by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 17 programs for Women’s Golf by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, College Factual scores each program on 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:
Our analysis found Washington and Lee University to be the best college for Women's Golf in Virginia. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lexington, VA. The program generates about $20,704 in revenue per athlete, against $20,704 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Christopher Newport University landed the #2 spot for Women's Golf. Located in Newport News, VA, Christopher Newport University is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $20,154, compared with $20,154 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Randolph-Macon College came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Golf. Located in Ashland, VA, Randolph-Macon College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $14,017 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $12,355 per participant. The school awards about $0 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%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $150,528 per participant, compared with $150,528 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $26,976 per athlete.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Women's Golf. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public school based in Blacksburg, VA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. Team revenue averages $33,798 per participant, with expenses of about $173,419 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,706.
University of Richmond landed the #6 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in University of Richmond, VA. University of Richmond records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $88,522, compared with $88,522 spent per athlete. The school awards about $27,609 in athletic aid per athlete.
James Madison University landed the #7 spot this year. James Madison University is a public school based in Harrisonburg, VA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $104,389 in revenue per athlete, compared with $104,389 spent per athlete. The school awards about $19,945 in athletic aid per athlete.
William & Mary ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf. Based in Williamsburg, VA, William & Mary is a public institution. William & Mary records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 89%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $116,618, against $25,601 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,943 per athlete.
University of Lynchburg came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Lynchburg, VA, University of Lynchburg is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $19,715 in revenue per athlete, compared with $19,715 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Old Dominion University landed the #10 spot this year. This public school is set in Norfolk, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $93,496 in revenue per athlete, compared with $93,496 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,728.
Shenandoah University ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf. Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit school based in Winchester, VA. Team revenue averages $7,242 per participant, compared with $7,242 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Longwood University landed the #12 spot this year. Longwood University is a public school based in Farmville, VA. Longwood University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $60,576 per participant, compared with $68,525 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $17,569 per athlete.
Emory & Henry University ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf. Based in Emory, VA, Emory & Henry University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $10,943 in revenue per athlete, compared with $10,943 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,871.
Radford University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Radford University is a public school based in Radford, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $33,310, with expenses of about $33,310 per participant. Athletic aid averages $8,467 per athlete.
Virginia Wesleyan University ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf. Located in Virginia Beach, VA, Virginia Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $9,158 in revenue per athlete, against $9,158 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Averett University ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf. Located in Danville, VA, Averett University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $8,537 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $8,537 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Southern Virginia University did well this year, earning the #17 position. 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. The school awards about $90 in athletic aid per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.