by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 9 colleges for Women’s Softball (Division II) 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.
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Learn more about these schools below:
Our analysis found Cedarville University to be the best college for Women's Softball (Division II) in Ohio. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cedarville, OH. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $17,200, with expenses of about $17,200 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,791.
Malone University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division II). Based in Canton, OH, Malone University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $15,119 per participant, compared with $15,119 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $7,372.
Ursuline College ranked #3 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Pepper Pike, OH. Team revenue averages $13,496 per participant, compared with $13,496 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $6,040 per athlete.
Ashland University earned the #4 place for student athletes. Ashland University is a private not-for-profit school based in Ashland, OH. The program generates about $12,333 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $12,333 per participant. Athletic aid averages $5,808 per athlete.
Walsh University landed the #5 spot for Women's Softball (Division II). Located in North Canton, OH, Walsh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $11,284 per participant, with expenses of about $9,757 per participant. Athletic aid averages $5,087 per athlete.
Lake Erie College ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division II). Lake Erie College is a private not-for-profit school based in Painesville, OH. Team revenue averages $15,775 per participant, compared with $15,775 spent per athlete. The school awards about $6,781 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ohio Dominican University landed the #7 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Columbus, OH. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $12,913, against $14,263 in expenses. The school awards about $4,323 in athletic aid per athlete.
Shawnee State University landed the #8 spot this year. Shawnee State University is a public school based in Portsmouth, OH. The program generates about $13,225 in revenue per athlete, compared with $12,871 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $3,174.
Tiffin University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division II). Tiffin University is a private not-for-profit school based in Tiffin, OH. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $11,945, against $11,945 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $4,785.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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.