by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 31 programs for Women’s Golf (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Pick a path below.
Explore the leading programs below:
Stanford University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Stanford, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $298,355 in revenue per athlete, against $298,355 in expenses. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Southern California is one of the top schools for Women's Golf (Division I), at #2. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. University of Southern California records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. Team revenue averages $257,630 per participant, with expenses of about $257,630 per participant. Athletic aid averages $40,006 per athlete.
University of California-Los Angeles earned the #3 place for student athletes. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University of California-Los Angeles is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. The program generates about $147,193 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $147,193 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,306.
Pepperdine University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Malibu, CA. 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. Team revenue averages $139,383 per participant, compared with $139,383 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $27,861 per athlete.
University of San Francisco ranked #5 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school based in San Francisco, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 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, with expenses of about $106,939 per participant. Athletic aid averages $31,788 per athlete.
San Diego State University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in San Diego, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. The program generates about $224,694 in revenue per athlete, against $296,939 in expenses. The school awards about $21,450 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley placed #7 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Berkeley, CA, University of California-Berkeley is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate 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, against $139,972 in expenses. The school awards about $21,267 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oregon State University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $141,601 per participant, against $141,601 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,022 per athlete.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus landed the #9 spot this year. Based in Seattle, WA, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 996, alongside a GSR of 83%. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $68,891 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $200,491 per participant. Athletic aid averages $26,539 per athlete.
Gonzaga University placed #10 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Spokane, WA, Gonzaga University 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 71%. The program generates about $154,699 in revenue per athlete, against $129,259 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,963.
San Jose State University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. San Jose State University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $112,415, against $112,415 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,034.
Santa Clara University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara 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%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $68,870 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $68,870 per participant. Athletic aid averages $19,355 per athlete.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas landed the #13 spot this year. Located in Las Vegas, NV, University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $79,984 in revenue per athlete, compared with $107,944 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,395 per athlete.
University of Oregon placed #14 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Eugene, OR, University of Oregon is a public institution. University of Oregon records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 88%. The program generates about $14,710 in revenue per athlete, compared with $136,519 spent per athlete. The school awards about $22,739 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Baptist University placed #15 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Riverside, CA, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 56%. Team revenue averages $85,218 per participant, compared with $83,442 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,790 per athlete.
California State University-Sacramento did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Sacramento, CA, California State University-Sacramento is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $110,750 per participant, with expenses of about $110,750 per participant. The school awards about $11,560 in athletic aid per athlete.
Seattle University ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Seattle University is a private not-for-profit school based in Seattle, WA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $61,171, compared with $61,171 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,482 per athlete.
Washington State University landed the #18 spot this year. Located in Pullman, WA, Washington State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 88%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $62,671, against $118,987 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,338.
University of Nevada-Reno placed #19 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Reno, NV, University of Nevada-Reno is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. The program generates about $79,182 in revenue per athlete, compared with $72,888 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,799 per athlete.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in San Luis Obispo, CA, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. Team revenue averages $105,386 per participant, compared with $105,386 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,344.
California State University-Fresno came in at #21 in this year's ranking. California State University-Fresno is a public school based in Fresno, CA. California State University-Fresno records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 57%. Team revenue averages $86,617 per participant, compared with $86,617 spent per athlete. The school awards about $15,577 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Hawaii at Manoa landed the #22 spot this year. Based in Honolulu, HI, University of Hawaii at Manoa is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 977, alongside a GSR of 71%. The federal graduation rate stands at 57%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $584,368, compared with $53,488 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $18,398 per athlete.
University of California-Davis did well this year, earning the #23 position. This public school is set in Davis, CA. University of California-Davis records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $53,321, compared with $53,321 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $14,267 per athlete.
California State University-Long Beach placed #24 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Long Beach, CA. California State University-Long Beach records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. Team revenue averages $91,708 per participant, against $91,708 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $8,770 per athlete.
University of California-Irvine landed the #25 spot this year. University of California-Irvine is a public school based in Irvine, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $39,683 in revenue per athlete, compared with $39,683 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,955.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.