by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 18 schools for Women’s Golf (Division I) in Plains States by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Leading the list is University of Missouri-Columbia, our #1 college for Women's Golf (Division I) in Plains States. Located in Columbia, MO, University of Missouri-Columbia 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 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $173,768, with expenses of about $173,768 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,637.
University of Kansas earned the #2 place for student athletes. University of Kansas is a public school based in Lawrence, KS. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 70% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $124,324 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $124,324 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,506 per athlete.
Kansas State University landed the #3 spot for Women's Golf (Division I) in Plains States. This public school is set in Manhattan, KS. Kansas State University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 56% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $166,448 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $166,448 per participant. Athletic aid averages $17,682 per athlete.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities landed the #4 spot for Women's Golf (Division I) in Plains States. Based in Minneapolis, MN, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a public institution. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities records an NCAA APR of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $19,090 in revenue per athlete, compared with $120,440 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $27,174 per athlete.
University of Iowa is one of the top schools for Women's Golf (Division I) in Plains States, at #5. This public school is set in Iowa City, IA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,297, against $107,720 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,176.
Drake University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I) in Plains States. Drake University is a private not-for-profit school based in Des Moines, IA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 78%. The program generates about $46,493 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $46,493 per participant. The school awards about $10,413 in athletic aid per athlete.
Creighton University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I) in Plains States. Creighton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Omaha, NE. The team's NCAA APR score is 967, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $28,232, compared with $31,262 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,224.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Lincoln, NE, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 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 73%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,166, with expenses of about $140,459 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,793.
University of North Dakota placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division I) in Plains States. Located in Grand Forks, ND, University of North Dakota is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. Team revenue averages $36,988 per participant, with expenses of about $36,988 per participant. The school awards about $11,250 in athletic aid per athlete.
North Dakota State University-Main Campus landed the #10 spot this year. Based in Fargo, ND, North Dakota State University-Main Campus 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 100%. Team revenue averages $49,468 per participant, against $49,468 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,886.
Iowa State University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Ames, IA. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 63%. The program generates about $5,595 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $216,378 per participant. Athletic aid averages $16,185 per athlete.
Wichita State University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Wichita, KS, Wichita State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 78%. Its federal graduation rate is 57%. The program generates about $63,274 in revenue per athlete, against $63,274 in expenses. The school awards about $11,114 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #13 spot this year. Based in Omaha, NE, University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public institution. University of Nebraska at Omaha records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $30,015 per participant, with expenses of about $34,669 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,713.
Lindenwood University landed the #14 spot this year. Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Charles, MO. Lindenwood University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $21,299 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $21,299 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,722.
Missouri State University-Springfield ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division I) in Plains States. Located in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University-Springfield is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. Team revenue averages $32,481 per participant, compared with $32,481 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,364.
University of South Dakota came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Located in Vermillion, SD, University of South Dakota is a public institution. University of South Dakota records an NCAA APR of 991, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 82%. The program generates about $42,504 in revenue per athlete, against $42,504 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,323.
South Dakota State University landed the #17 spot this year. This public school is set in Brookings, SD. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 88%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $46,212, with expenses of about $46,212 per participant. Athletic aid averages $6,424 per athlete.
University of Northern Iowa did well this year, earning the #18 position. This public school is set in Cedar Falls, IA. 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 $15,550, against $15,550 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $8,720 per athlete.
*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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
