Top Wrestling Colleges in the US
Collegiate wrestling has die-hard fan bases who pack arenas across the country to watch the biggest matches. Of all of the collegiate wrestling programs, there are five that stand out above all other universities.
Here is a list of the top wrestling colleges in the US that includes their championships and most famous wrestlers.
5 Cornell University(Big Red)
- 28 EIWA Champions
- Multiple Wrestling Champions
One of the top wrestling colleges in the US that always comes up is Cornell University. For decades, Cornell has been known for producing some of the best wrestlers in the country.
In the history of the university, Big Red wrestling has produced over 25 individual wrestling champions and 28 EIWA. Two of the most accomplished wrestlers to come from Cornell are Kyle Dake and Yianni Diakomihalis.
Both are two of the seven wrestlers in history to win four straight NCAA titles. Dake is the only wrestler in history to win four national titles in four different weight classes.
4 University of Minnesota(Golden Gophers)
- 3x NCAA Team Champion
- Notable Wrestlers: Brock Lesnar, Cole Konrad, Tony Nelson
The University of Minnesota is easily one of the top wrestling colleges in the US. Legendary Coach Jay Robinson helped build Minnesota’s wrestling program into a national powerhouse.
In the history of Minnesota wrestling, they have won three national team titles. Their most amazing national title win was in 2001 when they won the team national title with no individual finalists.
Minnesota has produced eighteen individual national champions, who won twenty-four NCAA titles.
3 Penn State University(Nittany Lions)
- 13 National Team Titles
- 55 Individual National Champions
Over the last twenty years, the Penn State Nittany Lions have become one of the top wrestling colleges in the US. Ever since wrestling legend Cael Sanderson took over the program, Penn State became a wrestling powerhouse.
The Nittany Lions have won thirteen national titles, which includes their amazing current run. This includes winning four straight national titles twice from 2010-2024.
Some of the great Nittany Lion champions include Olympic champ David Taylor, Zain Retherford, and current UFC vet Bo Nickal.
2 University of Iowa(Hawkeyes)
- 24 National Team Champions
- 85 Individual Champions
Iowa is no doubt one of the top wrestling colleges in the US. When you ask someone about great collegiate wrestling schools, the University of Iowa is immediately mentioned.
In the history of the college’s wrestling program, the Hawkeyes have won twenty-four national team champions. From 1978 to 1987, Iowa won a record nine-straight NCAA team titles.
Legendary Iowa coaches like Dan Gable and Tom Brands were legendary champions who produced numerous champions. Iowa has currently produced 55 individual champions, who won 85 national titles.
1 Oklahoma State University(Cowboys)
- 34 NCAA Team Champions(NCAA Record)
- 143 Individual NCAA Champions
Of all of the top wrestling colleges in the US, there has been no other school as successful as Oklahoma State. The wrestling icon John Smith built the greatest program in the history of collegiate wrestling.
When you look at Oklahoma State wrestling’s states, they seem unbelievable. In the history of OSU history, the Cowboys have currently won a staggering 34 national team titles and 143 individual titles.
Recently, the great John Smith retired and stepped down as OSU’s head coach. Now Olympic champion David Taylor has taken the reigns as head coach and looks to continue the school’s dominance.
