by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 13 programs for Women’s Tennis (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, College Factual evaluates each program using 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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Explore the leading programs below:
University of Virginia-Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. University of Virginia-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $190,478, compared with $190,478 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $26,976 per athlete.
Old Dominion University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion University is a public 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 60%. The program generates about $124,197 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $124,197 per participant. The school awards about $24,728 in athletic aid per athlete.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University landed the #3 spot for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public institution. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. The program generates about $9,390 in revenue per athlete, against $77,565 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,706.
William & Mary landed the #4 spot for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in Williamsburg, VA, William & Mary is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $116,807, compared with $94,505 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $15,943 per athlete.
James Madison University earned the #5 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Harrisonburg, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $86,638, compared with $86,639 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,945.
University of Richmond ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in University of Richmond, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 975, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 88%. The program generates about $69,298 in revenue per athlete, compared with $69,298 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $27,609 per athlete.
Liberty University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. Liberty University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 60%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $89,657, against $89,657 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,589.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). Virginia Commonwealth University is a public school based in Richmond, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 22%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $78,906, with expenses of about $78,906 per participant. The school awards about $20,187 in athletic aid per athlete.
Hampton University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Hampton, VA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $56,205, compared with $52,207 spent per athlete. The school awards about $18,394 in athletic aid per athlete.
George Mason University ranked #10 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). George Mason University is a public school based in Fairfax, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 75%. The program generates about $23,193 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $23,193 per participant. Athletic aid averages $11,956 per athlete.
Longwood University ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). Based in Farmville, VA, Longwood University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, alongside a GSR of 80%. The federal graduation rate stands at 33%. The program generates about $36,321 in revenue per athlete, against $41,204 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,569.
Radford University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Radford, VA. The Graduation Success Rate here is 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. The program generates about $37,128 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $37,128 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $8,467.
Norfolk State University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Norfolk, VA, Norfolk State University is a public institution. Norfolk State University records an NCAA APR of 952, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $35,294, against $35,294 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,545.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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
See our data sources and methodologies.