by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 65 colleges for Women’s Golf in Plains States by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Pick a path below.
Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Washington University in St Louis to be the best college for Women's Golf in Plains States in the The Plains States Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in St. Louis, MO. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $23,653, compared with $22,257 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Carleton College is one of the top schools for Women's Golf in Plains States, at #2. Carleton College is a private not-for-profit school based in Northfield, MN. The program generates about $10,728 in revenue per athlete, compared with $10,977 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Rockhurst University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Golf in Plains States. Based in Kansas City, MO, Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $17,321 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $17,321 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,130.
Macalester College landed the #4 spot for Women's Golf in Plains States. Macalester College is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. Team revenue averages $9,038 per participant, with expenses of about $9,009 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Maryville University of Saint Louis landed the #5 spot for Women's Golf in Plains States. Maryville University of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. Team revenue averages $26,377 per participant, compared with $25,076 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $6,338 per athlete.
Grinnell College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Grinnell, IA, Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,167, compared with $7,167 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
St Olaf College placed #7 among the best colleges for Women's Golf in Plains States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Northfield, MN. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,168, against $7,168 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #8 spot this year. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Peter, MN. The program generates about $7,783 in revenue per athlete, against $7,783 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Missouri-Columbia placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Golf in Plains States. This public school is set in Columbia, MO. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $173,768, compared with $173,768 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,637 per athlete.
University of Mary landed the #10 spot this year. University of Mary is a private not-for-profit school based in Bismarck, ND. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $17,084, compared with $17,084 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $6,321 per athlete.
University of Kansas placed #11 among the best colleges for Women's Golf in Plains States. This public school is set in Lawrence, KS. University of Kansas records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 70%. Team revenue averages $124,324 per participant, with expenses of about $124,324 per participant. The school awards about $21,506 in athletic aid per athlete.
Kansas State University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 56%. The program generates about $166,448 in revenue per athlete, against $166,448 in expenses. The school awards about $17,682 in athletic aid per athlete.
Drake University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Des Moines, IA, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Drake University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $46,493 in revenue per athlete, compared with $46,493 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $10,413 per athlete.
Wartburg College placed #14 among the best colleges for Women's Golf in Plains States. Wartburg College is a private not-for-profit school based in Waverly, IA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $11,527, with expenses of about $11,527 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of North Dakota ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf in Plains States. Based in Grand Forks, ND, University of North Dakota is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. The program generates about $36,988 in revenue per athlete, compared with $36,988 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $11,250 per athlete.
Luther College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Decorah, IA. The program generates about $3,561 in revenue per athlete, compared with $3,322 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
North Dakota State University-Main Campus placed #17 among the best colleges for Women's Golf in Plains States. Based in Fargo, ND, North Dakota State University-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $49,468 in revenue per athlete, against $49,468 in expenses. The school awards about $8,886 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf in Plains States. This public school is set in Minneapolis, MN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. Team revenue averages $19,090 per participant, against $120,440 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $27,174 per athlete.
Martin Luther College ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf in Plains States. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Ulm, MN. The program generates about $4,084 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $4,084 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Drury University landed the #20 spot this year. Located in Springfield, MO, Drury University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $20,664 in revenue per athlete, compared with $20,664 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $8,859 per athlete.
University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #21 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%. The program generates about $30,015 in revenue per athlete, compared with $34,669 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $10,713 per athlete.
Creighton University placed #22 among the best colleges for Women's Golf in Plains States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Omaha, NE. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 967, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $28,232 in revenue per athlete, against $31,262 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $17,224 per athlete.
Northwest Missouri State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Golf in Plains States. Located in Maryville, MO, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Team revenue averages $32,830 per participant, with expenses of about $32,830 per participant. Athletic aid averages $6,287 per athlete.
University of Missouri-St Louis placed #24 among the best colleges for Women's Golf in Plains States. University of Missouri-St Louis is a public school based in Saint Louis, MO. The program generates about $36,307 in revenue per athlete, compared with $34,858 spent per athlete. The school awards about $6,395 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Northwestern-St Paul landed the #25 spot this year. Based in Saint Paul, MN, University of Northwestern-St Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $6,547 in revenue per athlete, compared with $6,547 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*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
See our data sources and methodologies.
