by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. This list ranks 124 programs for Women’s Lacrosse (Division I) 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? Jump to the options below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Vanderbilt University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. 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 $83,265, with expenses of about $83,265 per participant. The school awards about $42,235 in athletic aid per athlete.
Stanford University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Stanford, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $85,239 in revenue per athlete, compared with $85,239 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $42,012.
University of Notre Dame is one of the top schools for Women's Lacrosse (Division I), at #3. University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school based in Notre Dame, IN. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $81,924, with expenses of about $81,924 per participant. Athletic aid averages $34,391 per athlete.
Clemson University is one of the top schools for Women's Lacrosse (Division I), at #4. Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Clemson University records an NCAA APR of 997. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $97,221, against $97,221 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $21,730 per athlete.
Northwestern University landed the #5 spot for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Evanston, IL. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 94% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $40,002 in revenue per athlete, against $75,776 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $53,919 per athlete.
University of Southern California ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 998, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 96%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $73,294, with expenses of about $73,294 per participant. The school awards about $40,006 in athletic aid per athlete.
Boston College ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Chestnut Hill, MA, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. The program generates about $114,421 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $114,421 per participant. Athletic aid averages $29,391 per athlete.
Boston University placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Boston, MA, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 97% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. Team revenue averages $57,565 per participant, against $57,565 in expenses. The school awards about $27,954 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 993. Team revenue averages $51,943 per participant, compared with $51,943 spent per athlete. The school awards about $30,613 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Charlottesville, VA, University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 97%. Team revenue averages $60,552 per participant, against $60,552 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $26,976 per athlete.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick did well this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in New Brunswick, NJ. Rutgers University-New Brunswick records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 85%. The program generates about $63,348 in revenue per athlete, compared with $63,348 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $26,379 per athlete.
Duke University placed #12 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 97%. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $63,718, against $77,183 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $34,321 per athlete.
Villanova University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Villanova, PA, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Villanova University records an NCAA APR of 999, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 87% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $41,124, against $41,124 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,480.
University of Richmond landed the #14 spot this year. University of Richmond is a private not-for-profit school based in University of Richmond, VA. University of Richmond records an NCAA APR of 998, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $53,507 in revenue per athlete, compared with $53,507 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,609.
Ohio State University-Main Campus placed #15 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 996, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. The program generates about $53,938 in revenue per athlete, compared with $53,938 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,151.
James Madison University did well this year, earning the #16 position. This public school is set in Harrisonburg, VA. James Madison University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. The program generates about $49,161 in revenue per athlete, against $49,161 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,945 per athlete.
George Washington University ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Washington, DC, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. George Washington University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 96%. About 74% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $40,983 per participant, compared with $40,983 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,880.
University of South Florida came in at #18 in this year's ranking. University of South Florida is a public school based in Tampa, FL. University of South Florida records an NCAA APR of 1000. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $49,475, compared with $49,475 spent per athlete. The school awards about $15,287 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Denver ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Denver, CO, University of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Denver records an NCAA APR of 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 81%. Team revenue averages $74,152 per participant, compared with $74,152 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $42,890 per athlete.
University of Maryland-College Park ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in College Park, MD, University of Maryland-College Park is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 91% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $17,222 per participant, with expenses of about $63,584 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $30,606.
Temple University landed the #21 spot this year. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 97%. Team revenue averages $51,243 per participant, against $51,243 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $28,567 per athlete.
Drexel University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Drexel University is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 77%. Team revenue averages $45,796 per participant, with expenses of about $45,796 per participant. Athletic aid averages $25,843 per athlete.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public institution. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 97%. Team revenue averages $6,424 per participant, against $70,677 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $28,650 per athlete.
Syracuse University landed the #24 spot this year. Located in Syracuse, NY, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 96%. The program generates about $32,201 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $78,468 per participant. The school awards about $33,068 in athletic aid per athlete.
Lafayette College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit school based in Easton, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 94%. Team revenue averages $40,570 per participant, compared with $40,570 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,987.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
