by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 22 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.
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Southern Methodist University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Women's Tennis (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $175,576 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $175,576 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $56,388.
Rice University is one of the top schools for Women's Tennis (Division I), at #2. Rice University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $147,746, with expenses of about $147,746 per participant. Athletic aid averages $41,166 per athlete.
Texas Christian University landed the #3 spot for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Team revenue averages $220,096 per participant, compared with $220,096 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $37,174.
Texas A&M University-College Station earned the #4 place for student athletes. Located in College Station, TX, Texas A&M University-College Station is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, alongside a GSR of 89%. Its federal graduation rate is 89%. The program generates about $246,398 in revenue per athlete, compared with $441,214 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,123.
Baylor University came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $152,054 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $152,054 per participant. Athletic aid averages $30,455 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin is a public institution. The University of Texas at Austin records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Team revenue averages $27,046 per participant, against $183,435 in expenses. The school awards about $22,650 in athletic aid per athlete.
Abilene Christian University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Abilene, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $43,439, compared with $81,333 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $26,012.
The University of Texas at San Antonio placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. The University of Texas at San Antonio records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $64,300 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $64,300 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,155.
University of North Texas placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in Denton, TX, University of North Texas is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $83,910 in revenue per athlete, compared with $83,910 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $11,504 per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word came in at #10 in this year's ranking. University of the Incarnate Word is a private not-for-profit school based in San Antonio, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $46,651, with expenses of about $46,651 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,744 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Arlington did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Arlington, TX, The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $60,052 per participant, compared with $60,052 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,666.
University of Houston did well this year, earning the #12 position. This public school is set in Houston, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 992, and a 80% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 50%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $103,180, against $103,180 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,948 per athlete.
Tarleton State University landed the #13 spot this year. Tarleton State University is a public school based in Stephenville, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 83%. Its federal graduation rate is 57%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $77,206, compared with $77,206 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $11,883 per athlete.
Texas Tech University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $23,085, with expenses of about $141,450 per participant. Athletic aid averages $13,662 per athlete.
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi placed #15 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi is a public school based in Corpus Christi, TX. Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. Team revenue averages $72,444 per participant, against $72,444 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,202.
Texas State University did well this year, earning the #16 position. This public school is set in San Marcos, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 983, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $58,420, compared with $58,420 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,371 in athletic aid per athlete.
Sam Houston State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). Based in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Sam Houston State University records an NCAA APR of 972, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 71%. Team revenue averages $59,781 per participant, with expenses of about $59,781 per participant. Athletic aid averages $11,743 per athlete.
Lamar University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Beaumont, TX, Lamar University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 965, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 33%. The program generates about $61,788 in revenue per athlete, against $61,788 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $13,491 per athlete.
The University of Texas at El Paso placed #19 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Located in El Paso, TX, The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution. Student-athletes graduate at a Graduation Success Rate of 83%. About 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $33,036 per participant, with expenses of about $79,382 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,754 per athlete.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Tennis (Division I). Based in Edinburg, TX, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley records an NCAA APR of 991, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 55% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $43,388 per participant, with expenses of about $43,388 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,144.
Prairie View A & M University placed #21 among the best colleges for Women's Tennis (Division I). Based in Prairie View, TX, Prairie View A & M University is a public institution. Prairie View A & M University posts a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $20,846, against $20,846 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $7,400.
Stephen F Austin State University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Based in Nacogdoches, TX, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, alongside a GSR of 88%. Its federal graduation rate is 40%. Team revenue averages $57,173 per participant, compared with $57,173 spent per athlete. The school awards about $8,595 in athletic aid per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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
See our data sources and methodologies.