by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 6 schools for Women’s Cross Country (Division III) 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.
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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found Case Western Reserve University to be the best college for Women's Cross Country (Division III) in Ohio. Located in Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $4,360 in revenue per athlete, against $4,360 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Kenyon College earned the #2 place for student athletes. Located in Gambier, OH, Kenyon College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $3,377 in revenue per athlete, against $3,377 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Oberlin College earned the #3 place for student athletes. Located in Oberlin, OH, Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $5,997, with expenses of about $5,997 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Franciscan University of Steubenville came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Women's Cross Country (Division III). Based in Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $967, compared with $892 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Ohio Northern University is one of the top schools for Women's Cross Country (Division III), at #5. This private not-for-profit school is set in Ada, OH. Team revenue averages $1,310 per participant, with expenses of about $1,310 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Muskingum University placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Cross Country (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in New Concord, OH. Team revenue averages $759 per participant, with expenses of about $759 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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
See our data sources and methodologies.