by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 13 programs for Women’s Rowing by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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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No school ranked higher than Villanova University this year for Women's Rowing. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school based in Villanova, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $20,853, compared with $20,853 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,480.
Temple University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Women's Rowing. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $30,625 per participant, compared with $30,625 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $28,567 per athlete.
Franklin and Marshall College came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Rowing. Located in Lancaster, PA, Franklin and Marshall College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $5,894, against $5,848 in expenses. The school awards about $53 in athletic aid per athlete.
Drexel University is one of the top schools for Women's Rowing, at #4. Drexel University is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, alongside a GSR of 88%. Its federal graduation rate is 79%. Team revenue averages $24,268 per participant, compared with $24,268 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $25,843 per athlete.
Bucknell University earned the #5 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lewisburg, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 95% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $10,752, against $10,752 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,655 per athlete.
Lehigh University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Rowing. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bethlehem, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $13,367, with expenses of about $13,367 per participant. Athletic aid averages $19,391 per athlete.
La Salle University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. La Salle University records an NCAA APR of 988, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 68% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $21,789 per participant, against $21,789 in expenses. The school awards about $16,413 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Rowing. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 68%. The program generates about $16,717 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $16,717 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,694.
Duquesne University did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. The program generates about $14,004 in revenue per athlete, compared with $14,004 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $17,755 per athlete.
University of Pennsylvania came in at #10 in this year's ranking. University of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 98%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $12,309, compared with $12,309 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Robert Morris University landed the #11 spot this year. Robert Morris University is a private not-for-profit school based in Moon Township, PA. The team's NCAA APR score is 976, and a 86% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. The program generates about $19,234 in revenue per athlete, against $19,234 in expenses. The school awards about $17,083 in athletic aid per athlete.
Mercyhurst University placed #12 among the best colleges for Women's Rowing. This private not-for-profit school is set in Erie, PA. Mercyhurst University records an NCAA APR of 953, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,881, against $24,840 in expenses. The school awards about $14,194 in athletic aid per athlete.
Thomas Jefferson University placed #13 among the best colleges for Women's Rowing. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $16,668 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $16,668 per participant. The school awards about $13,341 in athletic aid per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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.