By position
Final year = seniors and grad students at four-year colleges, sophomores at junior colleges. Some come back for another season; most move on.
Midfielder
772 programmes
1,958 / 8,641
in their final year
Defender
772 programmes
1,833 / 7,834
in their final year
Forward
769 programmes
1,284 / 5,606
in their final year
Goalkeeper
772 programmes
634 / 2,795
in their final year
By division
D1
NCAA Division I
187
programmes · median roster 29
28.3% of players from outside the US and Canada
D2
NCAA Division II
179
programmes · median roster 34
32.4% of players from outside the US and Canada
D3
NCAA Division III
326
programmes · median roster 32
11.2% of players from outside the US and Canada
NAIA
NAIA
81
programmes · median roster 33
49.9% of players from outside the US and Canada
JUCO
Junior college (NJCAA)
42
programmes · median roster 28
33.2% of players from outside the US and Canada
Where players come from
25% international, 2% Canada, 73% US (players with a listed hometown).
- 1NY1,771
- 2CA1,437
- 3TX1,315
- 4PA1,094
- 5NJ1,061
- 6IL1,051
- 7FL763
- 8OH704
Find your spot
Calldup matches you with men's soccer programmes in your divisions and regions, shows how many players at your position are in their final year at each one, and gives you the coaches' published contacts with an email drafted for you.
- ✓ Programmes ranked by turnover at your position
- ✓ Coach contacts exactly as each school publishes them
- ✓ Contact dates and eligibility for every division
What coaches look for, by position
Goalkeeper
- Shot-stopping: set position, footwork and handling on shots from different ranges
- Dealing with crosses and command of the penalty area
- Communication and organising the back line
- Distribution with hands and feet, including playing out from the back under pressure
- Decision-making on when to come off the line, including one-v-one situations
- Composure after mistakes
Defender
- One-v-one defending and body position
- Positioning and reading of the game, including covering for teammates
- Aerial ability
- Passing out of the back and composure on the ball
- Recovery speed
- Communication
- For fullbacks/wingbacks: getting forward and crossing
Midfielder
- First touch and receiving on the half-turn
- Passing range and accuracy under pressure
- Scanning and awareness before receiving
- Ball-winning and defensive work rate
- Fitness to cover ground across the match
- Chance creation and shooting (attacking midfielders)
Forward
- Finishing with both feet and with the head
- Movement off the ball and timing of runs
- One-v-one attacking ability and pace
- Hold-up play and link-up with teammates
- Pressing and defensive effort from the front
- Composure in front of goal
Sources
- 2026-27 NCAA Division I Manual - NCAA
- 2026-27 NCAA Division II Manual - NCAA
- 2026-27 NCAA Division III Manual - NCAA
- NCAA Recruiting (Eligibility Center) - NCAA Eligibility Center
- Becoming an NCAA Student-Athlete as an International Student - NCAA Eligibility Center
- High School Students (Prospective Student-Athletes) - NAIA
- International Students (Prospective Student-Athletes) - NAIA
- PlayNAIA - NAIA Eligibility Center - NAIA
- NJCAA Handbook - Bylaws 2026-27 (9-9-26) - NJCAA
- 2026-2027 NJCAA Sports Procedures Chart (9-9-26) - NJCAA
- Guide for Two-Year Transfers 2025-26 (published December 2025) - NCAA (linked from njcaa.org)
- Men's Soccer Recruiting FAQ - University of Massachusetts Athletics
- Recruits FAQ - University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Athletics
- College Recruiting and Club Tournaments - USA Volleyball
- About MLS NEXT - Major League Soccer
- ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) home page - ECNL
- About US Youth Soccer - US Youth Soccer
Counts from each programme's latest varsity roster on the schools' own sites. Not rankings. Latest rosters as read on 2026-10-15. A programme with players in their final year isn't a promise of a spot - coaches decide.