivating some of the most influential athletes today.

Stanford University tops the list of best colleges and universities for golf, followed by Ohio State and Arizona State. A quick glance at the alumni from each program makes it easy to see why these athletics programs topped our list. Ranking third, Arizona was home to six-time PGA champion Phil Mickeslon. Ohio State produced the Golden Bear-Jack Nicklaus, who still holds the record for most major PGA championships with 18. And Stanford University tops the list on the strength of Tiger Woods, who ranks as the most influential golfer on our list, even dramatically overshadowing fellow alumnus and legendary predecessor Tom Watson (who tallies an influence score 1/10 that of Tiger Woods).

Most Influential Colleges in Golf

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The Most Influential Colleges in Golf Today

  1. #1

    Stanford University

    Stanford , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1495/33

  2. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    88%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    73K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1210/24

    Arizona State University’s Most Influential Golfers

    1. Phil Mickelson
    2. Paul Casey
    3. Jon Rahm
    4. Chez Reavie
    5. Anna Nordqvist
    6. JoAnne Carner
    7. Matt Jones
    8. Per-Ulrik Johansson
    9. Tom Purtzer
    10. Jeff Quinney
    11. Dan Forsman
    12. Grace Park
    13. Alejandro Cañizares
    14. Mike Hill
    15. Howard Twitty
    16. Brandie Burton
    17. Wendy Ward
    18. Mike Morley
    19. Philip Francis
    20. Giulia Molinaro
    21. Louise Stahle
    22. Knut Børsheim
    23. Morris Hatalsky
    24. Todd Demsey
    25. Amy Fruhwirth
    26. Mary Bea Porter
    27. Scott Pinckney
    28. Yu Chun-an
    29. Miriam Nagl
    30. Linnea Ström
    More Influential Golfers
    1. Greg Bruckner
    2. Jennifer Johnson
    3. Pia Nilsson
    4. Benjamín Alvarado
    5. Bill Loeffler
    6. Linn Grant
    7. Tina Tombs
    8. Chris Hanell
    9. Charlotte Montgomery
    10. Joey Snyder III
    11. Niklas Lemke
    12. Heather Bowie Young
    13. Jeanne-Marie Busuttil
    14. Alice Miller
    15. John Adams
    16. Pamela Wright

    Arizona State University’s Online Degrees

    BA in Applied Science
    Degree Concentrations
    • Project Management
    • Health Sciences
    • Required Credits: 111-120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Business
    Degree Concentrations
    • Communication
    • Sustainability
    • Required Credits: 114-120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Educational Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Business
    • Community Health
    • Family and Human Development
    • Global Studies
    • Health Innovations
    • Personal Health
    • Political Science
    • Organizational Leadership
    • Required Credits: 114-120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  3. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    29%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    45K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1340/29

  4. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    87%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1220/25

    University of Arizona’s Most Influential Golfers

    1. Annika Sörenstam
    2. Lorena Ochoa
    3. Natalie Gulbis
    4. Rory Sabbatini
    5. Ricky Barnes
    6. Paige Spiranac
    7. Jerry Foltz
    8. Dan Pohl
    9. Jason Gore
    10. Guan Tianlang
    11. Nate Lashley
    12. Don Pooley
    13. Derek Gillespie
    14. Christian Pena
    15. Marisa Baena
    16. Eric Meeks
    17. Haley Moore
    18. Lam Chih Bing
    19. Chris Nallen
    20. Alejandra Llaneza
    21. Leta Lindley
    22. Mike Springer
    23. Cassandra Kirkland
    24. Blaine Peffley
    25. Mike Cunning

    University of Arizona’s Online Degrees

    BA in Africana Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Administration of Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Care, Health and Society
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Emergency Medical Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Cyber Operations
    Degree Concentrations
    • Engineering
    • Defense & Forensics
    • and Cyber Law & Policy
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Communication
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Early Childhood
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Economy and Industry
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Environmental Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies, in Arts, Media and Entertainment
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Global and Intercultural Understanding
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Global Media
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Government and Public Service
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Human Rights Practice
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Required Credits: 128
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Geographic Information Systems Technology (GIST)
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Literacy, Learning and Leadership
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Information Science and ESociety
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Organizational Leadership
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Law
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Political Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Regional Commerce
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Intelligence and Information Operations
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in History
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Philosophy: Ethics
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Biology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Nutritional Sciences
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Spanish
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Sports and Society
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Public Health
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Sustainable Built Environments
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Social Behavior and Human Understanding
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  5. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    68%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    21K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1135/24

  6. #11

    Florida State University

    Tallahassee , FL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    37%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    41K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1285/29

    Florida State University’s Most Influential Golfers

    1. Brooks Koepka
    2. Paul Azinger
    3. Jonas Blixt
    4. Daniel Berger
    5. George McNeill
    6. Bob Duval
    7. Kenny Knox
    8. Drew Kittleson
    9. Hank Lebioda
    10. Jack Maguire
    11. Kris Tamulis
    12. Colleen Walker
    13. Harry Ellis
    14. Lisa Walters
    15. Nolan Henke
    16. Barb Bunkowsky
    17. Richie Karl
    18. Chase Seiffert
    19. Caroline Westrup
    20. Frida Kinhult
    21. Matilda Castren
    22. Stephen Keppler
    23. Bob Shave
    24. Ken Staton
    25. Jeremy Robinson

    Florida State University’s Online Degrees

    BA in Computer Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Computer Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Public Safety and Security
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  7. #12

    University of Florida

    Gainesville , FL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    30%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    48K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1375/31

  8. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    47%

    Student body

    26K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1140/22

    University of Nevada’s Most Influential Golfers

    1. Adam Scott
    2. Chad Campbell
    3. Derek Ernst
    4. Bill Lunde
    5. James Oh
    6. Garrick Higgo
    7. Ed Fryatt
    8. Seungsu Han

    University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s Online Degrees

    BA in Anthropology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Multidisciplinary Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Urban Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  9. #14

    Northwestern University

    Evanston , IL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    20K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1490/34

  10. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    20%

    Graduation

    90%

    Student body

    25K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1385/30

  11. #16

    University of Alabama

    Tuscaloosa , AL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    72%

    Student body

    35K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1200/27

    University of Alabama’s Most Influential Golfers

    1. Justin Thomas
    2. Jerry Pate
    3. Jason Bohn
    4. Bud Cauley
    5. Michael Thompson
    6. Steve Lowery
    7. Dicky Pride
    8. Brooke Pancake
    9. Stephanie Meadow
    10. Emma Talley
    11. Mårten Olander
    12. Leslie Spalding
    13. Camilla Lennarth
    14. Lee Rinker
    15. Robby Shelton
    16. Sofia Grönberg-Whitmore
    17. Jan-Are Larsen
    18. Bobby Wyatt
    19. Gavin Moynihan
    20. Alan Pate
    21. Lauren Stephenson

    University of Alabama’s Online Degrees

    BS in Food and Nutrition
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Early Childhood Education
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Hospitality Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Human Development and Family Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Child Life
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Human Environmental Sciences
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Human Environmental Sciences, Consumer Sciences
    Degree Concentrations
    • Consumer Affairs
    • Family Financial Planning and Counseling
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS/BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Nursing
    • Required Credits: 25/ 125
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Mechanical Engineering
    • Required Credits: 128
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
    BS in Commerce and Business Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • General Business
    • Management
    • Accounting
    • Marketing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Social Work
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
  12. #17

    Augusta University

    Augusta , GA

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    73%

    Graduation

    50%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1115/22

    Augusta University’s Most Influential Golfers

    1. Patrick Reed
    2. Oliver Wilson
    3. Henrik Norlander
    4. Scott Jamieson
    5. Richard Johnson
    6. Jamie Elson
    7. David Park
    8. Taylor Smith

    Augusta University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Radiologic Sciences
    Degree Concentrations
    • Radiation Therapy
    • Required Credits: 124
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
  13. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    46K

  14. Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    38%

    Graduation

    76%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1195/25

    San Diego State University’s Most Influential Golfers

    1. Xander Schauffele
    2. Gene Littler
    3. Scott Piercy
    4. Paige Spiranac
    5. Emilee Klein
    6. J. J. Spaun
    7. Lon Hinkle
    8. Gunn Yang
    9. Aaron Goldberg
    10. Greg Twiggs
    11. Barbara Barrow
    12. Johan Carlsson
    13. Kitrina Douglas

    San Diego State University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 49-55
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 51-60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  15. #22

    Auburn University

    Auburn , AL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    71%

    Graduation

    81%

    Student body

    28K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1240/28

    Auburn University’s Most Influential Golfers

    1. Jason Dufner
    2. Patton Kizzire
    3. Gary Christian
    4. John Huston
    5. Roland Thatcher
    6. Danielle Downey
    7. Celeste Troche
    8. Blayne Barber
    9. Lee Williams
    10. Jovan Rebula
    11. Will Claxton
    12. Cydney Clanton
    13. Jimmy Green
    14. Iain Steel
    15. Buddy Gardner
    16. James Mason

    Auburn University’s Online Degrees

    BSBA in Accountancy
    Degree Concentrations
    • Second Degree
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSBA in None
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  16. #25

    Duke University

    Durham , NC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    14K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

And for even more colleges with strong athletics programs, take a look at the Most Influential Colleges in Sports Today.

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