by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 69 programs for Women’s Softball (Division III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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.
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Learn more about these schools below:
Our analysis found University of Chicago to be the best college for Women's Softball (Division III) in the Great Lakes Region. Based in Chicago, IL, University of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $13,901, with expenses of about $13,901 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #2 spot for Women's Softball (Division III). Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cleveland, OH. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $16,622, against $16,622 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Denison University earned the #3 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Granville, OH. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $13,646, compared with $13,646 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology earned the #4 place for student athletes. Located in Terre Haute, IN, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $10,467 in revenue per athlete, against $10,467 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Illinois Wesleyan University earned the #5 place for student athletes. Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bloomington, IL. The program generates about $9,089 in revenue per athlete, compared with $9,089 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oberlin College placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division III). Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit school based in Oberlin, OH. The program generates about $12,562 in revenue per athlete, against $12,562 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
DePauw University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division III). Located in Greencastle, IN, DePauw University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $11,503 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $11,503 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Ohio Northern University landed the #8 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Ada, OH. Team revenue averages $12,409 per participant, with expenses of about $12,409 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
The College of Wooster placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division III). The College of Wooster is a private not-for-profit school based in Wooster, OH. Team revenue averages $13,417 per participant, with expenses of about $11,629 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Calvin University landed the #10 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Grand Rapids, MI. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,768, against $8,768 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Lawrence University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Appleton, WI. The program generates about $10,239 in revenue per athlete, against $10,239 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse landed the #12 spot this year. This public school is set in La Crosse, WI. Team revenue averages $10,973 per participant, against $11,863 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Kenyon College ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division III). Kenyon College is a private not-for-profit school based in Gambier, OH. Team revenue averages $6,354 per participant, compared with $6,354 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division III). Based in Eau Claire, WI, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $11,761, against $12,715 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
North Central College placed #15 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division III). Located in Naperville, IL, North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $11,264, against $9,015 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Hope College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Holland, MI, Hope College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,646, compared with $6,646 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Kalamazoo College placed #17 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Kalamazoo, MI. The program generates about $6,608 in revenue per athlete, compared with $6,608 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
John Carroll University placed #18 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in University Heights, OH. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,266, against $7,266 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Trine University landed the #19 spot this year. Located in Angola, IN, Trine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $12,312, against $11,600 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Milwaukee School of Engineering landed the #20 spot this year. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,059, against $6,059 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Lake Forest College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Located in Lake Forest, IL, Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $6,746 in revenue per athlete, compared with $6,746 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Franciscan University of Steubenville ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division III). Located in Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $4,900 in revenue per athlete, compared with $4,449 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-River Falls landed the #23 spot this year. University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a public school based in River Falls, WI. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $12,159, compared with $12,159 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Baldwin Wallace University ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division III). Based in Berea, OH, Baldwin Wallace University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $6,980 per participant, against $6,980 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Earlham College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Richmond, IN, Earlham College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $8,446 per participant, against $8,446 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.