by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 25 colleges for Women’s Fencing (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluates each program using 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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Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Stanford University to be the best college for Women's Fencing (Division I) in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stanford, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 991. The program generates about $56,833 in revenue per athlete, compared with $56,833 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $42,012 per athlete.
Duke University landed the #2 spot for Women's Fencing (Division I). Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $52,661 per participant, compared with $53,860 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $34,321 per athlete.
University of Notre Dame came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Fencing (Division I). University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school based in Notre Dame, IN. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 91%. Team revenue averages $50,474 per participant, against $50,474 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $34,391 per athlete.
Ohio State University-Main Campus earned the #4 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Columbus, OH. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $39,890 per participant, with expenses of about $39,890 per participant. The school awards about $27,151 in athletic aid per athlete.
St. John's University-New York is one of the top schools for Women's Fencing (Division I), at #5. Located in Queens, NY, St. John's University-New York is a private not-for-profit institution. St. John's University-New York records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $46,403 in revenue per athlete, compared with $46,403 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $29,040 per athlete.
Temple University landed the #6 spot this year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $47,474, against $47,474 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $28,567.
Northwestern University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Evanston, IL. Northwestern University records an NCAA APR of 979, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 96%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $19,702, against $49,562 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $53,919.
Boston College ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Fencing (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Chestnut Hill, MA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The program generates about $15,646 in revenue per athlete, against $15,646 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $29,391 per athlete.
New Jersey Institute of Technology did well this year, earning the #9 position. New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public school based in Newark, NJ. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $20,573 in revenue per athlete, against $20,310 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,477 per athlete.
University of Detroit Mercy ranked #10 on our 2026 list for Women's Fencing (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Detroit, MI. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $20,787, against $20,787 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,135.
Harvard University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cambridge, MA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $30,788, compared with $30,788 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill records an NCAA APR of 989, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $13,340 in revenue per athlete, compared with $32,738 spent per athlete. The school awards about $17,771 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word placed #13 among the best colleges for Women's Fencing (Division I). Located in San Antonio, TX, University of the Incarnate Word is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $35,656 per participant, with expenses of about $35,656 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,744.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus landed the #14 spot this year. This public school is set in University Park, PA. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 979, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $14,197 per participant, with expenses of about $32,013 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,170.
Princeton University landed the #15 spot this year. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Princeton, NJ. Princeton University records an NCAA APR of 991, alongside a GSR of 93%. Team revenue averages $37,889 per participant, with expenses of about $37,889 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #16 spot this year. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,287, with expenses of about $14,287 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Pennsylvania ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Fencing (Division I). Based in Philadelphia, PA, University of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $9,285, with expenses of about $9,285 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Cornell University placed #18 among the best colleges for Women's Fencing (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Ithaca, NY. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. Team revenue averages $14,171 per participant, against $14,171 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Women's Fencing (Division I). Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Teaneck, NJ. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, alongside a GSR of 80%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $24,367, compared with $24,367 spent per athlete. The school awards about $12,185 in athletic aid per athlete.
Yale University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in New Haven, CT, Yale University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 990, alongside a GSR of 92%. Team revenue averages $15,642 per participant, against $15,642 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Brown University landed the #21 spot this year. Located in Providence, RI, Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Brown University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,811, with expenses of about $8,811 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-San Diego came in at #22 in this year's ranking. University of California-San Diego is a public school based in La Jolla, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, and a 80% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $11,843 per participant, with expenses of about $11,843 per participant. The school awards about $9,847 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wagner College ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Fencing (Division I). Located in Staten Island, NY, Wagner College is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 967, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $19,488, against $19,488 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,661.
Sacred Heart University ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Women's Fencing (Division I). Sacred Heart University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fairfield, CT. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 975, alongside a GSR of 80%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $19,680 per participant, compared with $19,680 spent per athlete. The school awards about $11,128 in athletic aid per athlete.
Cleveland State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list for Women's Fencing (Division I). Cleveland State University is a public school based in Cleveland, OH. The team's NCAA APR score is 980, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $9,244 per participant, against $9,040 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $8,645 per athlete.
*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.
