by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 26 programs for Women’s Basketball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, College Factual weighs 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.
Not quite what you need? Pick a path below.
Learn more about these schools below:
Our analysis found Stanford University to be the best college for Women's Basketball (Division I) in California. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school based in Stanford, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $328,629 per participant, compared with $328,629 spent per athlete. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Los Angeles came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Women's Basketball (Division I). This public school is set in Los Angeles, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $334,154 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $334,154 per participant. Athletic aid averages $24,306 per athlete.
University of San Francisco is one of the top schools for Women's Basketball (Division I), at #3. Located in San Francisco, CA, University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. University of San Francisco records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $269,032 per participant, compared with $269,032 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $31,788 per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University earned the #4 place for student athletes. Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. Loyola Marymount University records an NCAA APR of 990, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $294,581, against $294,581 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $40,056 per athlete.
University of Southern California came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Women's Basketball (Division I). University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. The program generates about $320,344 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $320,344 per participant. The school awards about $40,006 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). Based in Berkeley, CA, University of California-Berkeley is a public institution. University of California-Berkeley records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 73%. Team revenue averages $325,762 per participant, compared with $325,762 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,267 in athletic aid per athlete.
Pepperdine University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Malibu, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 74%. The program generates about $177,408 in revenue per athlete, compared with $177,408 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $27,861 per athlete.
Santa Clara University landed the #8 spot this year. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school based in Santa Clara, CA. Santa Clara University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. Its federal graduation rate is 55%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $210,378, with expenses of about $210,378 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,355.
University of the Pacific landed the #9 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stockton, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 56%. The program generates about $159,902 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $159,902 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,596 per athlete.
University of San Diego did well this year, earning the #10 position. University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit school based in San Diego, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 77% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $178,759, against $178,759 in expenses. The school awards about $19,537 in athletic aid per athlete.
San Diego State University placed #11 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). San Diego State University is a public school based in San Diego, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 85%. The program generates about $78,529 in revenue per athlete, compared with $117,144 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,450 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Irvine ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). Based in Irvine, CA, University of California-Irvine is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 980, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 73%. Team revenue averages $180,252 per participant, compared with $180,252 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,955 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Baptist University landed the #13 spot this year. Located in Riverside, CA, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 973, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 47%. 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 #14 spot this year. Located 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%. Its federal graduation rate is 58%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $154,206, compared with $154,206 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,355.
Saint Mary's College of California placed #15 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). Located 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%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. The program generates about $191,608 in revenue per athlete, against $191,608 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,999.
University of California-Davis came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Davis, CA, University of California-Davis is a public institution. University of California-Davis records an NCAA APR of 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $100,377, with expenses of about $100,377 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,267.
San Jose State University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. San Jose State University records an NCAA APR of 971, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $138,988 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $138,988 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,034.
University of California-San Diego landed the #18 spot this year. Based in La Jolla, CA, University of California-San Diego is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 967, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $179,304, compared with $179,304 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $9,847 per athlete.
University of California-Riverside placed #19 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). University of California-Riverside is a public school based in Riverside, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $144,849, compared with $144,849 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,154.
California State University-Bakersfield placed #20 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). Located in Bakersfield, CA, California State University-Bakersfield is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. The program generates about $125,195 in revenue per athlete, compared with $125,195 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,121.
California State University-Sacramento landed the #21 spot this year. Located in Sacramento, CA, California State University-Sacramento is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 970, alongside a GSR of 92%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $138,125, against $138,125 in expenses. The school awards about $11,560 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public school based in San Luis Obispo, CA. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo records an NCAA APR of 970, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $70,300, compared with $70,300 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $10,344 per athlete.
California State University-Fresno did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Fresno, CA, California State University-Fresno is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 948, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. The program generates about $98,131 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $98,131 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,577.
California State University-Fullerton came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Fullerton, CA, California State University-Fullerton is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 971, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. About 47% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $125,123 in revenue per athlete, compared with $125,123 spent per athlete. The school awards about $9,497 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Long Beach ranked #25 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). California State University-Long Beach is a public school based in Long Beach, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 979, and a 87% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 53%. The program generates about $84,516 in revenue per athlete, against $84,516 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,770.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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
See our data sources and methodologies.