by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 43 schools for Women’s Lacrosse (Division III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual scores each program on 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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Learn more about these schools below:
No school ranked higher than University of Chicago this year for Women's Lacrosse (Division III). Located in Chicago, IL, University of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $10,269 per participant, compared with $10,269 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Denison University earned the #2 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Granville, OH. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $10,476, against $10,476 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
DePauw University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Lacrosse (Division III). DePauw University is a private not-for-profit school based in Greencastle, IN. The program generates about $10,137 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $10,137 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Calvin University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Grand Rapids, MI. The program generates about $8,501 in revenue per athlete, compared with $8,501 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oberlin College came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Women's Lacrosse (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Oberlin, OH. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,635, with expenses of about $8,635 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Illinois Institute of Technology landed the #6 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,743, with expenses of about $8,743 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division III). Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bloomington, IL. Team revenue averages $5,729 per participant, with expenses of about $5,729 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
The College of Wooster came in at #8 in this year's ranking. The College of Wooster is a private not-for-profit school based in Wooster, OH. Team revenue averages $8,711 per participant, compared with $8,014 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Kalamazoo College landed the #9 spot this year. Located in Kalamazoo, MI, Kalamazoo College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $6,175 per participant, compared with $6,175 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
John Carroll University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. John Carroll University is a private not-for-profit school based in University Heights, OH. Team revenue averages $6,906 per participant, compared with $6,906 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Ohio Northern University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Ada, OH, Ohio Northern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,270, with expenses of about $7,270 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Kenyon College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Gambier, OH, Kenyon College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $4,599 in revenue per athlete, against $4,599 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Hope College placed #13 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division III). Located in Holland, MI, Hope College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $5,429, compared with $5,429 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Lawrence University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Appleton, WI, Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,770, against $6,770 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division III). Based in La Crosse, WI, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,709, against $7,261 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
North Central College did well this year, earning the #16 position. North Central College is a private not-for-profit school based in Naperville, IL. The program generates about $8,541 in revenue per athlete, against $5,946 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Eau Claire, WI, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a public institution. Team revenue averages $6,543 per participant, compared with $7,505 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Lake Forest College landed the #18 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lake Forest, IL. The program generates about $6,298 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $6,298 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Elmhurst University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Elmhurst University is a private not-for-profit school based in Elmhurst, IL. The program generates about $8,118 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $7,705 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Milwaukee School of Engineering came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $4,932 in revenue per athlete, compared with $4,932 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Franciscan University of Steubenville ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division III). Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit school based in Steubenville, OH. Team revenue averages $3,748 per participant, with expenses of about $3,104 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Concordia University-Wisconsin ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Women's Lacrosse (Division III). Concordia University-Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school based in Mequon, WI. The program generates about $7,893 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $7,906 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Hanover College landed the #23 spot this year. Hanover College is a private not-for-profit school based in Hanover, IN. Team revenue averages $8,707 per participant, compared with $8,707 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Baldwin Wallace University placed #24 among the best colleges for Women's Lacrosse (Division III). Baldwin Wallace University is a private not-for-profit school based in Berea, OH. Team revenue averages $5,915 per participant, with expenses of about $5,915 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Otterbein University landed the #25 spot this year. Located in Westerville, OH, Otterbein University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,060, with expenses of about $5,375 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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.