The Saint John’s University football program was ranked No. 1 in College Athletic Advisor’s Top 20 Programs That Inspire on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

The program rankings are open to all four-year, collegiate-level programs outside of NCAA Division I and are based on a subjective assessment of student experience in four areas:

• Holistic development of student-athletes in the institution;
• Academic achievement and support for the academic success of student-athletes;
• Overall college experience for participants within the program;
• Affordability/graduation rates/student satisfaction.

Although College Athletic Advisor’s list is subjective, the organization believes these rankings “present an informed starting point for a discussion about where student-athletes can excel as ‘triple-threat’ competitors (academics, athletics, and socially) in college and in their future lives.”

College Athletic Advisor’s Top 20 Programs That Inspire

1. Saint John’s University (NCAA Division III)
2. Central Missouri (NCAA Division II)
3. Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Division III)
4. Texas A&M-Commerce (Division II)
5. West Florida (Division II)
6. Salisbury, Md.  (Division III)
7. MSU-Mankato (Division II)
8. Carroll, Mont. (NAIA)
9. Wisconsin-Whitewater  (Division III)
10. Valdosta State, Ga. (Division II)
11. Grand Valley State, Mich. (Division II)
12. Marian, Ind. (NAIA)
13. Linfield, Ore.  (Division III)
14. Chapman, Calif.  (Division III)
15. Savannah State, Ga. (Division II)
16. Trinity, Conn. (Division III)
17. Muhlenberg, Pa. (Division III)
18. Union, N.Y.  (Division III)
19. Benedictine, Kan. (NAIA)
20. Shepherd, W.Va. (Division II)