by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. We have ranked 24 schools for Women’s Soccer (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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:
Leading the list is Southern Methodist University, our #1 college for Women's Soccer (Division I). Based in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $98,831, against $98,831 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $56,388.
Rice University is one of the top schools for Women's Soccer (Division I), at #2. This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 90%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $68,073, compared with $68,073 spent per athlete. The school awards about $41,166 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas Christian University is one of the top schools for Women's Soccer (Division I), at #3. Based in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $89,206 in revenue per athlete, against $89,206 in expenses. The school awards about $37,174 in athletic aid per athlete.
Baylor University earned the #4 place for student athletes. Located in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 998, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 76%. Team revenue averages $102,983 per participant, with expenses of about $102,983 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $30,455.
Abilene Christian University ranked #5 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Abilene, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 95%. The program generates about $45,974 in revenue per athlete, compared with $41,150 spent per athlete. The school awards about $26,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas A&M University-College Station landed the #6 spot this year. Texas A&M University-College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. Texas A&M University-College Station records an NCAA APR of 996, alongside a GSR of 93%. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Team revenue averages $76,231 per participant, with expenses of about $132,844 per participant. The school awards about $17,123 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin placed #7 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). Located in Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 97%. Its federal graduation rate is 87%. Team revenue averages $34,405 per participant, compared with $87,526 spent per athlete. The school awards about $22,650 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 69% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $36,064, with expenses of about $36,064 per participant. Athletic aid averages $16,155 per athlete.
Texas Tech University placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). Texas Tech University is a public school based in Lubbock, TX. Texas Tech University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 97%. The federal graduation rate stands at 76%. The program generates about $21,501 in revenue per athlete, against $108,375 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $13,662 per athlete.
University of Houston came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Houston, TX, University of Houston is a public institution. University of Houston records an NCAA APR of 991, alongside a GSR of 97%. The federal graduation rate stands at 79%. Team revenue averages $43,921 per participant, with expenses of about $43,921 per participant. The school awards about $15,948 in athletic aid per athlete.
Houston Christian University did well this year, earning the #11 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. The program generates about $37,638 in revenue per athlete, against $37,638 in expenses. The school awards about $20,924 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word did well this year, earning the #12 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in San Antonio, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 988, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $34,655 in revenue per athlete, against $34,655 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $18,744 per athlete.
Texas State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). Based in San Marcos, TX, Texas State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 980, alongside a GSR of 96%. Its federal graduation rate is 92%. Team revenue averages $37,912 per participant, compared with $37,912 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,371 in athletic aid per athlete.
Tarleton State University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Stephenville, TX, Tarleton State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 981. Team revenue averages $45,175 per participant, against $45,175 in expenses. The school awards about $11,883 in athletic aid per athlete.
East Texas A&M University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Commerce, TX, East Texas A&M University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, and a 70% Graduation Success Rate. About 42% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $35,221 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $35,194 per participant. Athletic aid averages $12,747 per athlete.
Sam Houston State University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Sam Houston State University records an NCAA APR of 991, alongside a GSR of 92%. About 61% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $32,491 in revenue per athlete, against $32,491 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,743 per athlete.
University of North Texas ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Soccer (Division I). Located in Denton, TX, University of North Texas is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 974, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 52%. Team revenue averages $39,716 per participant, with expenses of about $39,716 per participant. The school awards about $11,504 in athletic aid per athlete.
Lamar University placed #18 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). Located in Beaumont, TX, Lamar University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 985, alongside a GSR of 86%. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $31,496, against $31,496 in expenses. The school awards about $13,491 in athletic aid per athlete.
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Nacogdoches, TX, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. The program generates about $24,927 in revenue per athlete, compared with $24,927 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,595.
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in Corpus Christi, TX, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 44%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $31,320, against $31,320 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $10,202 per athlete.
The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #21 spot this year. Located in El Paso, TX, The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 966, alongside a GSR of 85%. About 61% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $15,661, with expenses of about $38,153 per participant. The school awards about $18,754 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley placed #22 among the best colleges for Women's Soccer (Division I). Located in Edinburg, TX, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, and a 86% Graduation Success Rate. About 68% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $28,260, compared with $28,260 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,144.
Texas Southern University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Texas Southern University is a public school based in Houston, TX. Texas Southern University records an NCAA APR of 985, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $18,224 in revenue per athlete, compared with $18,224 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $8,795 per athlete.
Prairie View A & M University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Located in Prairie View, TX, Prairie View A & M University is a public institution. Prairie View A & M University records an NCAA APR of 980, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $13,445 per participant, against $13,445 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $7,400 per athlete.
*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
More about our data sources and methodologies.