by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 15 colleges for Women’s Rowing (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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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Duke University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Women's Rowing (Division I). Located in Durham, NC, Duke 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 100%. About 95% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $83,575, compared with $81,606 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,321.
University of Central Florida is one of the top schools for Women's Rowing (Division I), at #2. This public school is set in Orlando, FL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 998, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $122,101 in revenue per athlete, against $38,227 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $25,195 per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus landed the #3 spot for Women's Rowing (Division I). Based in Charlottesville, VA, University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. Its federal graduation rate is 88%. The program generates about $45,743 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $45,743 per participant. The school awards about $26,976 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Alabama is one of the top schools for Women's Rowing (Division I), at #4. The University of Alabama is a public school based in Tuscaloosa, AL. The team's NCAA APR score is 998, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 91% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $31,128 in revenue per athlete, against $31,128 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,760.
University of Miami ranked #5 among the best colleges for Women's Rowing (Division I). Based in Coral Gables, FL, University of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, and a 97% Graduation Success Rate. About 81% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $53,824 per participant, with expenses of about $53,824 per participant. The school awards about $38,474 in athletic aid per athlete.
Clemson University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Clemson University records an NCAA APR of 995, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 84% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $59,575 per participant, compared with $59,575 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,730 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Rowing (Division I). Located in Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 996, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 98%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $17,804, compared with $34,807 spent per athlete. The school awards about $17,771 in athletic aid per athlete.
High Point University ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Rowing (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in High Point, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000. The program generates about $41,801 in revenue per athlete, against $29,418 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $18,469 per athlete.
West Virginia University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Morgantown, WV, West Virginia University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $13,792 in revenue per athlete, against $13,792 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,705.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Knoxville, TN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. The program generates about $1,759 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $57,383 per participant. The school awards about $29,054 in athletic aid per athlete.
Old Dominion University ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Rowing (Division I). This public school is set in Norfolk, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 978, alongside a GSR of 97%. Its federal graduation rate is 85%. Team revenue averages $29,750 per participant, compared with $29,750 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,728.
University of Louisville ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Rowing (Division I). Located in Louisville, KY, University of Louisville is a public institution. University of Louisville records an NCAA APR of 983, alongside a GSR of 97%. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,252, against $35,179 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $21,083 per athlete.
Jacksonville University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Jacksonville University is a private not-for-profit school based in Jacksonville, FL. The team's NCAA APR score is 991, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $13,655 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $13,655 per participant. The school awards about $14,287 in athletic aid per athlete.
Stetson University ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Women's Rowing (Division I). Stetson University is a private not-for-profit school based in DeLand, FL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. Its federal graduation rate is 76%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $15,587, against $15,587 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,035.
George Mason University did well this year, earning the #15 position. George Mason University is a public school based in Fairfax, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, alongside a GSR of 63%. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. The program generates about $11,767 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $11,767 per participant. The school awards about $11,956 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.