by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 14 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.
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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
No school ranked higher than Drexel University this year for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Philadelphia, PA, Drexel 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 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 77%. The program generates about $45,796 in revenue per athlete, compared with $45,796 spent per athlete. The school awards about $25,843 in athletic aid per athlete.
Temple University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 97%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $51,243, with expenses of about $51,243 per participant. The school awards about $28,567 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus landed the #3 spot for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Pittsburgh, PA, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 993. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $51,943, compared with $51,943 spent per athlete. The school awards about $30,613 in athletic aid per athlete.
Villanova University landed the #4 spot for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Villanova, PA, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 999, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 87% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $41,124 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $41,124 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,480.
Lehigh University earned the #5 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bethlehem, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $41,805, with expenses of about $41,805 per participant. Athletic aid averages $19,391 per athlete.
Lafayette College placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit school based in Easton, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 94%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $40,570, with expenses of about $40,570 per participant. The school awards about $18,987 in athletic aid per athlete.
Bucknell University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Lewisburg, PA. Bucknell University records an NCAA APR of 993, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $43,386 per participant, against $43,386 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,655 per athlete.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 998, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $16,173 per participant, with expenses of about $52,249 per participant. The school awards about $25,170 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Pennsylvania records an NCAA APR of 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $38,973, compared with $38,973 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia placed #10 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $32,395, with expenses of about $32,395 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,694.
Robert Morris University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Moon Township, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $26,971 per participant, against $26,971 in expenses. The school awards about $17,083 in athletic aid per athlete.
La Salle University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in Philadelphia, PA, La Salle University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 998, alongside a GSR of 96%. Its federal graduation rate is 72%. Team revenue averages $25,529 per participant, compared with $25,529 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,413 per athlete.
Duquesne University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit school based in Pittsburgh, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 85%. Team revenue averages $26,066 per participant, compared with $26,066 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $17,755 per athlete.
Saint Francis University ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Based in Loretto, PA, Saint Francis University is a private not-for-profit institution. The Graduation Success Rate here is 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. Team revenue averages $28,614 per participant, against $28,614 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $13,253 per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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.