by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. We have ranked 23 colleges for Women’s Tennis (Division I) 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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Use the shortcuts below.
Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Stanford University to be the best college for Women's Tennis (Division I) in California. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school based in Stanford, CA. Stanford University records an NCAA APR of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $149,378 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $149,378 per participant. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Southern California ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. University of Southern California records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $147,174, compared with $147,174 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $40,006.
University of California-Los Angeles ranked #3 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Based in Los Angeles, CA, University of California-Los Angeles is a public institution. University of California-Los Angeles records an NCAA APR of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $199,180, with expenses of about $199,180 per participant. The school awards about $24,306 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley earned the #4 place for student athletes. Located in Berkeley, CA, University of California-Berkeley is a public institution. University of California-Berkeley records an NCAA APR of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Team revenue averages $140,408 per participant, compared with $140,408 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,267 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of San Diego ranked #5 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in San Diego, CA. University of San Diego records an NCAA APR of 991, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $163,754, compared with $163,754 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,537 per athlete.
Pepperdine University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Malibu, CA, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 968, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $187,930, with expenses of about $187,930 per participant. The school awards about $27,861 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California landed the #7 spot this year. Based in Moraga, CA, Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $110,861, with expenses of about $110,861 per participant. The school awards about $18,999 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University landed the #8 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Loyola Marymount University records an NCAA APR of 957, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. Team revenue averages $114,399 per participant, with expenses of about $114,399 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $40,056.
Santa Clara University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $64,978 per participant, with expenses of about $64,978 per participant. Athletic aid averages $19,355 per athlete.
San Jose State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. San Jose State University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 86%. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. Team revenue averages $78,981 per participant, compared with $78,981 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,034 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Davis landed the #11 spot this year. Located in Davis, CA, University of California-Davis is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $46,408 in revenue per athlete, against $46,408 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,267.
San Diego State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). San Diego State University is a public school based in San Diego, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 982, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $79,102, with expenses of about $110,538 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,450.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo landed the #13 spot this year. Located in San Luis Obispo, CA, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. The program generates about $60,642 in revenue per athlete, against $60,642 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $10,344 per athlete.
California State University-Sacramento landed the #14 spot this year. This public school is set in Sacramento, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. The program generates about $87,085 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $87,085 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,560.
University of California-Irvine came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Irvine, CA, University of California-Irvine is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $36,062 per participant, against $36,062 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $13,955 per athlete.
University of the Pacific placed #16 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Based in Stockton, CA, University of the Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 974, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $62,702, with expenses of about $62,702 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,596.
University of California-Santa Barbara ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). Based in Santa Barbara, CA, University of California-Santa Barbara is a public institution. University of California-Santa Barbara records an NCAA APR of 982, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 60% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $110,798 per participant, with expenses of about $110,798 per participant. The school awards about $11,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Long Beach did well this year, earning the #18 position. California State University-Long Beach is a public school based in Long Beach, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 80%. The federal graduation rate stands at 31%. Team revenue averages $99,992 per participant, compared with $99,992 spent per athlete. The school awards about $8,770 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Fresno landed the #19 spot this year. This public school is set in Fresno, CA. California State University-Fresno records an NCAA APR of 983, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Team revenue averages $86,755 per participant, with expenses of about $86,755 per participant. The school awards about $15,577 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Fullerton ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). California State University-Fullerton is a public school based in Fullerton, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $65,129 per participant, with expenses of about $65,129 per participant. Athletic aid averages $9,497 per athlete.
University of California-San Diego did well this year, earning the #21 position. University of California-San Diego is a public school based in La Jolla, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $37,558 per participant, with expenses of about $37,558 per participant. The school awards about $9,847 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Northridge placed #22 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). California State University-Northridge is a public school based in Northridge, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $47,132, against $49,446 in expenses. The school awards about $11,174 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Riverside landed the #23 spot this year. Based in Riverside, CA, University of California-Riverside is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $41,917, compared with $41,917 spent per athlete. The school awards about $11,154 in athletic aid per athlete.
*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.