by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 54 colleges for Women’s Basketball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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.
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Learn more about these schools below:
Our analysis found St. John's University-New York to be the best college for Women's Basketball (Division I) in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in Queens, NY, St. John's University-New York is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $477,808, against $477,808 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $29,040 per athlete.
Syracuse University earned the #2 place for student athletes. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school based in Syracuse, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 47%. The program generates about $151,424 in revenue per athlete, against $461,083 in expenses. The school awards about $33,068 in athletic aid per athlete.
Villanova University earned the #3 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Villanova, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 92%. Team revenue averages $184,230 per participant, compared with $184,230 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $25,480 per athlete.
Fordham University landed the #4 spot for Women's Basketball (Division I). Located in Bronx, NY, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. Fordham University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 56%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $188,583, against $188,583 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $32,443.
Colgate University earned the #5 place for student athletes. Based in Hamilton, NY, Colgate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 996, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 93%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $158,391, with expenses of about $158,391 per participant. The school awards about $22,658 in athletic aid per athlete.
George Washington University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). Located in Washington, DC, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 55%. The program generates about $262,992 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $262,992 per participant. The school awards about $29,880 in athletic aid per athlete.
Lehigh University landed the #7 spot this year. Based in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh 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 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $163,515 per participant, against $163,515 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,391.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). Based in Pittsburgh, PA, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 56%. Team revenue averages $213,826 per participant, compared with $213,826 spent per athlete. The school awards about $30,613 in athletic aid per athlete.
Georgetown University placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Washington, DC. Georgetown University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 42% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $224,143 in revenue per athlete, against $224,143 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,232 per athlete.
University of Maryland-College Park landed the #10 spot this year. Located in College Park, MD, University of Maryland-College Park is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $93,455, against $549,097 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $30,606 per athlete.
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $201,367, with expenses of about $201,367 per participant. Athletic aid averages $13,694 per athlete.
Duquesne University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 92% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $237,236 in revenue per athlete, against $237,236 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $17,755 per athlete.
Drexel University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Drexel University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 92% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $103,672 per participant, compared with $103,672 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,843.
Seton Hall University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in South Orange, NJ, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 979, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $292,561, against $292,561 in expenses. The school awards about $32,496 in athletic aid per athlete.
Monmouth University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit school based in West Long Branch, NJ. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, alongside a GSR of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 62%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $178,098, compared with $178,098 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,376.
Lafayette College ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Easton, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 990, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. The program generates about $181,839 in revenue per athlete, compared with $181,839 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,987.
American University ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). Based in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 85%. Team revenue averages $140,853 per participant, compared with $140,853 spent per athlete. The school awards about $18,519 in athletic aid per athlete.
Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in New York, NY, Columbia University in the City of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The program generates about $211,755 in revenue per athlete, compared with $211,755 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Hofstra University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hempstead, NY. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 980, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 92% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $208,058 per participant, with expenses of about $208,058 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,514.
New Jersey Institute of Technology ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). Located in Newark, NJ, New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 82%. Team revenue averages $121,443 per participant, with expenses of about $118,124 per participant. Athletic aid averages $15,477 per athlete.
Bucknell University ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). Based in Lewisburg, PA, Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bucknell University records an NCAA APR of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 92%. The program generates about $112,582 in revenue per athlete, compared with $112,582 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,655.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick landed the #22 spot this year. Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a public school based in New Brunswick, NJ. Rutgers University-New Brunswick records an NCAA APR of 953, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 55%. Team revenue averages $242,850 per participant, against $242,850 in expenses. The school awards about $26,379 in athletic aid per athlete.
Temple University ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). This public school is set in Philadelphia, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 955, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. About 42% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $342,973 in revenue per athlete, against $342,973 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $28,567 per athlete.
Manhattan University ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division I). Based in Riverdale, NY, Manhattan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 77%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $137,002, with expenses of about $136,510 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,484.
Stony Brook University placed #25 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division I). Located in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $169,238, against $169,238 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,341 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. 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.