Cross country tests an athlete's endurance, strength, agility and mental toughness. The best cross country athletes also possess the ability to traverse difficult terrain and weather conditions.
In 2025, Oklahoma State won the men's title for the second in three years, while NC State won the women's title for the fourth in five years.
Combining men's and women's events, Villanova has won the most overall championships, taking home 13 titles in total. Arkansas is second with 12 and Oregon rounds out the top three with 10.
See the list of all-time NCAA Cross Country Championship winners below:
Note: Cross country was one of 12 women's sports added to the NCAA championship program during the 1981-82 school year.
2025: Oklahoma State (M), North Carolina State (W)
2024: BYU (W), BYU (W)
2023: Oklahoma State (M), North Carolina State (W)
2022: Northern Arizona (M), North Carolina State (W)
2021: Northern Arizona (M), North Carolina State (W)
2020: Northern Arizona (W), BYU (W)
2019: BYU (W), Arkansas (W)
2018: Northern Arizona (M), Colorado (W)
2017: Northern Arizona (M), New Mexico (W)
2016: Northern Arizona (M), Oregon (W)
2015: Syracuse (M), New Mexico (W)
2014: Colorado (M), Michigan State (W)
2013: Colorado (M), Providencia (F)
2012: Oklahoma State (M), Oregon (W)
2011: Wisconsin (W), Georgetown (W)
2010: Oklahoma State (M), Villanova (W)
2009: Oklahoma State (M), Villanova (W)
2008: Oregon (M), Washington (M)
2007: Oregon (M), Stanford (F)
2006: Colorado (W), Stanford (W)
2005: Wisconsin (W), Stanford (W)
2004: Colorado (M), Colorado (W)
2003: Stanford (M), Stanford (W)
2002: Stanford (W), BYU (W)
2001: Colorado (W), BYU (W)
2000: Arkansas (M), Colorado (W)
1999: Arkansas (W), BYU (W)
1998: Arkansas (M), Villanova (W)
1997: Stanford (W), BYU (W)
1996: Stanford (M), Stanford (W)
1995: Arkansas (M), Providence (F)
1994: Iowa State (M), Villanova (W)
1993: Arkansas (M), Villanova (W)
1992: Arkansas (W), Villanova (W)
1991: Arkansas (W), Villanova (W)
1990: Arkansas (W), Villanova (W)
1989: Iowa State (M), Villanova (W)
1988: Wisconsin (M), Kentucky (M)
1987: Arkansas (W), Oregon (W)
1986: Arkansas (W), Texas (W)
1985: Wisconsin (W), Wisconsin (W)
1984: Arkansas (M), Wisconsin (M)
1983: UTEP (W)*, Oregon (W)
1982: Wisconsin (W), Virginia (W)
1981: UTEP (M), Virginia (M)
1980: UTEP (W)
1979: UTEP (W)
1978: UTEP (M)
1977: Oregon (M)
1976: UTEP (W)
1975: UTEP (W)
1974: Oregon (W)
1973: Oregon (W)
1972: Tennessee (W)
1971: Oregon (W)
1970: Villanueva (M)
1969: UTEP (W)
1968: Villanueva (M)
1967: Villanueva (M)
1966: Villanueva (M)
1965: Western Michigan (M)
1964: Western Michigan (M)
1963: San José State (M)
1962: San José State (M)
1961: Oregon State (M)
1960: Houston (W)
1959: Michigan State (M)
1958: Michigan State (M)
1957: Notre Dame (M)
1956: Michigan State (M)
1955: Michigan State (M)
1954: Oklahoma State (M)
1953: Kansas (W)
1952: Michigan State (M)
1951: Syracuse (M)
1950: Pennsylvania (M)
1949: Michigan State (M)
1948: Michigan State (M)
1947: Pennsylvania (M)
1946: Drake (M)
[1945:Drake(M)[1945:Drake(M)
1944: Drake (M)
1942: Indiana/Penn State (M)
1941: Rhode Island (M)
1940: Indiana (M)
1939: Michigan State (M)
1938: Indiana (W)
*Unoccupied
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