by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 21 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 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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Leading the list is Baylor University, our #1 college for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Waco, TX, Baylor University 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 95%. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $119,687, against $119,687 in expenses. The school awards about $30,455 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin is a public institution. The University of Texas at Austin records an NCAA APR of 997, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 73%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $40,486, compared with $181,515 spent per athlete. The school awards about $22,650 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas State University ranked #3 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in San Marcos, TX, Texas State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 74% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $65,463 per participant, compared with $65,463 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,371 per athlete.
Texas A&M University-College Station ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Texas A&M University-College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. About 74% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $26,208, compared with $144,869 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,123.
Abilene Christian University ranked #5 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Abilene, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 990, and a 81% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. The program generates about $74,827 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $53,883 per participant. The school awards about $26,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Houston placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). University of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. University of Houston records an NCAA APR of 987, alongside a GSR of 95%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. The program generates about $65,972 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $65,972 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,948.
Sam Houston State University landed the #7 spot this year. Sam Houston State University is a public school based in Huntsville, TX. Sam Houston State University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 81% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $41,519, compared with $41,519 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,743.
Houston Christian University ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 982, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 73% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $46,447, against $46,447 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,924.
The University of Texas at El Paso landed the #9 spot this year. Based in El Paso, TX, The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $15,321, compared with $48,050 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $18,754 per athlete.
Texas Tech University landed the #10 spot this year. Texas Tech University is a public school based in Lubbock, TX. Texas Tech University records an NCAA APR of 989, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Team revenue averages $40,646 per participant, against $158,730 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $13,662 per athlete.
University of North Texas did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Denton, TX, University of North Texas is a public institution. University of North Texas records an NCAA APR of 985, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. About 59% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $62,792, against $62,792 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,504.
The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #12 spot this year. Located in Arlington, TX, The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 979, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. About 73% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $40,912, compared with $40,912 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,666.
Tarleton State University landed the #13 spot this year. Located in Stephenville, TX, Tarleton State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 983, alongside a GSR of 92%. About 68% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $44,865 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $44,865 per participant. The school awards about $11,883 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at San Antonio placed #14 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 974, alongside a GSR of 90%. About 54% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $56,373 in revenue per athlete, compared with $56,373 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,155 per athlete.
Lamar University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Lamar University is a public school based in Beaumont, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $36,495, compared with $36,053 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,491 in athletic aid per athlete.
East Texas A&M University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Commerce, TX. East Texas A&M University records an NCAA APR of 983, and a 85% Graduation Success Rate. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $40,096 per participant, against $40,557 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,747.
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi placed #17 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Corpus Christi, TX, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 53%. The program generates about $30,881 in revenue per athlete, against $30,881 in expenses. The school awards about $10,202 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in San Antonio, TX, University of the Incarnate Word is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 979, and a 74% Graduation Success Rate. About 45% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $36,242 per participant, compared with $36,242 spent per athlete. The school awards about $18,744 in athletic aid per athlete.
Stephen F Austin State University landed the #19 spot this year. Located in Nacogdoches, TX, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 987, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 43%. Team revenue averages $31,612 per participant, compared with $31,612 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,595.
Texas Southern University landed the #20 spot this year. Located in Houston, TX, Texas Southern University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 57%. The program generates about $19,993 in revenue per athlete, compared with $19,993 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $8,795 per athlete.
Prairie View A & M University landed the #21 spot this year. This public school is set in Prairie View, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 979, alongside a GSR of 83%. The federal graduation rate stands at 65%. Team revenue averages $14,674 per participant, compared with $14,674 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $7,400 per athlete.
*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
See our data sources and methodologies.