by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 38 programs for Women’s Soccer (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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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Learn more about these schools below:
Our analysis found Stanford University to be the best college for Women's Soccer (Division I) in the Far Western Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stanford, CA. Stanford University records an NCAA APR of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 91% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $115,735 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $115,735 per participant. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Southern California ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). Based in Los Angeles, CA, University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Southern California records an NCAA APR of 991, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $102,819 in revenue per athlete, compared with $102,819 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $40,006 per athlete.
Pepperdine University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Soccer (Division I). Located in Malibu, CA, Pepperdine 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 76%. Team revenue averages $71,743 per participant, compared with $71,743 spent per athlete. The school awards about $27,861 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus is one of the top schools for Women's Soccer (Division I), at #4. This public school is set in Seattle, WA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. Team revenue averages $32,141 per participant, compared with $103,174 spent per athlete. The school awards about $26,539 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Los Angeles ranked #5 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). University of California-Los Angeles is a public school based in Los Angeles, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 79%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $77,415, with expenses of about $77,415 per participant. The school awards about $24,306 in athletic aid per athlete.
Seattle University placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Seattle, WA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 998, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $54,644 per participant, compared with $54,644 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,482 per athlete.
University of San Francisco ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). Located in San Francisco, CA, University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 986, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. About 72% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $58,383, with expenses of about $58,383 per participant. The school awards about $31,788 in athletic aid per athlete.
Santa Clara University placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). Based in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, alongside a GSR of 94%. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $83,496, against $83,496 in expenses. The school awards about $19,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Portland did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Portland, OR, University of Portland is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. The program generates about $68,908 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $68,908 per participant. Athletic aid averages $17,618 per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University landed the #10 spot this year. Located in Los Angeles, CA, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 971, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $58,764 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $58,764 per participant. Athletic aid averages $40,056 per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley landed the #11 spot this year. University of California-Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. University of California-Berkeley records an NCAA APR of 985, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $52,501 in revenue per athlete, compared with $52,501 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,267 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Oregon placed #12 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). Based in Eugene, OR, University of Oregon is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $7,270 per participant, against $83,543 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,739.
Gonzaga University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Spokane, WA, Gonzaga University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 91%. The program generates about $53,597 in revenue per athlete, compared with $56,452 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $14,963 per athlete.
Oregon State University landed the #14 spot this year. Oregon State University is a public school based in Corvallis, OR. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 53%. The program generates about $57,398 in revenue per athlete, against $57,398 in expenses. The school awards about $19,022 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of the Pacific landed the #15 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stockton, CA. University of the Pacific records an NCAA APR of 987, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 65%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $44,581, against $44,581 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,596.
Saint Mary's College of California landed the #16 spot this year. Based in Moraga, CA, Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 988, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. The program generates about $44,275 in revenue per athlete, compared with $44,275 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,999.
Washington State University landed the #17 spot this year. Based in Pullman, WA, Washington State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 985, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $40,540, with expenses of about $70,652 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,338.
California State University-Fresno placed #18 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). Based in Fresno, CA, California State University-Fresno is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 78%. Team revenue averages $58,153 per participant, against $58,153 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,577.
San Diego State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. San Diego State University is a public school based in San Diego, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, alongside a GSR of 85%. Its federal graduation rate is 63%. Team revenue averages $59,299 per participant, compared with $57,211 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,450 per athlete.
University of San Diego did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in San Diego, CA, University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 980, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 62%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $49,786, against $49,786 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,537 per athlete.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas did well this year, earning the #21 position. This public school is set in Las Vegas, NV. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 998, with a Graduation Success Rate of 71%. The federal graduation rate stands at 46%. Team revenue averages $20,302 per participant, compared with $40,427 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,395 per athlete.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo landed the #22 spot this year. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public school based in San Luis Obispo, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $27,475, with expenses of about $27,475 per participant. Athletic aid averages $10,344 per athlete.
University of California-Davis placed #23 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). This public school is set in Davis, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. About 81% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $27,336, against $27,336 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,267.
University of California-Santa Barbara did well this year, earning the #24 position. University of California-Santa Barbara is a public school based in Santa Barbara, CA. University of California-Santa Barbara records an NCAA APR of 989, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 92%. Team revenue averages $31,410 per participant, compared with $31,410 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $11,355 per athlete.
California Baptist University ranked #25 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Riverside, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 971, and a 82% Graduation Success Rate. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $41,280 per participant, compared with $40,626 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,790 per athlete.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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
See our data sources and methodologies.