by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 42 colleges for Women’s Golf (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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:
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for Women's Golf (Division I). Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Evanston, IL. Northwestern University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $158,607 per participant, compared with $206,804 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $53,919.
University of Notre Dame earned the #2 place for student athletes. Based in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $153,602 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $153,602 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,391.
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 982, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $148,371 in revenue per athlete, against $148,371 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,151.
Michigan State University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $186,469, with expenses of about $186,469 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,500.
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus landed the #5 spot for Women's Golf (Division I). University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is a public school based in Cincinnati, OH. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $131,965 per participant, with expenses of about $131,965 per participant. The school awards about $20,882 in athletic aid per athlete.
Indiana University-Bloomington did well this year, earning the #6 position. Indiana University-Bloomington is a public school based in Bloomington, IN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 982, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. About 90% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $128,818, compared with $128,818 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,161.
Xavier University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Cincinnati, OH, Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $78,289 per participant, with expenses of about $78,289 per participant. Athletic aid averages $20,280 per athlete.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $59,150, with expenses of about $59,150 per participant. The school awards about $23,325 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor did well this year, earning the #9 position. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public school based in Ann Arbor, MI. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $28,042 in revenue per athlete, compared with $131,690 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $28,650 per athlete.
Purdue University-Main Campus landed the #10 spot this year. Located in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University-Main Campus 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 $28,060 per participant, against $108,624 in expenses. The school awards about $19,382 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Madison ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Team revenue averages $24,475 per participant, against $141,362 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,586.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Champaign, IL, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $27,650, compared with $126,185 spent per athlete. The school awards about $25,398 in athletic aid per athlete.
Bradley University placed #13 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Peoria, IL. Bradley University records an NCAA APR of 984, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. Team revenue averages $83,330 per participant, compared with $83,330 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,583.
Ohio University-Main Campus landed the #14 spot this year. Located in Athens, OH, Ohio University-Main Campus is a public institution. Ohio University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $47,704, with expenses of about $47,704 per participant. The school awards about $17,284 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Illinois Chicago came in at #15 in this year's ranking. University of Illinois Chicago is a public school based in Chicago, IL. University of Illinois Chicago records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $57,604, against $57,604 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,167 per athlete.
Northern Illinois University landed the #16 spot this year. Based in Dekalb, IL, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. Northern Illinois University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. Team revenue averages $62,536 per participant, compared with $62,536 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,138 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ball State University landed the #17 spot this year. Ball State University is a public school based in Muncie, IN. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $64,237 per participant, compared with $64,237 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,206.
Kent State University at Kent landed the #18 spot this year. This public school is set in Kent, OH. The team's NCAA APR score is 991, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. The program generates about $80,774 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $80,774 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,976.
University of Toledo landed the #19 spot this year. This public school is set in Toledo, OH. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 80% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $72,325 per participant, compared with $72,325 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,660 in athletic aid per athlete.
Western Michigan University ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Team revenue averages $49,346 per participant, against $49,346 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,248.
Illinois State University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in Normal, IL, Illinois State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $47,328 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $47,328 per participant. Athletic aid averages $13,477 per athlete.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #22 spot this year. Located in Ypsilanti, MI, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 83%. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. The program generates about $87,605 in revenue per athlete, compared with $87,605 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,547 per athlete.
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Bowling Green State University-Main Campus is a public school based in Bowling Green, OH. Bowling Green State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 78%. The program generates about $48,021 in revenue per athlete, against $47,276 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $16,840 per athlete.
Central Michigan University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Mount Pleasant, MI, Central Michigan University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. The program generates about $66,016 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $66,016 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,123.
University of Dayton ranked #25 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Dayton, OH. University of Dayton records an NCAA APR of 1000. Team revenue averages $6,383 per participant, against $15,806 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,913.
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. 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.