The level in the USA college game is fantastic. It has vastly improved over the last 20 years and is now a hotbed for talented players to be sent into the MLS, Canadian Premier League and now the European professional leagues. Many NCAA DI schools come across to the UK and play in exhibition games against the Premier League U23 academy sides, in which they are fairly evening matched. NCAA DI is considered the pinnacle of college soccer. However, at all levels, you have great teams, as well as you have poor teams. The top level NCAA DI schools are the best in the country, but there are top level NCAA D2, NAIA and NJCAA schools that can compete with the mid-level and below DI schools, so it's important to understand that NCAA DI doesn't necessarily mean 'pinnacle'.
Some examples of players who played college soccer, and are now either playing professionally in Europe or 'foreigners' who turned professional in the MLS include;
Jack Harrison, Wake Forest University to Man City (EPL, England)
Bunny Shaw, Eastern Florida State College to Man City (Women's Super League, England)
Molly Sharp, Barry University to Crystal Palace (Women's Super League, England)
Shanade Hopcroft, University of Colorado Boulder to Crystal Palace ((Women's Super League, England)
Andrew Gutman, Indiana University to Celtic FC (SPL, Scotland)
Aaron Molloy, Penn State University to Portland Timbers (MLS, USA)
Lucy Bronze, University of North Carolina to Olympique Lyonnais (Feminine Division 1, France)
Dom Dwyer, University of South Florida to Orlando City (MLS, USA)
DeAndre Yedlin, University of Akron to Newcastle United (EPL, England)
Danny Elliot, Hofstra University to Port Vale FC (League 2, England)
Matt Polster, SIU Edwardsville to Rangers FC (SPL, Scotland)
Cyle Larin, UConn to Besiktas JK (Super Lig, Turkey)
Zack Steffen, University of Maryland to Man City (EPL, England)
Megan Connolly, Florida State University to Brighton & Hove Albion (Women's Super League, England)
Alana Cook, Stanford University to PSG (Feminine Division 1, France)
Uchenna Kanu, Southeastern University to Linköpings FC (Dams Allsvenskan, Sweden)
Duncan Turnbull, University of Notre Dame to Portsmouth (League 1, England)
Lorne Bickley, Wilmington University to Hartlepool United (Conference National, England)
Manny Perez, North Carolina State University to Celtic FC (SPL, Scotland)
Simon Lefebvre, Temple University to D.C. United (MLS, USA)
Josiah Benjamin, University of San Diego to San Diego 1904 (NISA, USA)
Lewis Brass, East Central College to Connah's Quay Nomads (Welsh Premier League, Wales)
