College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Colleges for Women’s Softball (Division I) in Louisiana

10 Colleges Ranked
985 Avg NCAA APR*
90% Avg Grad Success Rate*
Women's Softball (Division I) Badge

For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 10 schools for Women’s Softball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.

So you can compare your options, 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.

Find Your Fit

Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Jump to the options below.

Other Divisions Division I / II / III
By Sport & Gender Browse all sports
All Sports Combined ranking
More Rankings Related college lists

Do You Want to Play Sports in College?
Get your FREE recruiting profile, assessment & game plan!

Top 10 Colleges for Women’s Softball (Division I)

Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:

1

Leading the list is Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, our #1 college for Women's Softball (Division I). Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a public school based in Baton Rouge, LA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 72%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $28,603, compared with $145,653 spent per athlete. The school awards about $20,802 in athletic aid per athlete.

2

University of Louisiana at Lafayette landed the #2 spot for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in Lafayette, LA. University of Louisiana at Lafayette records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. About 40% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $84,203, compared with $84,203 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $14,444 per athlete.

3

Louisiana Tech University landed the #3 spot for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in Ruston, LA. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 87%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $48,555 in revenue per athlete, against $48,555 in expenses. The school awards about $13,736 in athletic aid per athlete.

4
McNeese State University crest
McNeese State University
Lake Charles, LA

McNeese State University landed the #4 spot for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Lake Charles, LA, McNeese State University is a public institution. McNeese State University records an NCAA APR of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 96%. About 68% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $36,032 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $36,032 per participant. The school awards about $9,441 in athletic aid per athlete.

5

University of Louisiana at Monroe landed the #5 spot for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Monroe, LA, University of Louisiana at Monroe is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 981, and a 82% Graduation Success Rate. About 58% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $42,980 in revenue per athlete, compared with $42,980 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $12,350 per athlete.

6

Northwestern State University of Louisiana landed the #6 spot this year. Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a public school based in Natchitoches, LA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 975, alongside a GSR of 88%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $32,612, against $27,884 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $12,805 per athlete.

7

Southeastern Louisiana University placed #7 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Hammond, LA, Southeastern Louisiana University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 983, and a 87% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 61%. Team revenue averages $29,958 per participant, against $29,958 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,131.

8

Nicholls State University placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Thibodaux, LA, Nicholls State University is a public institution. Nicholls State University records an NCAA APR of 978, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 61%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $24,338, with expenses of about $23,062 per participant. The school awards about $6,823 in athletic aid per athlete.

9

Southern University and A & M College landed the #9 spot this year. Located in Baton Rouge, LA, Southern University and A & M College is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 968, alongside a GSR of 91%. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. The program generates about $11,481 in revenue per athlete, compared with $16,636 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $8,045 per athlete.

10

Grambling State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Grambling State University is a public school based in Grambling, LA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 976, with a Graduation Success Rate of 75%. Its federal graduation rate is 52%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,236, compared with $14,236 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,778.

Explore Other Sports

More Rankings >

Notes and References

*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

Read more about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options