by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 241 programs for Women’s Outdoor Track and Field by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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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Stanford University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Located in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $42,928 per participant, against $42,928 in expenses. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Irvine landed the #2 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. University of California-Irvine is a public school based in Irvine, CA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $11,237, against $11,237 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $13,955 per athlete.
University of Delaware ranked #3 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. University of Delaware is a public school based in Newark, DE. Team revenue averages $13,537 per participant, compared with $13,537 spent per athlete. The school awards about $24,002 in athletic aid per athlete.
Middlebury College landed the #4 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Located in Middlebury, VT, Middlebury College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $5,322 in revenue per athlete, against $5,322 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Santa Barbara earned the #5 place for student athletes. University of California-Santa Barbara is a public school based in Santa Barbara, CA. The program generates about $7,281 in revenue per athlete, against $7,281 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,355.
Santa Clara University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,603, with expenses of about $3,603 per participant. The school awards about $19,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Tulsa landed the #7 spot this year. Based in Tulsa, OK, University of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $17,644 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $17,644 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,797.
California Institute of Technology placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pasadena, CA. The program generates about $4,031 in revenue per athlete, compared with $4,031 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Colorado School of Mines did well this year, earning the #9 position. Colorado School of Mines is a public school based in Golden, CO. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,153, against $6,153 in expenses. The school awards about $7,984 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wellesley College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Wellesley, MA, Wellesley College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $3,961 in revenue per athlete, against $3,961 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Loyola University Maryland did well this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Baltimore, MD, Loyola University Maryland is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $6,176 per participant, with expenses of about $6,176 per participant. The school awards about $14,638 in athletic aid per athlete.
Colby College placed #12 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Located in Waterville, ME, Colby College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $3,430 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $3,430 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Based in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,386, with expenses of about $2,386 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Mercer University landed the #14 spot this year. Mercer University is a private not-for-profit school based in Macon, GA. Team revenue averages $17,322 per participant, compared with $17,322 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,898.
Colorado College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,384, compared with $5,640 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $5,478 per athlete.
Franklin and Marshall College landed the #16 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lancaster, PA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,807, against $3,009 in expenses. The school awards about $53 in athletic aid per athlete.
Washington and Lee University placed #17 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Located in Lexington, VA, Washington and Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $2,476 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,469 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Saint Francis University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Loretto, PA, Saint Francis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,899, with expenses of about $14,899 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $13,253.
Amherst College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Amherst, MA. Team revenue averages $2,360 per participant, against $2,360 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Hamilton College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Clinton, NY, Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $2,749 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,749 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Niagara University placed #21 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. This private not-for-profit school is set in Niagara University, NY. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $13,684, compared with $13,684 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $17,462 per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Located in Moraga, CA, Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $5,609, against $5,609 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $18,999 per athlete.
Vassar College did well this year, earning the #23 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Poughkeepsie, NY. Team revenue averages $3,162 per participant, against $3,013 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Chapman University ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Based in Orange, CA, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $2,315 per participant, compared with $2,315 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Michigan Technological University landed the #25 spot this year. This public school is set in Houghton, MI. Team revenue averages $7,284 per participant, against $7,216 in expenses. The school awards about $13,159 in athletic aid per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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.