Find the colleges and universities that have the biggest impact in swimming and diving based on the influence of their alumni in swimming and diving. See which schools have proven histories of attracting and cultivating some of the most influential athletes today.
Topping the list of best colleges and universities for swimming is the University of Michigan, followed closely by University of Texas at Austin and University of California, Berkeley. The college athletics swimming program at Michigan owes its top spot to the towering influence of Michael Phelps. With a record 23 gold medals, and 28 medals overall, Phelps is both the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time and the consensus pick as the greatest swimmer the sport has ever seen. Phelps is joined on the list by Olympic teammate and fellow gold-medalist Peter Vanderkaay as well as one-time Wolverines swimmer turned long-time swimming and diving coach (1982–2004) Jon Urbanchek.
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
26%
Graduation
93%
Student body
45K
Median SAT/ACT
1435/32
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
32%
Graduation
88%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1355/30
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
92%
Student body
43K
Median SAT/ACT
1430/33
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
31%
Graduation
89%
Student body
47K
Median SAT/ACT
1390/30
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
79%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1235/28
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
16%
Graduation
92%
Student body
40K
Median SAT/ACT
1445/32
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
95%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/33
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
48%
Graduation
87%
Student body
38K
Median SAT/ACT
1330/29
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
80%
Student body
41K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/27
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
37%
Graduation
84%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1355/30
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
65%
Student body
39K
Median SAT/ACT
1235/25
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
46%
Graduation
84%
Student body
31K
Median SAT/ACT
1335/29
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
71%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1240/27
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
33%
Graduation
83%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1355/30
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
83%
Student body
43K
Median SAT/ACT
1315/28
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
95%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1495/34
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
98%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/34
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
83%
Student body
59K
Median SAT/ACT
1275/28
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
90%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1445/32
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
91%
Student body
45K
Median SAT/ACT
1415/32
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
66%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1240/25
Tuition + fees
$64K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
96%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/34
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
87%
Student body
56K
Median SAT/ACT
1355/30
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
81%
Student body
5K
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
60%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1180/25
And for even more colleges with strong athletics programs, take a look at the Most Influential Colleges in Sports Today.