by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 15 programs for Women’s Lacrosse (Division I) 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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Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Syracuse University to be the best college for Women's Lacrosse (Division I) in New York. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school based in Syracuse, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 96%. Team revenue averages $32,201 per participant, against $78,468 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $33,068 per athlete.
Hofstra University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Hempstead, NY, Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $47,280 in revenue per athlete, compared with $47,280 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $22,514 per athlete.
Colgate University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Hamilton, NY, Colgate 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 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $42,551, against $42,551 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,658.
Marist University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Poughkeepsie, NY, Marist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. Team revenue averages $28,087 per participant, with expenses of about $28,087 per participant. Athletic aid averages $9,661 per athlete.
Niagara University is one of the top schools for Women's Lacrosse (Division I), at #5. Based in Niagara University, NY, Niagara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. About 81% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $28,942 per participant, with expenses of about $28,942 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,462.
University at Albany placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Albany, NY, University at Albany is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 74%. The program generates about $21,413 in revenue per athlete, against $21,323 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $13,856 per athlete.
Binghamton University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Vestal, NY, Binghamton University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. The program generates about $31,203 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $24,125 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,522.
Stony Brook University landed the #8 spot this year. This public school is set in Stony Brook, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 973, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. Team revenue averages $44,768 per participant, with expenses of about $44,768 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,341.
Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in New York, NY, Columbia University in the City of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University in the City of New York records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $16,121, compared with $16,121 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Manhattan University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Riverdale, NY, Manhattan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. The federal graduation rate stands at 72%. Team revenue averages $17,933 per participant, against $17,035 in expenses. The school awards about $14,484 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wagner College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Staten Island, NY, Wagner College is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 74%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $21,145, compared with $21,145 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $15,661 per athlete.
Canisius University ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Canisius University is a private not-for-profit school based in Buffalo, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 87% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $20,041, with expenses of about $20,041 per participant. Athletic aid averages $9,300 per athlete.
St Bonaventure University ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Bonaventure, NY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $26,698 per participant, compared with $26,698 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $12,194 per athlete.
Iona University placed #14 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in New Rochelle, NY, Iona University is a private not-for-profit institution. Iona University records an NCAA APR of 998, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $16,229 per participant, against $16,229 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,814.
Cornell University did well this year, earning the #15 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Ithaca, NY. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $29,114, against $22,410 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
*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
See our data sources and methodologies.