by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 35 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 Vanderbilt University to be the best college for Women's Lacrosse (Division I) in the Southeast Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. 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.
Clemson University earned the #2 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Clemson, SC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 997. The program generates about $97,221 in revenue per athlete, against $97,221 in expenses. The school awards about $21,730 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus ranked #3 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 996, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 97%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $60,552, with expenses of about $60,552 per participant. Athletic aid averages $26,976 per athlete.
Duke University landed the #4 spot for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Duke University is a private not-for-profit school based in Durham, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 993, alongside a GSR of 97%. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $63,718, against $77,183 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,321.
University of Richmond ranked #5 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in University of Richmond, VA. University of Richmond records an NCAA APR of 998, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. Team revenue averages $53,507 per participant, against $53,507 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $27,609 per athlete.
James Madison University placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). James Madison University is a public school based in Harrisonburg, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. Team revenue averages $49,161 per participant, with expenses of about $49,161 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,945.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Chapel Hill, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 998, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $46,274 per participant, with expenses of about $63,854 per participant. The school awards about $17,771 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of South Florida did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Tampa, FL, University of South Florida is a public institution. University of South Florida records an NCAA APR of 1000. Team revenue averages $49,475 per participant, compared with $49,475 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,287.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public school based in Blacksburg, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. About 77% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $12,915, compared with $67,891 spent per athlete. The school awards about $29,706 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Florida ranked #10 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Gainesville, FL, University of Florida is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 97%. Its federal graduation rate is 87%. Team revenue averages $4,532 per participant, with expenses of about $65,947 per participant. The school awards about $23,180 in athletic aid per athlete.
Elon University landed the #11 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Elon, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $33,793, compared with $33,793 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,795.
William & Mary landed the #12 spot this year. Located in Williamsburg, VA, William & Mary is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 93%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $32,904, against $31,595 in expenses. The school awards about $15,943 in athletic aid per athlete.
Furman University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Greenville, SC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. The program generates about $24,180 in revenue per athlete, compared with $24,180 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $28,699 per athlete.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). This public school is set in Richmond, VA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 87%. The program generates about $40,315 in revenue per athlete, compared with $40,315 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,187.
Mercer University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Macon, GA, Mercer University 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 79%. Team revenue averages $26,530 per participant, compared with $26,530 spent per athlete. The school awards about $23,898 in athletic aid per athlete.
Liberty University ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lynchburg, VA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $45,642 in revenue per athlete, against $45,642 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,589.
Wofford College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Spartanburg, SC, Wofford College is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $37,257 per participant, against $37,257 in expenses. The school awards about $26,368 in athletic aid per athlete.
High Point University did well this year, earning the #18 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in High Point, NC. High Point University records an NCAA APR of 992, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. The program generates about $42,891 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $35,508 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,469 per athlete.
East Carolina University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Greenville, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 66%. The program generates about $34,584 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $34,106 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,584.
Old Dominion University placed #20 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). Located in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, alongside a GSR of 96%. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $27,408, with expenses of about $27,408 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,728.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public school based in Charlotte, NC. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $34,837, with expenses of about $34,970 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,522.
Davidson College ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Davidson, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $16,150 in revenue per athlete, against $20,465 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $9,830 per athlete.
Jacksonville University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Jacksonville University is a private not-for-profit school based in Jacksonville, FL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 998, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. The program generates about $23,669 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $23,669 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,287.
University of Louisville landed the #24 spot this year. Based in Louisville, KY, University of Louisville is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. Its federal graduation rate is 47%. The program generates about $4,195 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $40,183 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,083 per athlete.
Stetson University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in DeLand, FL, Stetson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 85% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $25,242, against $25,242 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,035.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*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
See our data sources and methodologies.