by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 8 colleges for Women’s Golf (Division III) 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.
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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Washington and Lee University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Lexington, VA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $20,704, compared with $20,704 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Christopher Newport University earned the #2 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Newport News, VA. Team revenue averages $20,154 per participant, compared with $20,154 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Randolph-Macon College came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Golf (Division III). Located in Ashland, VA, Randolph-Macon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,017, with expenses of about $12,355 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Lynchburg ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division III). Located in Lynchburg, VA, University of Lynchburg is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $19,715 in revenue per athlete, against $19,715 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Shenandoah University landed the #5 spot for Women's Golf (Division III). Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit school based in Winchester, VA. The program generates about $7,242 in revenue per athlete, against $7,242 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Virginia Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Virginia Beach, VA, Virginia Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $9,158 per participant, compared with $9,158 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Averett University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf (Division III). Located in Danville, VA, Averett University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $8,537 in revenue per athlete, compared with $8,537 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Southern Virginia University placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Golf (Division III). Based in Buena Vista, VA, Southern Virginia University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,942, compared with $8,942 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $90.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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.