by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 108 programs for Women’s Tennis (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 college for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University records an NCAA APR of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $215,621, compared with $215,621 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $42,235 per athlete.
Wake Forest University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Based in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $148,144 per participant, against $148,144 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $38,933.
Duke University landed the #3 spot for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. The program generates about $199,939 in revenue per athlete, against $219,477 in expenses. The school awards about $34,321 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. 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 $190,478 per participant, against $190,478 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $26,976.
Tulane University of Louisiana is one of the top schools for Women's Tennis (Division I), at #5. Based in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $319,648, against $147,049 in expenses. The school awards about $36,413 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Miami ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in Coral Gables, FL, University of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 40% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $229,360, against $229,360 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $38,474 per athlete.
University of Mississippi did well this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in University, MS. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Team revenue averages $255,263 per participant, against $255,263 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,457.
Furman University placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Based in Greenville, SC, Furman University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $116,840, against $116,840 in expenses. The school awards about $28,699 in athletic aid per athlete.
Elon University did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Elon, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $95,868 in revenue per athlete, compared with $95,868 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $25,795 per athlete.
Mississippi State University placed #10 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $144,945, with expenses of about $144,945 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,143.
University of Kentucky came in at #11 in this year's ranking. University of Kentucky is a public school based in Lexington, KY. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 43% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $164,308, with expenses of about $164,308 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,921.
Clemson University ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). This public school is set in Clemson, SC. Clemson University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 86% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 60%. Team revenue averages $192,177 per participant, compared with $192,177 spent per athlete. The school awards about $21,730 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of South Carolina-Columbia landed the #13 spot this year. This public school is set in Columbia, SC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $201,492 in revenue per athlete, against $201,492 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $18,645 per athlete.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill placed #14 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Based in Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $63,744 per participant, compared with $167,055 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,771.
William & Mary came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Williamsburg, VA, William & Mary is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $116,807 in revenue per athlete, against $94,505 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,943 per athlete.
University of Central Florida landed the #16 spot this year. This public school is set in Orlando, FL. University of Central Florida records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 33%. Team revenue averages $130,458 per participant, compared with $130,458 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,195.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $68,686 per participant, compared with $195,221 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,384.
Old Dominion University placed #18 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Old Dominion University is a public school based in Norfolk, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 60% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $124,197, against $124,197 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $24,728 per athlete.
The University of Alabama came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University of Alabama is a public institution. The University of Alabama records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 25%. The program generates about $124,545 in revenue per athlete, compared with $124,545 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $20,760 per athlete.
James Madison University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Harrisonburg, VA, James Madison University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, alongside a GSR of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $86,638, against $86,639 in expenses. The school awards about $19,945 in athletic aid per athlete.
Lipscomb University ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Lipscomb University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $80,462 per participant, against $80,462 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $18,176 per athlete.
Belmont University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Based in Nashville, TN, Belmont University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $67,787, against $67,787 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $21,742 per athlete.
Wofford College ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in Spartanburg, SC, Wofford College is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 63%. Team revenue averages $65,014 per participant, with expenses of about $65,014 per participant. Athletic aid averages $26,368 per athlete.
University of Richmond placed #24 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Based in University of Richmond, VA, University of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 975, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 88%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $69,298, with expenses of about $69,298 per participant. The school awards about $27,609 in athletic aid per athlete.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 71% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $9,390 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $77,565 per participant. The school awards about $29,706 in athletic aid per athlete.
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. 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.