by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 5 colleges for Women’s Cross Country by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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:
Asbury University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Cross Country. Based in Wilmore, KY, Asbury University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $4,361 in revenue per athlete, compared with $4,361 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Transylvania University earned the #2 place for student athletes. Transylvania University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lexington, KY. Team revenue averages $2,261 per participant, compared with $2,261 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Berea College is one of the top schools for Women's Cross Country, at #3. Located in Berea, KY, Berea College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $5,948 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $3,026 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Thomas More University came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Women's Cross Country. This private not-for-profit school is set in Crestview Hills, KY. The program generates about $4,290 in revenue per athlete, compared with $3,759 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $4,453 per athlete.
Kentucky State University landed the #5 spot for Women's Cross Country. This public school is set in Frankfort, KY. Team revenue averages $1,867 per participant, with expenses of about $1,867 per participant. Athletic aid averages $1,939 per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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.