by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 70 programs for Women’s Basketball (Division III) 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.
Explore the leading programs below:
University of Chicago tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division III). Based in Chicago, IL, University of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $23,177, compared with $23,177 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Case Western Reserve University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division III). Based in Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $14,573 per participant, with expenses of about $14,573 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Illinois Wesleyan University earned the #3 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bloomington, IL. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $16,414, against $16,414 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology landed the #4 spot for Women's Basketball (Division III). Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Terre Haute, IN. The program generates about $16,059 in revenue per athlete, compared with $16,059 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
DePauw University ranked #5 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division III). Based in Greencastle, IN, DePauw University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $17,973 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $17,973 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Hope College ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division III). Based in Holland, MI, Hope College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $15,694 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $12,138 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
John Carroll University landed the #7 spot this year. Located in University Heights, OH, John Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,642, against $14,642 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oberlin College ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division III). Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit school based in Oberlin, OH. The program generates about $14,530 in revenue per athlete, against $14,530 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Denison University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division III). Denison University is a private not-for-profit school based in Granville, OH. The program generates about $12,474 in revenue per athlete, against $12,474 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Kenyon College landed the #10 spot this year. Kenyon College is a private not-for-profit school based in Gambier, OH. The program generates about $9,316 in revenue per athlete, against $9,316 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse landed the #11 spot this year. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public school based in La Crosse, WI. Team revenue averages $14,220 per participant, with expenses of about $21,718 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division III). Located in Eau Claire, WI, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a public institution. Team revenue averages $14,872 per participant, compared with $17,058 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Calvin University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Calvin University is a private not-for-profit school based in Grand Rapids, MI. Team revenue averages $11,194 per participant, against $11,139 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
The College of Wooster ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division III). Based in Wooster, OH, The College of Wooster is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $13,177 per participant, with expenses of about $12,106 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Lawrence University placed #15 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Appleton, WI. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $11,251, against $11,251 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Ohio Northern University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Ohio Northern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Ada, OH. The program generates about $11,038 in revenue per athlete, against $11,038 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Kalamazoo College ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division III). Located in Kalamazoo, MI, Kalamazoo College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $8,380 per participant, against $8,380 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Milwaukee School of Engineering came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $9,788 per participant, against $9,788 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Earlham College placed #19 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division III). Located in Richmond, IN, Earlham College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $16,753, with expenses of about $16,753 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Trine University landed the #20 spot this year. Located in Angola, IN, Trine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $13,137 per participant, with expenses of about $12,744 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Illinois Institute of Technology did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in Chicago, IL, Illinois Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $7,986 in revenue per athlete, against $7,986 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
North Central College did well this year, earning the #22 position. North Central College is a private not-for-profit school based in Naperville, IL. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $10,435, with expenses of about $9,149 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Baldwin Wallace University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in Berea, OH, Baldwin Wallace University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $11,963, compared with $11,963 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Hanover College ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division III). Hanover College is a private not-for-profit school based in Hanover, IN. Team revenue averages $16,265 per participant, compared with $16,265 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater came in at #25 in this year's ranking. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a public school based in Whitewater, WI. The program generates about $12,988 in revenue per athlete, compared with $12,781 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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
See our data sources and methodologies.