by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 41 programs 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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University of Notre Dame tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $140,408 per participant, compared with $140,408 spent per athlete. The school awards about $34,391 in athletic aid per athlete.
Northwestern University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Women's Softball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Evanston, IL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 92%. The program generates about $70,074 in revenue per athlete, compared with $145,522 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $53,919.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #3 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 94%. Its federal graduation rate is 94%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $65,448, with expenses of about $65,448 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,325.
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 84%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $113,577, against $113,577 in expenses. The school awards about $27,151 in athletic aid per athlete.
Michigan State University landed the #5 spot for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. Michigan State University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. Team revenue averages $88,810 per participant, against $88,810 in expenses. The school awards about $22,500 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. The program generates about $23,734 in revenue per athlete, compared with $128,308 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $28,650 per athlete.
Indiana University-Bloomington did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University-Bloomington is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 993, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 90% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $131,482 in revenue per athlete, compared with $131,482 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,161.
Miami University-Oxford placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Oxford, OH, Miami University-Oxford is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $69,300 per participant, against $69,300 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $17,790 per athlete.
Kent State University at Kent came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Kent, OH, Kent State University at Kent is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $55,658 in revenue per athlete, compared with $55,658 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,976.
DePaul University placed #10 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (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 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. Its federal graduation rate is 74%. The program generates about $81,970 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $81,970 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,928.
University of Illinois Chicago landed the #11 spot this year. University of Illinois Chicago is a public school based in Chicago, IL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 93%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $51,785, compared with $51,785 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $15,167 per athlete.
Butler University landed the #12 spot this year. Based in Indianapolis, IN, Butler University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. About 79% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $57,077 in revenue per athlete, compared with $55,585 spent per athlete. The school awards about $12,113 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Champaign, IL, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 56%. Team revenue averages $22,800 per participant, against $87,935 in expenses. The school awards about $25,398 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Madison came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 94%. The program generates about $16,962 in revenue per athlete, against $97,897 in expenses. The school awards about $21,586 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ohio University-Main Campus did well this year, earning the #15 position. Ohio University-Main Campus is a public school based in Athens, OH. Ohio University-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $48,171, compared with $48,171 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,284.
Illinois State University placed #16 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in Normal, IL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 73% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $49,317, against $49,317 in expenses. The school awards about $13,477 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ball State University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Ball State University is a public school based in Muncie, IN. Ball State University records an NCAA APR of 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $44,024, compared with $44,024 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,206 per athlete.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in Carbondale, IL. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 76%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $46,001, against $46,001 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,525 per athlete.
University of Dayton did well this year, earning the #19 position. University of Dayton is a private not-for-profit school based in Dayton, OH. University of Dayton records an NCAA APR of 996, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $30,064, against $58,073 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $13,913 per athlete.
Bradley University ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Peoria, IL, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bradley University records an NCAA APR of 993, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 90% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $36,486 in revenue per athlete, compared with $36,486 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,583 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Toledo ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Toledo, OH, University of Toledo is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 998, alongside a GSR of 87%. Its federal graduation rate is 54%. Team revenue averages $45,427 per participant, against $45,427 in expenses. The school awards about $21,660 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Evansville landed the #22 spot this year. Located in Evansville, IN, University of Evansville is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 85%. The program generates about $45,569 in revenue per athlete, against $45,569 in expenses. The school awards about $16,525 in athletic aid per athlete.
Western Michigan University ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Western Michigan University is a public school based in Kalamazoo, MI. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. About 87% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $41,606 per participant, against $41,606 in expenses. The school awards about $19,248 in athletic aid per athlete.
Eastern Illinois University ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Charleston, IL, Eastern Illinois University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $35,021 per participant, compared with $35,021 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $7,653.
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Bowling Green, OH, Bowling Green State University-Main Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 59% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $28,668 in revenue per athlete, compared with $30,204 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,840 per athlete.
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. 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.