by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 102 programs for Women’s Softball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, College Factual evaluates each program using 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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Use the shortcuts below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Duke University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $146,126 per participant, with expenses of about $165,190 per participant. Athletic aid averages $34,321 per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. University of Virginia-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 79% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $100,177 in revenue per athlete, compared with $100,177 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $26,976 per athlete.
Clemson University came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Softball (Division I). Clemson University is a public school based in Clemson, SC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $187,542, against $187,542 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $21,730 per athlete.
University of Kentucky earned the #4 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Lexington, KY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 57%. Team revenue averages $154,134 per participant, against $154,134 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,921.
University of Florida came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Women's Softball (Division I). University of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. The program generates about $49,947 in revenue per athlete, against $177,584 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,180.
The University of Alabama ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). The University of Alabama is a public school based in Tuscaloosa, AL. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 74%. Team revenue averages $185,133 per participant, against $185,133 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,760.
Elon University landed the #7 spot this year. Located in Elon, NC, Elon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. The program generates about $60,952 in revenue per athlete, compared with $60,952 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,795.
University of South Carolina-Columbia landed the #8 spot this year. Based in Columbia, SC, University of South Carolina-Columbia is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 72%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $147,058, compared with $147,058 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $18,645 per athlete.
University of Central Florida did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Orlando, FL, University of Central Florida is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 65% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $132,545 per participant, compared with $132,545 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $25,195 per athlete.
University of Georgia came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Athens, GA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 76%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $26,873, with expenses of about $156,129 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,925 per athlete.
Mississippi State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in Mississippi State, MS. Mississippi State University records an NCAA APR of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 58% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $149,527 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $149,527 per participant. The school awards about $24,143 in athletic aid per athlete.
Florida State University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. Florida State University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. Team revenue averages $176,994 per participant, against $176,994 in expenses. The school awards about $13,364 in athletic aid per athlete.
Samford University placed #13 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Birmingham, AL, Samford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 74% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $47,377 in revenue per athlete, against $44,996 in expenses. The school awards about $20,864 in athletic aid per athlete.
Belmont University landed the #14 spot this year. Based in Nashville, TN, Belmont University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $60,248 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $60,248 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,742.
University of Mississippi did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in University, MS, University of Mississippi is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $148,256, with expenses of about $148,256 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,457.
James Madison University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Harrisonburg, VA, James Madison University is a public institution. James Madison University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 56%. The program generates about $76,950 in revenue per athlete, compared with $76,949 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,945 per athlete.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh placed #17 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina State University at Raleigh records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $47,900 per participant, compared with $94,461 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,384.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in Chapel Hill, NC. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. Team revenue averages $43,028 per participant, against $88,610 in expenses. The school awards about $17,771 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville did well this year, earning the #19 position. This public school is set in Knoxville, TN. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, alongside a GSR of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 62%. Team revenue averages $41,958 per participant, with expenses of about $162,686 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,054.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a public institution. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College records an NCAA APR of 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 72%. Team revenue averages $28,603 per participant, compared with $145,653 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $20,802 per athlete.
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus placed #21 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is a public institution. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 77%. Team revenue averages $13,301 per participant, compared with $76,809 spent per athlete. The school awards about $22,289 in athletic aid per athlete.
East Carolina University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Greenville, NC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $53,604, compared with $51,532 spent per athlete. The school awards about $12,584 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Arkansas came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Fayetteville, AR, University of Arkansas is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 61%. Team revenue averages $25,891 per participant, against $164,044 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $21,062 per athlete.
University of South Florida did well this year, earning the #24 position. This public school is set in Tampa, FL. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 72%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $63,396, against $63,396 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,287 per athlete.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University landed the #25 spot this year. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 982, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 65% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $30,627 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $124,440 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,706.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.