Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Finishes 20th In LEARFIELD Directors' Cup Standings
June 30, 2026 | Field Hockey, General, Men's Cross Country, Men's Fencing, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming and Diving, Men's Track and Field, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Fencing, Women's Rowing - Open, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball
Final Results
Princeton's overall athletic success for the 2025-26 academic year has once again vaulted the Tigers into the upper echelon of Division I athletic programs as the Tigers finished 20th in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings which tracks the overall success of athletic programs across all levels of collegiate athletics based on results at national championships.
To determine a school's score, a maximum of 19 total sports are counted for the final standings including the five mandatory countable sports (men's and women's basketball, baseball, women's soccer and women's volleyball), and the next highest 14 (max.) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender.
Princeton scored 878.50 points to set a new school record for points in a year which surpassed yhe 868.50 points scored by the Tigers during the 2021-22 year. The 20th place overall finish is the second-highest ever by Princeton, trailing only the 18th-place finish secured in 2021-22.
"Princeton is proud of the tremendous effort put in by every student-athlete, coach, administrator and staff member that has led to a 20th place finish in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings and a record-setting amount of points scored this year," said Ford Family Director of Athletics John Mack '00. "Our success, not only at the conference level but in our 22 NCAA Championships competed in during 2025-26, is a testament to the belief we all have in our broad-based model and to the commitment we have at Princeton to providing a world-class educational and athletic experience that allows student-athletes to compete and achieve in all areas. Everyone associated with Princeton Athletics is grateful to the student-athletes we have the privilege to work with every day who have embraced the opportunities Princeton affords and represented our University at the highest levels all year en route to national championships, All-American finishes and record-breaking individual performances.
The Tigers were the highest-finishing department from a non-Power conference for the fourth time in the last five years and led the Ivy League for the 28th time in the last 31 years.
Texas was the overall champion with 1,322.00 points while Stanford was second with 1,263.50. UCLA was third (1,199.25), North Carolina fourth (1,166.75) and Virginia fifth (1,148.75) to round out the Top 5.
Notre Dame was just ahead of Princeton in 19th with 898.50 points while Penn State trailed the Tigers in 21st with 864.50. In terms of the Ivy League, Princeton finished almost 300 points ahead of the next-highest ranking Ivy which was Yale in 45th with 589.00 points.
Ivy League Finishes In 2025-26 LEARFIELD Directors' Cup
20. Princeton; 878.50 points
45. Yale; 589.00
48. Harvard; 547.50
67. Penn; 371.50
69. Columbia; 348.50
78. Cornell; 303.50
131. Brown; 127.00
137. Dartmouth; 122.00
Princeton Programs That Counted In 2025-26 LEARFIELD Directors' Cup Standings
Men's Lacrosse (1st; 100 points)
Field Hockey (2nd; 90 points)
Women's Fencing (3rd; 85 points)
Women's Rowing (6th; 72 points)
Men's Fencing (9th; 63 points)
Wrestling (20th; 54 points)
Men's Swimming & Diving (22nd; 52 points)
Men's Soccer (17th; 50 points)
Women's Indoor Track & Field (27th; 47 points)
Men's Cross Country (27th; 47 points)
Men's Indoor Track & Field (26th; 46.5 points)
Men's Outdoor Track & Field (26th; 46.5 points)
Women's Track & Field (35th; 38 points)
Softball (33rd; 37.5 points)
Women's Basketball (33rd; 25 points)
Women's Volleyball (33rd; 25 points)
In addition, the following programs competed at NCAA Championships and were eligible to be scored
Women's Cross Country (33rd; 28 points)
Men's Water Polo (5th; 25 points)
Women's Ice Hockey (9th; 25 points)
Women's Lacrosse (17th; 25 points)
Men's Tennis (33rd; 25 points)
Women's Swimming & Diving (43rd; 17 points)
All total, 22 of Princeton's 30 programs eligible to score in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup reached their NCAA Championship this season. On top of Princeton's Top-20 Directors' Cup finish, the 2025-26 year saw the Tigers secure a record 20 conference championships across its 38 varsity sports.
Princeton's overall athletic success for the 2025-26 academic year has once again vaulted the Tigers into the upper echelon of Division I athletic programs as the Tigers finished 20th in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings which tracks the overall success of athletic programs across all levels of collegiate athletics based on results at national championships.
To determine a school's score, a maximum of 19 total sports are counted for the final standings including the five mandatory countable sports (men's and women's basketball, baseball, women's soccer and women's volleyball), and the next highest 14 (max.) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender.
Princeton scored 878.50 points to set a new school record for points in a year which surpassed yhe 868.50 points scored by the Tigers during the 2021-22 year. The 20th place overall finish is the second-highest ever by Princeton, trailing only the 18th-place finish secured in 2021-22.
"Princeton is proud of the tremendous effort put in by every student-athlete, coach, administrator and staff member that has led to a 20th place finish in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings and a record-setting amount of points scored this year," said Ford Family Director of Athletics John Mack '00. "Our success, not only at the conference level but in our 22 NCAA Championships competed in during 2025-26, is a testament to the belief we all have in our broad-based model and to the commitment we have at Princeton to providing a world-class educational and athletic experience that allows student-athletes to compete and achieve in all areas. Everyone associated with Princeton Athletics is grateful to the student-athletes we have the privilege to work with every day who have embraced the opportunities Princeton affords and represented our University at the highest levels all year en route to national championships, All-American finishes and record-breaking individual performances.
The Tigers were the highest-finishing department from a non-Power conference for the fourth time in the last five years and led the Ivy League for the 28th time in the last 31 years.
Texas was the overall champion with 1,322.00 points while Stanford was second with 1,263.50. UCLA was third (1,199.25), North Carolina fourth (1,166.75) and Virginia fifth (1,148.75) to round out the Top 5.
Notre Dame was just ahead of Princeton in 19th with 898.50 points while Penn State trailed the Tigers in 21st with 864.50. In terms of the Ivy League, Princeton finished almost 300 points ahead of the next-highest ranking Ivy which was Yale in 45th with 589.00 points.
Ivy League Finishes In 2025-26 LEARFIELD Directors' Cup
20. Princeton; 878.50 points
45. Yale; 589.00
48. Harvard; 547.50
67. Penn; 371.50
69. Columbia; 348.50
78. Cornell; 303.50
131. Brown; 127.00
137. Dartmouth; 122.00
Princeton Programs That Counted In 2025-26 LEARFIELD Directors' Cup Standings
Men's Lacrosse (1st; 100 points)
Field Hockey (2nd; 90 points)
Women's Fencing (3rd; 85 points)
Women's Rowing (6th; 72 points)
Men's Fencing (9th; 63 points)
Wrestling (20th; 54 points)
Men's Swimming & Diving (22nd; 52 points)
Men's Soccer (17th; 50 points)
Women's Indoor Track & Field (27th; 47 points)
Men's Cross Country (27th; 47 points)
Men's Indoor Track & Field (26th; 46.5 points)
Men's Outdoor Track & Field (26th; 46.5 points)
Women's Track & Field (35th; 38 points)
Softball (33rd; 37.5 points)
Women's Basketball (33rd; 25 points)
Women's Volleyball (33rd; 25 points)
In addition, the following programs competed at NCAA Championships and were eligible to be scored
Women's Cross Country (33rd; 28 points)
Men's Water Polo (5th; 25 points)
Women's Ice Hockey (9th; 25 points)
Women's Lacrosse (17th; 25 points)
Men's Tennis (33rd; 25 points)
Women's Swimming & Diving (43rd; 17 points)
All total, 22 of Princeton's 30 programs eligible to score in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup reached their NCAA Championship this season. On top of Princeton's Top-20 Directors' Cup finish, the 2025-26 year saw the Tigers secure a record 20 conference championships across its 38 varsity sports.
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