by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 17 colleges for Women’s Soccer (Division I) 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Duke University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Women's Soccer (Division I). Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Duke University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 92%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $112,715, with expenses of about $116,531 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,321.
Wake Forest University earned the #2 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winston-Salem, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $91,765, with expenses of about $91,765 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $38,933.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh earned the #3 place for student athletes. Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. The program generates about $36,114 in revenue per athlete, against $65,910 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,384.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #4 spot for Women's Soccer (Division I). This public school is set in Chapel Hill, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 94%. The program generates about $50,560 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $80,315 per participant. Athletic aid averages $17,771 per athlete.
Elon University is one of the top schools for Women's Soccer (Division I), at #5. Elon University is a private not-for-profit school based in Elon, NC. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 70%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $53,376, against $53,376 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $25,795 per athlete.
Campbell University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Buies Creek, NC. The team's NCAA APR score is 998, with a Graduation Success Rate of 97%. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $32,969 in revenue per athlete, compared with $32,969 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,433 per athlete.
High Point University landed the #7 spot this year. High Point University is a private not-for-profit school based in High Point, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $40,654 per participant, with expenses of about $36,539 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,469 per athlete.
Appalachian State University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Appalachian State University is a public school based in Boone, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 985, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 90%. Team revenue averages $39,367 per participant, with expenses of about $39,367 per participant. Athletic aid averages $14,299 per athlete.
Davidson College landed the #9 spot this year. Based in Davidson, NC, Davidson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 998, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 85%. The program generates about $17,739 in revenue per athlete, against $24,191 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,830.
East Carolina University landed the #10 spot this year. East Carolina University is a public school based in Greenville, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 87%. About 40% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $43,247 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $42,916 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,584.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte landed the #11 spot this year. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public school based in Charlotte, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. About 59% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $31,864 per participant, with expenses of about $30,541 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,522.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #12 spot this year. Located in Greensboro, NC, University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 72% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $31,757 in revenue per athlete, against $31,757 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $9,162 per athlete.
Western Carolina University landed the #13 spot this year. Based in Cullowhee, NC, Western Carolina University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 87%. Its federal graduation rate is 77%. The program generates about $17,467 in revenue per athlete, against $17,467 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,960.
University of North Carolina Wilmington ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). Based in Wilmington, NC, University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. Its federal graduation rate is 74%. The program generates about $23,826 in revenue per athlete, against $23,826 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $7,667.
Queens University of Charlotte ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). Located in Charlotte, NC, Queens University of Charlotte is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 964, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. About 72% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $24,814 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $24,814 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,282.
Gardner-Webb University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Boiling Springs, NC, Gardner-Webb University is a private not-for-profit institution. Gardner-Webb University records an NCAA APR of 955, alongside a GSR of 93%. Its federal graduation rate is 68%. The program generates about $17,597 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $17,597 per participant. The school awards about $14,936 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Carolina Asheville landed the #17 spot this year. This public school is set in Asheville, NC. University of North Carolina Asheville records an NCAA APR of 984, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 78%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $13,831, against $13,831 in expenses. The school awards about $5,593 in athletic aid per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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.