by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. This list ranks 889 programs for Women’s Soccer 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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Explore the leading programs below:
Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 college for Women's Soccer. Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 92%. Team revenue averages $112,715 per participant, compared with $116,531 spent per athlete. The school awards about $34,321 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Notre Dame ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer. University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school based in Notre Dame, IN. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 94%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $106,356, against $106,356 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,391.
Vanderbilt University is one of the top schools for Women's Soccer, at #3. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. Team revenue averages $91,503 per participant, with expenses of about $91,503 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $42,235.
Northwestern University earned the #4 place for student athletes. Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University records an NCAA APR of 998, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 96% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $47,250, against $78,543 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $53,919.
University of Chicago earned the #5 place for student athletes. University of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $13,445, compared with $13,445 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Washington University in St Louis did well this year, earning the #6 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in St. Louis, MO. The program generates about $16,174 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $13,533 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
New York University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Team revenue averages $14,586 per participant, against $14,037 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Johns Hopkins University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $10,176 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $9,504 per participant. Athletic aid averages $2,612 per athlete.
Bowdoin College ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer. Based in Brunswick, ME, Bowdoin College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $17,215 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $15,441 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Ohio State University-Main Campus landed the #10 spot this year. Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus 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 79%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $99,119, with expenses of about $99,119 per participant. Athletic aid averages $27,151 per athlete.
Emory University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Atlanta, GA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $17,208, with expenses of about $11,736 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Southern Methodist University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $98,831 per participant, with expenses of about $98,831 per participant. The school awards about $56,388 in athletic aid per athlete.
Georgetown University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 96%. The program generates about $64,231 in revenue per athlete, against $64,231 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,232 per athlete.
Clemson University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 81%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $105,330, with expenses of about $105,330 per participant. The school awards about $21,730 in athletic aid per athlete.
Rice University ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer. Rice University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 90%. The program generates about $68,073 in revenue per athlete, against $68,073 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $41,166 per athlete.
Seton Hall University placed #16 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer. This private not-for-profit school is set in South Orange, NJ. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 96%. Team revenue averages $50,870 per participant, with expenses of about $50,870 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $32,496.
Amherst College ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer. Located in Amherst, MA, Amherst College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $13,735, against $13,735 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Tufts University landed the #18 spot this year. Located in Medford, MA, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $10,389, against $10,389 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Stanford University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stanford, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 91%. Team revenue averages $115,735 per participant, compared with $115,735 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $42,012.
Wake Forest University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest 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%. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. The program generates about $91,765 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $91,765 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $38,933.
Colby College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in Waterville, ME, Colby College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $12,085 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $12,085 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Lehigh University placed #22 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer. Located in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 95% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $43,460 in revenue per athlete, compared with $43,460 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,391.
Pepperdine University ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer. This private not-for-profit school is set in Malibu, CA. Pepperdine University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 76%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $71,743, against $71,743 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,861.
University of Delaware ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer. This public school is set in Newark, DE. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. Team revenue averages $49,339 per participant, with expenses of about $49,339 per participant. Athletic aid averages $24,002 per athlete.
Fairfield University placed #25 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer. Fairfield University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fairfield, CT. Fairfield University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 90% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $47,399, against $47,399 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,587 per athlete.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
To learn more about the colleges below, click on their names:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA |
| 52 | Saint Joseph’s University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA |
| 53 | University of Missouri-Columbia | Columbia, MO |
| 54 | William & Mary | Williamsburg, VA |
| 55 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH |
| 56 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL |
| 57 | University of Rochester | Rochester, NY |
| 58 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester, MA |
| 59 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison, WI |
| 60 | Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken, NJ |
| 61 | University of Rhode Island | Kingston, RI |
| 62 | Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA |
| 63 | Brandeis University | Waltham, MA |
| 64 | Boston University | Boston, MA |
| 65 | University of Denver | Denver, CO |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 116 | Lipscomb University | Nashville, TN |
| 117 | University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA |
| 118 | University of Toledo | Toledo, OH |
| 119 | Union College | Schenectady, NY |
| 120 | Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 121 | Carleton College | Northfield, MN |
| 122 | University of Mississippi | University, MS |
| 123 | Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, IL |
| 124 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX |
| 125 | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI |
| 126 | Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 127 | Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, NY |
| 128 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | University Park, PA |
| 129 | Union University | Jackson, TN |
| 130 | Whitman College | Walla Walla, WA |
| 131 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH |
| 132 | Robert Morris University | Moon Township, PA |
| 133 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA |
| 134 | Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia, PA |
These colleges also performed well in our ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 135 | Grinnell College | Grinnell, IA |
| 136 | Monmouth University | West Long Branch, NJ |
| 137 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
| 138 | Christopher Newport University | Newport News, VA |
| 139 | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Terre Haute, IN |
| 140 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus | Albuquerque, NM |
| 141 | Butler University | Indianapolis, IN |
| 142 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
| 143 | Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT |
| 144 | Northeastern University | Boston, MA |
| 145 | Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, PA |
| 146 | University of Scranton | Scranton, PA |
| 147 | University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ |
| 148 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, TX |
| 149 | Yeshiva University | New York, NY |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington, IL |
| 151 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY |
| 152 | Rhodes College | Memphis, TN |
| 153 | Harding University | Searcy, AR |
| 154 | Cedarville University | Cedarville, OH |
| 155 | University of Dayton | Dayton, OH |
| 156 | Calvin University | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 157 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | Saint Louis, MO |
| 158 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | Tempe, AZ |
| 159 | Kenyon College | Gambier, OH |
| 160 | Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR |
| 161 | High Point University | High Point, NC |
| 162 | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY |
| 163 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 164 | Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FL |
| 165 | West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV |
| 166 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL |
| 167 | Rockhurst University | Kansas City, MO |
| 168 | California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA |
| 169 | Utah State University | Logan, UT |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 170 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL |
| 171 | Drake University | Des Moines, IA |
| 172 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA |
| 173 | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND |
| 174 | Adelphi University | Garden City, NY |
| 175 | Davidson College | Davidson, NC |
| 176 | Biola University | La Mirada, CA |
| 177 | Oberlin College | Oberlin, OH |
| 178 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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.