by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 38 programs for Women’s Basketball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual scores each program on a blend of academic-athletic outcomes (NCAA Academic Progress Rate and Graduation Success Rate), athletic financial resources (team revenue, expenses, and aid per athlete from the EADA survey), and overall school quality, drawing on NCAA, U.S. Department of Education EADA, and IPEDS data. Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Pick a path below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
No school ranked higher than University of California-Los Angeles this year for Women's Basketball (Division I). This public school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $334,154 in revenue per athlete, compared with $334,154 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,306.
Stanford University landed the #2 spot for Women's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Stanford, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $328,629, against $328,629 in expenses. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of San Francisco earned the #3 place for student athletes. Based in San Francisco, CA, University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. Team revenue averages $269,032 per participant, against $269,032 in expenses. The school awards about $31,788 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). University of California-Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $325,762, with expenses of about $325,762 per participant. The school awards about $21,267 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University is one of the top schools for Women's Basketball (Division I), at #5. Located in Los Angeles, CA, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 990, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $294,581 per participant, against $294,581 in expenses. The school awards about $40,056 in athletic aid per athlete.
Pepperdine University placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). Located in Malibu, CA, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 74% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $177,408 per participant, against $177,408 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,861.
University of Southern California placed #7 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. University of Southern California records an NCAA APR of 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. The program generates about $320,344 in revenue per athlete, against $320,344 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $40,006 per athlete.
Santa Clara University placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Santa Clara, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 55%. Team revenue averages $210,378 per participant, against $210,378 in expenses. The school awards about $19,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
Gonzaga University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Spokane, WA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, alongside a GSR of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 82%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $365,684, with expenses of about $356,223 per participant. The school awards about $14,963 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus landed the #10 spot this year. This public school is set in Seattle, WA. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. The program generates about $81,312 in revenue per athlete, compared with $313,814 spent per athlete. The school awards about $26,539 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of the Pacific landed the #11 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stockton, CA. University of the Pacific records an NCAA APR of 995, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 56%. The program generates about $159,902 in revenue per athlete, compared with $159,902 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,596 per athlete.
University of San Diego came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in San Diego, CA, University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 990, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 77%. The program generates about $178,759 in revenue per athlete, against $178,759 in expenses. The school awards about $19,537 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Portland ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). Located in Portland, OR, University of Portland is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. The program generates about $138,445 in revenue per athlete, against $138,445 in expenses. The school awards about $17,618 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oregon State University placed #14 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). This public school is set in Corvallis, OR. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, alongside a GSR of 90%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $185,551 per participant, against $185,551 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,022.
San Diego State University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in San Diego, CA, San Diego State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 85% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $78,529, against $117,144 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,450.
University of Oregon placed #16 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). Based in Eugene, OR, University of Oregon is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 53%. The program generates about $63,108 in revenue per athlete, against $231,667 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,739.
California Baptist University landed the #17 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Riverside, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 973, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 47% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $209,470, against $196,358 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,790.
University of California-Santa Barbara landed the #18 spot this year. Based in Santa Barbara, CA, University of California-Santa Barbara is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 58% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $154,206 in revenue per athlete, against $154,206 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,355.
Washington State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Washington State University is a public school based in Pullman, WA. Washington State University records an NCAA APR of 995, and a 85% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $66,968, against $286,057 in expenses. The school awards about $20,338 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California landed the #20 spot this year. Based in Moraga, CA, Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, alongside a GSR of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $191,608 per participant, with expenses of about $191,608 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,999.
University of California-Irvine ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). Located in Irvine, CA, University of California-Irvine is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 980, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. Team revenue averages $180,252 per participant, compared with $180,252 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $13,955 per athlete.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Based in Las Vegas, NV, University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 83%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $61,630, against $124,492 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,395.
Seattle University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Seattle, WA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 978, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $172,813 per participant, against $172,813 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,482.
University of Nevada-Reno placed #24 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). Based in Reno, NV, University of Nevada-Reno is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, alongside a GSR of 91%. About 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $184,099 per participant, against $163,702 in expenses. The school awards about $21,799 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Davis came in at #25 in this year's ranking. University of California-Davis is a public school based in Davis, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $100,377 in revenue per athlete, against $100,377 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,267 per athlete.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Programs are scored on a blend of academic-athletic outcomes (NCAA Academic Progress Rate and Graduation Success Rate), athletic financial resources (team revenue, expenses, and athletic aid from the federal EADA survey), and overall school quality. The current methodology measures academic-athletic quality and does not include team win/loss performance.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.