by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 18 programs for Women’s Golf (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
No school ranked higher than Duke University this year for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Durham, NC, Duke 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. The program generates about $214,423 in revenue per athlete, against $212,092 in expenses. The school awards about $34,321 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wake Forest University is one of the top schools for Women's Golf (Division I), at #2. 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%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $251,996, against $251,996 in expenses. The school awards about $38,933 in athletic aid per athlete.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh earned the #3 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina State University at Raleigh records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $62,642, against $111,554 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $18,384 per athlete.
Elon University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Elon, NC, Elon University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 86%. Its federal graduation rate is 56%. Team revenue averages $84,413 per participant, compared with $84,413 spent per athlete. The school awards about $25,795 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #5 spot for Women's Golf (Division I). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public school based in Chapel Hill, NC. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $58,104 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $113,608 per participant. Athletic aid averages $17,771 per athlete.
Campbell University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Buies Creek, NC, Campbell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Campbell University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. The program generates about $64,213 in revenue per athlete, compared with $64,213 spent per athlete. The school awards about $19,433 in athletic aid per athlete.
High Point University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in High Point, NC, High Point University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 979, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 70%. The program generates about $76,963 in revenue per athlete, against $75,190 in expenses. The school awards about $18,469 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Charlotte, NC, University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 990, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. The program generates about $69,293 in revenue per athlete, compared with $70,180 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,522.
East Carolina University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Greenville, NC, East Carolina University is a public 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 100%. The program generates about $50,130 in revenue per athlete, compared with $48,953 spent per athlete. The school awards about $12,584 in athletic aid per athlete.
Appalachian State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Appalachian State University is a public school based in Boone, NC. Appalachian State University records an NCAA APR of 981, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $44,230, with expenses of about $44,230 per participant. Athletic aid averages $14,299 per athlete.
North Carolina Central University placed #11 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Durham, NC, North Carolina Central University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 978. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $51,560, against $51,560 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,804.
University of North Carolina Wilmington placed #12 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Wilmington, NC, University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 88%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $45,227 per participant, compared with $45,227 spent per athlete. The school awards about $7,667 in athletic aid per athlete.
Gardner-Webb University placed #13 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Boiling Springs, NC, Gardner-Webb University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $34,122, against $34,122 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,936 per athlete.
Queens University of Charlotte landed the #14 spot this year. Located in Charlotte, NC, Queens University of Charlotte is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. Team revenue averages $30,769 per participant, compared with $30,769 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $13,282 per athlete.
North Carolina A & T State University landed the #15 spot this year. Based in Greensboro, NC, North Carolina A & T State University is a public institution. North Carolina A & T State University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $48,672 in revenue per athlete, against $48,672 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $5,465 per athlete.
Western Carolina University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Cullowhee, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. The program generates about $47,495 in revenue per athlete, against $47,495 in expenses. The school awards about $6,960 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Greensboro, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 976, alongside a GSR of 86%. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. The program generates about $48,368 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $48,368 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,162.
University of North Carolina Asheville came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Asheville, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 56% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $38,899 in revenue per athlete, against $38,899 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,593.
*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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.