| 1961 NCAA swimming and diving championships | |
| Hostcity: | Seattle, Washington |
| Dates: | March 1961 |
| Venues: | Pavilion Pool University of Washington |
| Teams: | 27 |
| Events: | 16 |
| Previous: | 1960 |
| Next: | 1962 |
The 1961 NCAA swimming and diving championships were contested at the 25th annual championship swim meet sanctioned and hosted by the NCAA to determine the individual and team national champions of men's collegiate swimming and diving among its Division I member programs in the United States, culminating the 1960–61 NCAA swimming and diving season.
These championships were hosted by the University of Washington at the Pavilion Pool in Seattle, Washington during March 1961.
Michigan finished twenty-three points ahead of defending champions USC in the team championship standings, the Wolverines' tenth national title and fourth in five seasons.[1]
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 85 | |
| USC (DC) | 62 | |
| 59 | ||
| 26 | ||
| 24 | ||
| 20 | ||
| 18 | ||
| 13.5 | ||
| 12 | ||
| 10.5 | ||
| 9 | ||
| 8 | ||
| 7 | ||
| North Central (IL) | ||
| 5 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 3.5 | ||
| Navy | ||
| 3 | ||
| SMU | ||
| Wisconsin | ||
| 2 | ||
| Purdue | ||
| Stanford | ||
| Washington (H) | ||
| 1 | ||
| Washington State |
| 50 yard freestyle | Michigan | 21.4 | ||
| 100 yard freestyle | Minnesota | 48.5 | ||
| 220 yard freestyle | USC | 2:00.6 | ||
| 440 yard freestyle | USC | 4:17.9 | ||
| 1,500 meter freestyle | USC | 17:21.8 | ||
| 100 yard backstroke | Charles Bittick (DC) | USC | 53.9 | |
| 200 yard backstroke | Charles Bittick (DC) | USC | 1:57.1 | |
| 100 yard breaststroke | Michigan | 1:02.1 | ||
| 200 yard breaststroke | Ron Clark (DC) | Michigan | 2:13.4 | |
| 100 yard butterfly | Michigan | 52.9 | ||
| 200 yard butterfly | Michigan | 1:58.6 | ||
| 200 yard individual medley | Denver | 2:02.9 | ||
| 400 yard freestyle relay | Harvard | 3:18.3 | ||
| 400 yard medley relay | Ohio State | 3:40.3 |
| 1 meter diving | Florida State | 459.40 | ||
| 3 meter diving | Ohio State | 491.65 |