by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. We have ranked 273 colleges for Women’s Golf (Division I) 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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Jump to the options below.
Explore the leading programs below:
Stanford University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Stanford University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $298,355 per participant, with expenses of about $298,355 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $42,012.
Northwestern University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University 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%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $158,607 per participant, with expenses of about $206,804 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $53,919.
Duke University landed the #3 spot for Women's Golf (Division I). Duke University is a private not-for-profit school based in Durham, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $214,423, with expenses of about $212,092 per participant. Athletic aid averages $34,321 per athlete.
University of Notre Dame landed the #4 spot for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $153,602 in revenue per athlete, compared with $153,602 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,391.
Vanderbilt University ranked #5 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. The program generates about $214,738 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $214,738 per participant. The school awards about $42,235 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Southern California ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. University of Southern California records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 60%. Team revenue averages $257,630 per participant, compared with $257,630 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $40,006.
Tulane University of Louisiana did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $243,125, compared with $107,000 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $36,413 per athlete.
Southern Methodist University landed the #8 spot this year. Based in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southern Methodist University records an NCAA APR of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. The program generates about $273,450 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $273,450 per participant. The school awards about $56,388 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Denver ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Denver, CO, University of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 88%. The program generates about $116,914 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $116,914 per participant. The school awards about $42,890 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus landed the #10 spot this year. Located in Charlottesville, VA, University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public institution. University of Virginia-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 991, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $150,528, against $150,528 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $26,976 per athlete.
Pepperdine University landed the #11 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Malibu, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $139,383 per participant, against $139,383 in expenses. The school awards about $27,861 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of San Francisco landed the #12 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in San Francisco, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $106,939 in revenue per athlete, compared with $106,939 spent per athlete. The school awards about $31,788 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Los Angeles ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. The program generates about $147,193 in revenue per athlete, compared with $147,193 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $24,306 per athlete.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion landed the #14 spot this year. This public school is set in Tempe, AZ. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $295,119 per participant, with expenses of about $295,119 per participant. Athletic aid averages $27,490 per athlete.
Boston University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Boston, MA, Boston 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. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $95,062 in revenue per athlete, compared with $95,062 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $27,954 per athlete.
University of Miami did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Coral Gables, FL, University of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $183,237 per participant, with expenses of about $183,237 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $38,474.
Baylor University placed #17 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 43%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $208,185, compared with $208,185 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $30,455.
Wake Forest University placed #18 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 75%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $251,996, against $251,996 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $38,933.
Clemson University ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Clemson University is a public school based in Clemson, SC. Clemson University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. Team revenue averages $147,728 per participant, with expenses of about $147,728 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,730.
University of Richmond landed the #20 spot this year. Located in University of Richmond, VA, University of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $88,522 in revenue per athlete, against $88,522 in expenses. The school awards about $27,609 in athletic aid per athlete.
Michigan State University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $186,469 per participant, against $186,469 in expenses. The school awards about $22,500 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ohio State University-Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 982, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $148,371, with expenses of about $148,371 per participant. Athletic aid averages $27,151 per athlete.
The University of Alabama placed #23 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). The University of Alabama is a public school based in Tuscaloosa, AL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $227,012, with expenses of about $227,012 per participant. The school awards about $20,760 in athletic aid per athlete.
Seton Hall University landed the #24 spot this year. Located in South Orange, NJ, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. Team revenue averages $91,415 per participant, against $91,415 in expenses. The school awards about $32,496 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley ranked #25 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Berkeley, CA, University of California-Berkeley is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $139,972 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $139,972 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,267 per athlete.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
These colleges narrowly missed the top tiers:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of Delaware | Newark, DE |
| 52 | Boise State University | Boise, ID |
| 53 | University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO |
| 54 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | Columbia, SC |
| 55 | University of Louisville | Louisville, KY |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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.
