by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 24 schools for Women’s Golf (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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:
Southern Methodist University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Women's Golf (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. Southern Methodist University records an NCAA APR of 992, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $273,450, compared with $273,450 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $56,388.
Baylor University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 43% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $208,185 per participant, against $208,185 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $30,455.
Abilene Christian University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Abilene, TX, Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $227,449, with expenses of about $70,851 per participant. The school awards about $26,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas Christian University is one of the top schools for Women's Golf (Division I), at #4. Based in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Texas Christian University records an NCAA APR of 976, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $161,836 per participant, with expenses of about $161,836 per participant. Athletic aid averages $37,174 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin earned the #5 place for student athletes. The University of Texas at Austin is a public school based in Austin, TX. 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 $32,897, against $176,827 in expenses. The school awards about $22,650 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas A&M University-College Station landed the #6 spot this year. Based in College Station, TX, Texas A&M University-College Station is a public institution. Texas A&M University-College Station records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. The program generates about $41,403 in revenue per athlete, compared with $220,501 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $17,123 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Arlington ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). The University of Texas at Arlington is a public school based in Arlington, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $78,750 per participant, compared with $78,750 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,666.
Texas State University landed the #8 spot this year. Texas State University is a public school based in San Marcos, TX. 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. The program generates about $68,642 in revenue per athlete, compared with $68,642 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,371.
The University of Texas at San Antonio did well this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $59,051 in revenue per athlete, compared with $59,051 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,155 in athletic aid per athlete.
Houston Christian University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Houston, TX, Houston Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 88%. Team revenue averages $57,113 per participant, with expenses of about $57,113 per participant. The school awards about $20,924 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Houston did well this year, earning the #11 position. University of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. University of Houston records an NCAA APR of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 83%. Its federal graduation rate is 33%. Team revenue averages $83,175 per participant, with expenses of about $83,175 per participant. Athletic aid averages $15,948 per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in San Antonio, TX, University of the Incarnate Word is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $53,590 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $53,590 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,744.
Texas Tech University landed the #13 spot this year. Based in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $24,806 per participant, with expenses of about $119,850 per participant. Athletic aid averages $13,662 per athlete.
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi placed #14 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Based in Corpus Christi, TX, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi is a public institution. Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $75,455, with expenses of about $75,455 per participant. The school awards about $10,202 in athletic aid per athlete.
Sam Houston State University placed #15 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $60,326 per participant, with expenses of about $60,326 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,743.
University of North Texas did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Denton, TX, University of North Texas is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 86%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. The program generates about $67,687 in revenue per athlete, against $67,687 in expenses. The school awards about $11,504 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at El Paso placed #17 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in El Paso, TX, The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $24,777 in revenue per athlete, against $66,249 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,754.
Tarleton State University placed #18 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). Located in Stephenville, TX, Tarleton State University is a public institution. Tarleton State University records an NCAA APR of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 57%. Team revenue averages $75,517 per participant, compared with $75,517 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,883.
East Texas A&M University placed #19 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I). East Texas A&M University is a public school based in Commerce, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $54,374, with expenses of about $52,723 per participant. Athletic aid averages $12,747 per athlete.
Lamar University ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Lamar University is a public school based in Beaumont, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 75% Graduation Success Rate. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $59,726, with expenses of about $59,726 per participant. The school awards about $13,491 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Edinburg, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. Team revenue averages $39,092 per participant, with expenses of about $39,092 per participant. The school awards about $9,144 in athletic aid per athlete.
Stephen F Austin State University landed the #22 spot this year. Located in Nacogdoches, TX, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 991, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $32,105, against $32,105 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $8,595 per athlete.
Texas Southern University ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I). Texas Southern University is a public school based in Houston, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, alongside a GSR of 88%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $29,767, against $29,767 in expenses. The school awards about $8,795 in athletic aid per athlete.
Prairie View A & M University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Prairie View, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 978, alongside a GSR of 75%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $21,495 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $21,495 per participant. Athletic aid averages $7,400 per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.