by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 30 schools for Women’s Softball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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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Explore the leading programs below:
No school ranked higher than Stanford University this year for Women's Softball (Division I). Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school based in Stanford, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 998, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 93%. Team revenue averages $160,247 per participant, with expenses of about $160,247 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $42,012.
University of California-Los Angeles landed the #2 spot for Women's Softball (Division I). University of California-Los Angeles is a public school based in Los Angeles, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 996, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $171,560, compared with $171,560 spent per athlete. The school awards about $24,306 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranked #3 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in Seattle, WA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $70,118 per participant, compared with $218,581 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $26,539 per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University is one of the top schools for Women's Softball (Division I), at #4. Located in Los Angeles, CA, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $99,335, compared with $99,335 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $40,056 per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley earned the #5 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Berkeley, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 991, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. Team revenue averages $101,242 per participant, with expenses of about $101,242 per participant. The school awards about $21,267 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of San Diego ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Located 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 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $68,782 per participant, compared with $68,782 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,537 per athlete.
Santa Clara University placed #7 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $59,857, against $59,857 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,355.
San Diego State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). San Diego State University is a public school based in San Diego, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, and a 85% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. The program generates about $78,956 in revenue per athlete, against $77,665 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $21,450 per athlete.
Seattle University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Seattle, WA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 987, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. Team revenue averages $61,044 per participant, compared with $61,044 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,482.
University of California-San Diego landed the #10 spot this year. This public school is set in La Jolla, CA. University of California-San Diego records an NCAA APR of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 96%. Team revenue averages $52,317 per participant, with expenses of about $52,317 per participant. Athletic aid averages $9,847 per athlete.
Oregon State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 985, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 55%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $86,132, against $86,132 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,022 per athlete.
University of Nevada-Reno landed the #12 spot this year. University of Nevada-Reno is a public school based in Reno, NV. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 974, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 72% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $71,736, against $63,344 in expenses. The school awards about $21,799 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Davis landed the #13 spot this year. Located in Davis, CA, University of California-Davis is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. About 87% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $48,198, against $48,198 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,267 per athlete.
University of the Pacific landed the #14 spot this year. University of the Pacific is a private not-for-profit school based in Stockton, CA. University of the Pacific records an NCAA APR of 983, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $56,329, against $56,329 in expenses. The school awards about $21,596 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Santa Barbara came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Santa Barbara, CA, University of California-Santa Barbara is a public institution. University of California-Santa Barbara records an NCAA APR of 979, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. About 88% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $76,941 per participant, against $76,941 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,355 per athlete.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in San Luis Obispo, CA, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 993, alongside a GSR of 94%. The federal graduation rate stands at 94%. The program generates about $45,122 in revenue per athlete, compared with $45,122 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,344.
University of Oregon did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Eugene, OR, University of Oregon is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, with a Graduation Success Rate of 82%. Its federal graduation rate is 38%. The program generates about $38,171 in revenue per athlete, compared with $174,241 spent per athlete. The school awards about $22,739 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Baptist University ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Riverside, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 978, and a 83% Graduation Success Rate. About 60% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $72,667, compared with $70,823 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,790.
Saint Mary's College of California ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Moraga, CA, Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. About 68% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $56,610 per participant, with expenses of about $56,610 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,999.
Portland State University placed #20 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Portland, OR, Portland State University is a public institution. Portland State University records an NCAA APR of 992, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 62% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $43,299, with expenses of about $43,299 per participant. The school awards about $13,026 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Las Vegas, NV, University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 980, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 61%. The program generates about $24,236 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $61,997 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,395.
University of Hawaii at Manoa did well this year, earning the #22 position. University of Hawaii at Manoa is a public school based in Honolulu, HI. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 68%. The program generates about $27,032 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $53,110 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,398.
California State University-Fullerton did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Fullerton, CA, California State University-Fullerton is a public institution. California State University-Fullerton records an NCAA APR of 984, alongside a GSR of 89%. Its federal graduation rate is 58%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $72,277, against $72,277 in expenses. The school awards about $9,497 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Northridge did well this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Northridge, CA, California State University-Northridge is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. About 81% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $41,819 in revenue per athlete, compared with $37,086 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,174.
California State University-Fresno came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Fresno, CA, California State University-Fresno is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 975, alongside a GSR of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 48%. Team revenue averages $56,769 per participant, against $56,769 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,577.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.