by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 94 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 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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Explore the leading programs below:
Duke University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges 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%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $214,423 per participant, against $212,092 in expenses. The school awards about $34,321 in athletic aid per athlete.
Vanderbilt University is one of the top schools for Women's Golf (Division I), at #2. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $214,738 per participant, with expenses of about $214,738 per participant. The school awards about $42,235 in athletic aid per athlete.
Tulane University of Louisiana ranked #3 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Tulane University of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit school based in New Orleans, LA. Tulane University of Louisiana records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $243,125 in revenue per athlete, against $107,000 in expenses. The school awards about $36,413 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus earned the #4 place for student athletes. University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $150,528, compared with $150,528 spent per athlete. The school awards about $26,976 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wake Forest University landed the #5 spot for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 75%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Team revenue averages $251,996 per participant, against $251,996 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $38,933 per athlete.
University of Miami ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Coral Gables, FL, University of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Miami records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $183,237 per participant, with expenses of about $183,237 per participant. The school awards about $38,474 in athletic aid per athlete.
Clemson University landed the #7 spot this year. Clemson University is a public school based in Clemson, SC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $147,728, compared with $147,728 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,730.
University of Richmond did well this year, earning the #8 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in University of Richmond, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $88,522 per participant, with expenses of about $88,522 per participant. The school awards about $27,609 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Alabama placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University of Alabama is a public institution. The University of Alabama records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $227,012 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $227,012 per participant. The school awards about $20,760 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Kentucky did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Lexington, KY, University of Kentucky is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $132,685 per participant, with expenses of about $132,685 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,921.
Mississippi State University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 89% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $195,967 per participant, with expenses of about $195,967 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,143.
James Madison University placed #12 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). This public school is set in Harrisonburg, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Team revenue averages $104,389 per participant, compared with $104,389 spent per athlete. The school awards about $19,945 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Central Florida came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Orlando, FL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. The program generates about $140,613 in revenue per athlete, compared with $140,613 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $25,195 per athlete.
University of Mississippi came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in University, MS, University of Mississippi is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $220,709, compared with $220,709 spent per athlete. The school awards about $22,457 in athletic aid per athlete.
Furman University ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Greenville, SC, Furman University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $125,290 per participant, against $125,290 in expenses. The school awards about $28,699 in athletic aid per athlete.
Old Dominion University placed #16 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Old Dominion University is a public school based in Norfolk, VA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $93,496 per participant, against $93,496 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,728.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University did well this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in Blacksburg, VA. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $33,798 per participant, with expenses of about $173,419 per participant. The school awards about $29,706 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of South Carolina-Columbia came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Columbia, SC. University of South Carolina-Columbia records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 60%. Team revenue averages $192,536 per participant, with expenses of about $192,536 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,645.
University of Louisville ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Louisville, KY, University of Louisville is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 62% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $188,008 per participant, compared with $129,692 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,083 per athlete.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $62,642 in revenue per athlete, against $111,554 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,384.
Elon University ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Elon, NC. Elon University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 86%. About 56% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $84,413 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $84,413 per participant. The school awards about $25,795 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did well this year, earning the #22 position. This public school is set in Chapel Hill, NC. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 88%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $58,104 in revenue per athlete, against $113,608 in expenses. The school awards about $17,771 in athletic aid per athlete.
Belmont University landed the #23 spot this year. Located in Nashville, TN, Belmont University is a private not-for-profit institution. Belmont University records an NCAA APR of 992, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $58,891, compared with $58,891 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,742 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Florida did well this year, earning the #24 position. University of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,758, with expenses of about $102,680 per participant. The school awards about $23,180 in athletic aid per athlete.
William & Mary came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Williamsburg, VA, William & Mary is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 89% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $116,618, compared with $25,601 spent per athlete. The school awards about $15,943 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.
This ranking is produced 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.