by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. This list ranks 22 colleges for Women’s Softball (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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Explore the leading programs below:
Stanford University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 998, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 93%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $160,247, compared with $160,247 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $42,012.
University of California-Los Angeles is one of the top schools for Women's Softball (Division I), at #2. This public school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $171,560, with expenses of about $171,560 per participant. The school awards about $24,306 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University is one of the top schools for Women's Softball (Division I), at #3. Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, alongside a GSR of 94%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $99,335 per participant, with expenses of about $99,335 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $40,056.
Santa Clara University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Santa Clara University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. The program generates about $59,857 in revenue per athlete, against $59,857 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,355 per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley is one of the top schools for Women's Softball (Division I), at #5. Located in Berkeley, CA, University of California-Berkeley is a public institution. University of California-Berkeley records an NCAA APR of 991, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 81%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $101,242, compared with $101,242 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,267.
University of San Diego placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in San Diego, CA, University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. University of San Diego records an NCAA APR of 991, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 93%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $68,782, against $68,782 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,537.
San Diego State University landed the #7 spot this year. Based in San Diego, CA, San Diego State University is a public institution. San Diego State University records an NCAA APR of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $78,956 per participant, compared with $77,665 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,450 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-San Diego landed the #8 spot this year. University of California-San Diego is a public school based in La Jolla, CA. University of California-San Diego records an NCAA APR of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 96% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $52,317 per participant, against $52,317 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,847.
University of the Pacific landed the #9 spot this year. Located in Stockton, CA, University of the Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 983, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 57%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $56,329, compared with $56,329 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,596 per athlete.
University of California-Davis landed the #10 spot this year. This public school is set in Davis, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 87%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $48,198, against $48,198 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $14,267 per athlete.
University of California-Santa Barbara ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Santa Barbara, CA, University of California-Santa Barbara is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 979, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. Team revenue averages $76,941 per participant, compared with $76,941 spent per athlete. The school awards about $11,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in San Luis Obispo, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. The federal graduation rate stands at 94%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $45,122, compared with $45,122 spent per athlete. The school awards about $10,344 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit school based in Moraga, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 68%. Team revenue averages $56,610 per participant, compared with $56,610 spent per athlete. The school awards about $18,999 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Baptist University did well this year, earning the #14 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Riverside, CA. California Baptist University records an NCAA APR of 978, with a Graduation Success Rate of 83%. About 60% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $72,667 in revenue per athlete, compared with $70,823 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,790 per athlete.
California State University-Fullerton ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Fullerton, CA, California State University-Fullerton is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. About 58% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $72,277 per participant, with expenses of about $72,277 per participant. Athletic aid averages $9,497 per athlete.
California State University-Fresno ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). California State University-Fresno is a public school based in Fresno, CA. California State University-Fresno records an NCAA APR of 975, alongside a GSR of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 48%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $56,769, against $56,769 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,577.
California State University-Northridge landed the #17 spot this year. California State University-Northridge is a public school based in Northridge, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 988, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 81%. Team revenue averages $41,819 per participant, against $37,086 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,174.
San Jose State University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 970, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. Its federal graduation rate is 52%. Team revenue averages $54,142 per participant, against $54,142 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,034.
California State University-Long Beach ranked #19 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in Long Beach, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 979, alongside a GSR of 88%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $50,844, against $50,844 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,770.
California State University-Sacramento ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). California State University-Sacramento is a public school based in Sacramento, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 969, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. About 72% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $42,581 per participant, against $42,581 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,560 per athlete.
University of California-Riverside placed #21 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Riverside, CA, University of California-Riverside is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 971, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. The federal graduation rate stands at 53%. Team revenue averages $36,930 per participant, compared with $36,930 spent per athlete. The school awards about $11,154 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Bakersfield placed #22 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). California State University-Bakersfield is a public school based in Bakersfield, CA. California State University-Bakersfield records an NCAA APR of 964, with a Graduation Success Rate of 84%. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $35,548 per participant, with expenses of about $35,548 per participant. Athletic aid averages $10,121 per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.