by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 47 programs for Women’s Soccer (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
No school ranked higher than University of Notre Dame this year for Women's Soccer (Division I). Based in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. University of Notre Dame records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 94%. The program generates about $106,356 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $106,356 per participant. Athletic aid averages $34,391 per athlete.
Northwestern University is one of the top schools for Women's Soccer (Division I), at #2. This private not-for-profit school is set in Evanston, IL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 998, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 96% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $47,250 per participant, against $78,543 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $53,919.
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Soccer (Division I). This public school is set in Columbus, OH. Ohio State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 79%. The program generates about $99,119 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $99,119 per participant. Athletic aid averages $27,151 per athlete.
Michigan State University landed the #4 spot for Women's Soccer (Division I). This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. Michigan State University records an NCAA APR of 992, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $78,341 per participant, against $78,341 in expenses. The school awards about $22,500 in athletic aid per athlete.
Indiana University-Bloomington came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Women's Soccer (Division I). Indiana University-Bloomington is a public school based in Bloomington, IN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. Team revenue averages $73,293 per participant, compared with $73,293 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,161 per athlete.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Champaign, IL, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 90%. The program generates about $8,946 in revenue per athlete, against $103,645 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,398.
University of Wisconsin-Madison did well this year, earning the #7 position. University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public school based in Madison, WI. University of Wisconsin-Madison records an NCAA APR of 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 81%. Team revenue averages $21,862 per participant, against $73,574 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $21,586 per athlete.
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Cincinnati, OH. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $51,971, against $51,971 in expenses. The school awards about $20,882 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loyola University Chicago placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). Located in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Chicago records an NCAA APR of 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 90% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $45,183 in revenue per athlete, against $45,183 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,325.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. The program generates about $4,067 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $76,946 per participant. The school awards about $28,650 in athletic aid per athlete.
Miami University-Oxford placed #11 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). Based in Oxford, OH, Miami University-Oxford is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. The program generates about $39,415 in revenue per athlete, against $39,415 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,790.
University of Toledo landed the #12 spot this year. This public school is set in Toledo, OH. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 998, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $34,363 in revenue per athlete, against $34,363 in expenses. The school awards about $21,660 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ball State University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Muncie, IN, Ball State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 65% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $36,493 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $36,493 per participant. The school awards about $16,206 in athletic aid per athlete.
Western Michigan University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University is a public institution. Western Michigan University records an NCAA APR of 998, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $29,926, compared with $29,926 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,248.
University of Dayton ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). University of Dayton is a private not-for-profit school based in Dayton, OH. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. Team revenue averages $32,705 per participant, compared with $57,020 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,913.
Butler University landed the #16 spot this year. Located in Indianapolis, IN, Butler University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. Team revenue averages $51,292 per participant, with expenses of about $49,984 per participant. The school awards about $12,113 in athletic aid per athlete.
Northern Illinois University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Northern Illinois University is a public school based in Dekalb, IL. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 95%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $31,211, with expenses of about $30,853 per participant. Athletic aid averages $16,138 per athlete.
DePaul University ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). Located in Chicago, IL, DePaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. The program generates about $45,263 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $45,263 per participant. Athletic aid averages $23,928 per athlete.
Ohio University-Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). Located in Athens, OH, Ohio University-Main Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 85%. The program generates about $32,518 in revenue per athlete, compared with $32,518 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $17,284 per athlete.
Marquette University landed the #20 spot this year. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 983, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 91% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $54,517 per participant, compared with $54,517 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $14,770 per athlete.
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus landed the #21 spot this year. This public school is set in Bowling Green, OH. Bowling Green State University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. About 73% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $27,543 per participant, compared with $27,283 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,840 in athletic aid per athlete.
Kent State University at Kent came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Kent State University at Kent is a public school based in Kent, OH. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. Team revenue averages $37,359 per participant, against $37,359 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,976.
Purdue University-Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). Located in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. The program generates about $14,776 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $61,738 per participant. The school awards about $19,382 in athletic aid per athlete.
Xavier University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Cincinnati, OH, Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 986, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. The federal graduation rate stands at 66%. The program generates about $41,025 in revenue per athlete, against $41,025 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $20,280 per athlete.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #25 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). Based in Ypsilanti, MI, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Eastern Michigan University records an NCAA APR of 993, alongside a GSR of 96%. About 96% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $30,200, against $30,200 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $16,547 per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*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
See our data sources and methodologies.