by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 11 colleges for Women’s Golf (Division I) 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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Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 college for Women's Golf (Division I). Based 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. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $158,607, with expenses of about $206,804 per participant. Athletic aid averages $53,919 per athlete.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Chicago records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 89%. 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.
Bradley University earned the #3 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Peoria, IL. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 91% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $83,330 per participant, compared with $83,330 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,583 per athlete.
Northern Illinois University landed the #4 spot for Women's Golf (Division I). Northern Illinois University is a public school based in Dekalb, IL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $62,536, with expenses of about $62,536 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,138.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign landed the #5 spot for Women's Golf (Division I). 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, against $126,185 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $25,398 per athlete.
University of Illinois Chicago did well this year, earning the #6 position. University of Illinois Chicago is a public school based in Chicago, IL. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $57,604, against $57,604 in expenses. The school awards about $15,167 in athletic aid per athlete.
Illinois State University landed the #7 spot this year. This public school is set in Normal, IL. Illinois State University 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 $47,328, with expenses of about $47,328 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,477.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is a public school based in Carbondale, IL. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. Team revenue averages $29,424 per participant, with expenses of about $29,424 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,525.
Western Illinois University landed the #9 spot this year. Located in Macomb, IL, Western Illinois University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $25,550 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $25,550 per participant. Athletic aid averages $10,303 per athlete.
Eastern Illinois University placed #10 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Charleston, IL. 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%. Team revenue averages $20,968 per participant, compared with $20,968 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $7,653 per athlete.
Chicago State University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Chicago, IL, Chicago State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 958, with a Graduation Success Rate of 83%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. Team revenue averages $56,706 per participant, against $56,706 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,877.
*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
More about our data sources and methodologies.