The Best Men’s Rowing Colleges | 2025

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Understanding the Different Divisions in Men's Collegiate Rowing

When researching the best men's rowing colleges, it’s important to understand how collegiate rowing is structured in the U.S., including the distinctions between Division 1, 2, and 3, as well as the role of men’s lightweight rowing colleges. Across D1, D2, D3, and lightweight, there are 75 men’s varsity rowing programs competing nationally.

That said, the traditional NCAA division labels only tell part of the story. In reality, there’s a wide range of competitiveness within each division. A D1 crew making the IRA Grand Final is a very different beast from a D1 crew racing in the Dad Vail Grand Final. The same goes for D3. Some programs are medal contenders at major regattas, while others are still developing or built around walk-ons.

A more helpful way to understand the college rowing landscape is by grouping teams into three general tiers:

• Top D1: Consistently ranked in the national top 20, regularly earns IRA bids, and supported by strong recruiting, coaching, and facilities

• Mid-level D1 / Top D3: Typically ranked around 20–25 or receiving votes, occasionally qualifies for the IRA, and often reaches Grand Finals at regattas like Dad Vail

• Developing D3 / Lower-tier D1: Not nationally ranked, doesn’t compete at the IRA, and often has limited resources with a higher percentage of walk-ons

Even within these tiers, programs can vary significantly in terms of financial resources, training hours, water access, and recruiting strength. In fact, there is often more overlap between top D3 teams and lower-tier D1 programs than you might expect.

With that context in mind, here’s a breakdown of each NCAA division and how it fits into the broader picture of men’s collegiate rowing.

Jump to the 2025 Rankings ↓

Division 1 (D1) Rowing: 39 Colleges

Competitive Level:
D1 men's rowing represents the highest level of collegiate rowing in the U.S., home to many of the top men's college rowing programs. These teams compete at the national level in regattas such as the IRA National Championships and the Eastern Sprints. Athletes are often recruited from elite junior programs and many aspire to compete on the international or Olympic stage.

Scholarship Availability:
Unlike NCAA women’s rowing, men’s rowing is governed by the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA), not the NCAA. As a result, athletic scholarships for men’s rowing are limited. However, many of the best programs offer strong institutional support, merit-based academic aid, and generous financial aid packages.

Commitment:
Training and travel expectations are high. Athletes are allowed to row up to 20 hours per week as part of an organized training program, with a limit of 4 hours per day. Athletes can expect daily practices, team lifts, and racing schedules that include national regattas such as the Head of the Charles, IRA Championships, and dual races against top rivals.

Best Men’s College Rowing Teams in 2025

Based on results from the 2025 IRA National Championships and consistent team performance, here are the best college rowing teams this year:

1. University of Washington

2. Harvard University

3. Dartmouth College

4. Princeton University

5. Brown University

6. Syracuse University

7. UC Berkeley, Cal

8. Northeastern University

9. Stanford University

10. University of Pennsylvania

11. Yale University

12. United States Naval Academy

13. Cornell University

14. University of Wisconsin-Madison

15. La Salle University

16. Columbia University

17. Boston University

18. Temple University

19. Georgetown University

20. Holy Cross

Division 2 (D2) Rowing: 2 Colleges

Competitive Level:
Men’s D2 rowing programs provide strong racing opportunities, often with fewer resources and a more balanced student-athlete lifestyle than D1. However, several teams still participate in high-level regattas and recruit competitive rowers.

Scholarships:
Limited athletic scholarships may be available, depending on the school. Students often rely on a mix of academic aid and institutional support.

Commitment:
While not as intense as Division 1, still demands a high level of commitment. Athletes can train up to 20 hours per week during the main season, with two required days off to support recovery and balance. Teams typically hold multiple practices each week and travel for both regional and national competitions. During the offseason 65-day training window, rowers are limited to 15 hours of organized training per week, still with two mandatory rest days built in.

Division 3 (D3) Rowing: 23 Colleges

Competitive Level:
D3 men's rowing emphasizes a balanced college experience, blending athletics, academics, and extracurricular involvement. Competition remains strong, but the approach is more flexible compared to D1 or D2, allowing athletes to engage deeply in academic pursuits alongside their sport.

Scholarships:
D3 programs do not offer athletic scholarships. However, many athletes benefit from academic merit-based awards and need-based financial aid packages.

Commitment:
While not as intense as Division 1, still demands a high level of commitment. Athletes can train up to 20 hours per week during the main season, with one required day off to support recovery and balance. Teams typically hold multiple practices each week and travel for both regional and national competitions.

Lightweight Rowing: 10 Colleges

Category Specifics:
Men's lightweight rowing imposes a crew average weight limit (≤160 lbs or 72.5 kg). Many of the best men’s lightweight rowing colleges operate within D1 programs but maintain separate varsity teams for lightweights.

Scholarships:
Scholarship opportunities vary depending on the program’s affiliation with a D1 university. Funding can be more limited compared to open-weight programs.

Commitment:
Despite their smaller team sizes, lightweight rowing teams compete at the highest levels, frequently racing at prestigious regattas such as the IRA National Championships and the Eastern Sprints, demanding strong commitment from athletes.

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Full List of Colleges:

D1 Men’s Rowing Ranking | 2025

2025 Rank	College	2024 Rank	Change	Division	Location
1	University of Washington	1	—	Division I	Seattle, WA
2	Harvard University	2	—	Division I	Cambridge, MA
3	Dartmouth College	11	↑ +8	Division I	Hanover, NH
4	Princeton University	4	—	Division I	Princeton, NJ
5	Brown University	7	↑ +2	Division I	Providence, RI
6	Syracuse University	6	—	Division I	Syracuse, NY
7	University of California, Berkeley	3	↓ –4	Division I	Berkeley, CA
8	Northeastern University	9	↑ +1	Division I	Boston, MA
9	Stanford University	12	↑ +3	Division I	Stanford, CA
10	University of Pennsylvania	8	↓ –2	Division I	Philadelphia, PA
11	Yale University	5	↓ –6	Division I	New Haven, CT
12	United States Naval Academy	15	↑ +3	Division I	Annapolis, MD
13	Cornell University	13	—	Division I	Ithaca, NY
14	University of Wisconsin	19	↑ +5	Division I	Madison, WI
15	La Salle University	17	↑ +2	Division I	Philadelphia, PA
16	Columbia University	14	↓ –2	Division I	New York, NY
17	Boston University	10	↓ –7	Division I	Boston, MA
18	Temple University	24	↑ +6	Division I	Philadelphia, PA
19	Georgetown University	18	↓ –1	Division I	Washington, DC
20	College of the Holy Cross	20	—	Division I	Worcester, MA
21	Oregon State University	21	—	Division I	Corvallis, OR
22	MIT	22	—	Division I	Cambridge, MA
23	UC San Diego	25	↑ +2	Division I	La Jolla, CA
24	Gonzaga University	26	↑ +2	Division I	Spokane, WA
25	Drexel University	16	↓ –9	Division I	Philadelphia, PA
26	University of Notre Dame	23	↓ –3	Division I	Notre Dame, IN
27	Saint Joseph’s University	28	↑ +1	Division I	Philadelphia, PA
28	Santa Clara University	27	↓ –1	Division I	Santa Clara, CA
29	University of San Diego	38	↑ +9	Division I	San Diego, CA
30	Rutgers University	30	—	Division I	New Brunswick, NJ
31	Marist College	31	—	Division I	Poughkeepsie, NY
32	Colgate University	36	↑ +4	Division I	Hamilton, NY
33	Jacksonville University	29	↓ –4	Division I	Jacksonville, FL
34	University of California, Irvine	32	↓ –2	Division I	Irvine, CA
35	Fairfield University	33	↓ –2	Division I	Fairfield, CT
36	Loyola Marymount University	34	↓ –2	Division I	Los Angeles, CA
37	Loyola University Maryland	35	↓ –2	Division I	Baltimore, MD
38	Iona University	36	↓ –2	Division I	New Rochelle, NY
39	Long Island University	39	—	Division I	Brooklyn, NY

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Lightweight Men’s Rowing Ranking | 2025

2025 Rank	College	2024 Rank	Change	Division	Location
1	Harvard University	2	↑ +1	Lightweight (IRA)	Cambridge, MA
2	Dartmouth College	7	↑ +5	Lightweight (IRA)	Hanover, NH
3	MIT	10	↑ +7	Lightweight (IRA)	Cambridge, MA
4	University of Pennsylvania	3	↓ –1	Lightweight (IRA)	Philadelphia, PA
5	Princeton University	1	↓ –4	Lightweight (IRA)	Princeton, NJ
6	United States Naval Academy	4	↓ –2	Lightweight (IRA)	Annapolis, MD
7	Georgetown University	9	↑ +2	Lightweight (IRA)	Washington, DC
8	Yale University	6	↓ –2	Lightweight (IRA)	New Haven, CT
9	Columbia University	8	↓ –1	Lightweight (IRA)	New York, NY
10	Cornell University	5	↓ –5	Lightweight (IRA)	Ithaca, NY

D2 Men’s Rowing Ranking | 2025 Rankings

2025 Rank	College	Division	Location
1	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University	Division II	Daytona Beach, FL
2	Rollins College	Division II	Winter Park, FL

D3 Men’s Rowing Ranking | 2025 Rankings

2025 Rank	College	2024 Rank	Change	Location
1	Trinity College	4	↑ +3	Hartford, CT
2	Tufts University	3	↑ +1	Medford, MA
3	Bates College	5	↑ +2	Lewiston, ME
4	Williams College	2	↓ –2	Williamstown, MA
5	Wesleyan University	1	↓ –4	Middletown, CT
6	Hobart & William Smith Colleges	8	↑ +2	Geneva, NY
7	United States Coast Guard Academy	6	↓ –1	New London, CT
8	Ithaca College	7	↓ –1	Ithaca, NY
9	Vassar College	15	↑ +6	Poughkeepsie, NY
10	Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)	11	↑ +1	Worcester, MA
11	Hamilton College	12	↑ +1	Clinton, NY
12	Marietta College	10	↓ –2	Marietta, OH
13	Colby College	9	↓ –4	Waterville, ME
14	Skidmore College	17	↑ +3	Saratoga Springs, NY
15	Milwaukee School of Engineering	19	↑ +4	Milwaukee, WI
16	Middlebury College	—	NEW	Middlebury, VT
17	Union College	14	↓ –3	Schenectady, NY
18	St. Mary’s College of Maryland	21	↑ +3	St. Mary’s City, MD
19	Washington College (MD)	20	↑ +1	Chestertown, MD
20	St. Lawrence University	13	↓ –7	Canton, NY
21	Connecticut College	22	↑ +1	New London, CT
22	Rochester Institute of Technology	16	↓ –6	Rochester, NY
23	Bowdoin College	—	NEW	Brunswick, ME

Final Thoughts on Choosing the Right Program

Selecting the right rowing program is a personal decision based on many factors, including athletic goals, academic interests, and the campus experience you’re looking for. Whether you're aiming for a competitive D1 program, the balanced atmosphere of D2 or D3, or focusing on lightweight rowing, there’s a college that will fit your needs and aspirations.

It's essential to visit campuses, talk to coaches, and consider how each school aligns with your academic and athletic goals. We hope this guide helps you get started on your journey to finding the best rowing program for you.

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Choosing a college rowing program is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make and the rankings only tell part of the story. If you want clear guidance on which teams fit your academics, performance, and long-term goals, we help athletes build personalised U.S. recruiting plans that actually get results.