by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 20 programs for Women’s Softball (Division I) in Plains States 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.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Pick a path below.
Explore the leading programs below:
University of Missouri-Columbia tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. Located in Columbia, MO, University of Missouri-Columbia 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 60%. The program generates about $146,339 in revenue per athlete, against $146,339 in expenses. The school awards about $16,637 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Louis University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Saint Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Louis University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 94%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $48,366, with expenses of about $48,366 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,446.
University of Kansas came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. University of Kansas is a public school based in Lawrence, KS. The team's NCAA APR score is 991, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 65%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $116,863, compared with $116,863 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,506 in athletic aid per athlete.
Missouri State University-Springfield earned the #4 place for student athletes. Based in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University-Springfield is a public institution. Missouri State University-Springfield records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 89%. Team revenue averages $47,078 per participant, with expenses of about $47,078 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,364.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln ranked #5 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a public school based in Lincoln, NE. University of Nebraska-Lincoln records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 65%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $13,224, with expenses of about $164,017 per participant. The school awards about $16,793 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. This public school is set in Minneapolis, MN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. The program generates about $17,452 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $129,274 per participant. The school awards about $27,174 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wichita State University placed #7 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. Based in Wichita, KS, Wichita State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 53% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $99,714 per participant, compared with $99,714 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,114.
Iowa State University placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. This public school is set in Ames, IA. The team's NCAA APR score is 990, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 70%. Team revenue averages $15,011 per participant, compared with $81,683 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $16,185 per athlete.
Creighton University placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Omaha, NE. Creighton University records an NCAA APR of 980, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 57%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $32,813, against $70,452 in expenses. The school awards about $17,224 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Nebraska at Omaha did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Omaha, NE, University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. Its federal graduation rate is 37%. Team revenue averages $64,393 per participant, against $51,253 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $10,713 per athlete.
Drake University placed #11 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. Based in Des Moines, IA, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $45,921 per participant, with expenses of about $45,921 per participant. The school awards about $10,413 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Dakota placed #12 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. Based in Grand Forks, ND, University of North Dakota is a public institution. University of North Dakota records an NCAA APR of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $38,168 per participant, with expenses of about $38,168 per participant. Athletic aid averages $11,250 per athlete.
Lindenwood University placed #13 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. Based in Saint Charles, MO, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. About 85% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $30,034, with expenses of about $30,034 per participant. The school awards about $13,722 in athletic aid per athlete.
North Dakota State University-Main Campus placed #14 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. North Dakota State University-Main Campus is a public school based in Fargo, ND. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 79%. The program generates about $53,825 in revenue per athlete, against $53,825 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,886.
University of Northern Iowa ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. Based in Cedar Falls, IA, University of Northern Iowa is a public institution. University of Northern Iowa records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 69%. Team revenue averages $37,521 per participant, against $37,521 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,720.
University of Iowa ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. Located in Iowa City, IA, University of Iowa is a public institution. University of Iowa records an NCAA APR of 979, and a 79% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 63%. Team revenue averages $11,026 per participant, with expenses of about $90,355 per participant. The school awards about $21,176 in athletic aid per athlete.
Southeast Missouri State University placed #17 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. Located in Cape Girardeau, MO, Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, and a 96% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $30,697, compared with $30,697 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,582.
South Dakota State University landed the #18 spot this year. Based in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 68%. Team revenue averages $25,335 per participant, compared with $25,335 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,424.
University of South Dakota placed #19 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I) in Plains States. Located in Vermillion, SD, University of South Dakota is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 979, with a Graduation Success Rate of 95%. About 74% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $35,121 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $35,121 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,323.
University of Missouri-Kansas City landed the #20 spot this year. Located in Kansas City, MO, University of Missouri-Kansas City is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 969, alongside a GSR of 83%. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. Team revenue averages $31,615 per participant, compared with $31,615 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $13,225 per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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.
