by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 9 schools 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.
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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte to be the best college for Women's Basketball (Division III) in North Carolina. Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte is a private not-for-profit school based in Charlotte, NC. The program generates about $12,667 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $12,667 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Guilford College landed the #2 spot for Women's Basketball (Division III). Guilford College is a private not-for-profit school based in Greensboro, NC. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,654, with expenses of about $12,646 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
William Peace University is one of the top schools for Women's Basketball (Division III), at #3. Located in Raleigh, NC, William Peace University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $11,747, with expenses of about $11,031 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Pfeiffer University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division III). Located in Misenheimer, NC, Pfeiffer University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $10,252, compared with $9,675 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Greensboro College ranked #5 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Greensboro, NC. The program generates about $11,580 in revenue per athlete, against $11,580 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Warren Wilson College ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division III). Warren Wilson College is a private not-for-profit school based in Swannanoa, NC. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,304, with expenses of about $5,465 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
North Carolina Wesleyan University placed #7 among the best colleges for Women's Basketball (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Rocky Mount, NC. The program generates about $10,088 in revenue per athlete, against $10,088 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Methodist University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Fayetteville, NC, Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $7,137 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $7,137 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Brevard College ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Basketball (Division III). Located in Brevard, NC, Brevard College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,673, with expenses of about $8,673 per participant. The school awards about $327 in athletic aid per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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.