by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 8 colleges for Women’s Softball (Division III) 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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Pick a path below.
Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte to be the best college for Women's Softball (Division III) in North Carolina. This private not-for-profit school is set in Charlotte, NC. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $11,656, compared with $10,352 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Pfeiffer University earned the #2 place for student athletes. Located in Misenheimer, NC, Pfeiffer University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $8,803 per participant, compared with $6,964 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Guilford College ranked #3 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division III). Guilford College is a private not-for-profit school based in Greensboro, NC. The program generates about $6,526 in revenue per athlete, compared with $5,479 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
William Peace University came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Women's Softball (Division III). William Peace University is a private not-for-profit school based in Raleigh, NC. The program generates about $5,889 in revenue per athlete, against $5,583 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Greensboro College earned the #5 place for student athletes. Greensboro College is a private not-for-profit school based in Greensboro, NC. The program generates about $6,586 in revenue per athlete, against $6,586 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
North Carolina Wesleyan University landed the #6 spot this year. North Carolina Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Rocky Mount, NC. The program generates about $5,681 in revenue per athlete, compared with $5,681 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Brevard College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Brevard, NC. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $5,838, compared with $5,838 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $327.
Methodist University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fayetteville, NC. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,939, with expenses of about $4,939 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
*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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.