by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 27 programs 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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Pick a path below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found Seton Hall University to be the best college for Women's Golf (Division I) in the Middle Atlantic Region. Based in South Orange, NJ, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Seton Hall University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. Team revenue averages $91,415 per participant, against $91,415 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $32,496.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, and a 86% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $162,026, against $162,026 in expenses. The school awards about $26,379 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Maryland-College Park is one of the top schools for Women's Golf (Division I), at #3. University of Maryland-College Park is a public school based in College Park, MD. 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 $28,123, with expenses of about $110,905 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $30,606.
University of Delaware came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Women's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Newark, DE. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $111,736, compared with $111,736 spent per athlete. The school awards about $24,002 in athletic aid per athlete.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus landed the #5 spot for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $32,798 in revenue per athlete, compared with $87,565 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $25,170 per athlete.
St. John's University-New York landed the #6 spot this year. Based 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 991, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. Team revenue averages $69,443 per participant, against $69,443 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $29,040 per athlete.
Monmouth University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in West Long Branch, NJ, Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Team revenue averages $57,722 per participant, with expenses of about $57,722 per participant. Athletic aid averages $20,376 per athlete.
Georgetown University ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Washington, DC. 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 $40,209, compared with $40,209 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,232.
Lehigh University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Bethlehem, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, and a 86% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Team revenue averages $49,943 per participant, against $49,943 in expenses. The school awards about $19,391 in athletic aid per athlete.
Towson University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Towson University is a public school based in Towson, MD. Towson University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. The program generates about $48,571 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $48,571 per participant. The school awards about $14,919 in athletic aid per athlete.
University at Albany ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Albany, NY, University at Albany 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 83%. The program generates about $55,574 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $54,648 per participant. The school awards about $13,856 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000. The program generates about $16,848 in revenue per athlete, compared with $16,848 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $13,694 per athlete.
Hofstra University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Hempstead, NY, Hofstra 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%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $30,600, compared with $30,600 spent per athlete. The school awards about $22,514 in athletic aid per athlete.
Bucknell University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lewisburg, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $28,499 per participant, with expenses of about $28,499 per participant. Athletic aid averages $19,655 per athlete.
Princeton University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Princeton, NJ, Princeton 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. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $58,754, against $58,754 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #16 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $46,331, compared with $46,331 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Howard University placed #17 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Howard University is a private not-for-profit school based in Washington, DC. Howard University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Team revenue averages $42,214 per participant, against $24,019 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $17,365 per athlete.
Mount St. Mary's University placed #18 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Emmitsburg, MD, Mount St. Mary's University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 981, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $56,423 per participant, with expenses of about $56,423 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,910.
Duquesne University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $44,053 per participant, with expenses of about $44,053 per participant. The school awards about $17,755 in athletic aid per athlete.
Niagara University landed the #20 spot this year. Niagara University is a private not-for-profit school based in Niagara University, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 971, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $21,398 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $21,398 per participant. Athletic aid averages $17,462 per athlete.
University of Pennsylvania came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. University of Pennsylvania records an NCAA APR of 992, alongside a GSR of 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $25,169, against $25,169 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wagner College landed the #22 spot this year. Based in Staten Island, NY, Wagner College is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 83%. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $19,335, against $19,335 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,661.
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Teaneck, NJ, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus 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 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $31,366, compared with $31,366 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $12,185 per athlete.
Saint Francis University placed #24 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Loretto, PA, Saint Francis University is a private not-for-profit institution. The Graduation Success Rate here is 89%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $33,259 per participant, against $33,259 in expenses. The school awards about $13,253 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore placed #25 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Princess Anne, MD, University of Maryland Eastern Shore is a public institution. University of Maryland Eastern Shore records an NCAA APR of 953, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. Team revenue averages $14,876 per participant, compared with $14,876 spent per athlete. The school awards about $10,288 in athletic aid per athlete.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
