by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 67 schools for Women’s Outdoor Track and Field (Division II) 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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Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Colorado School of Mines to be the best college for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II) in the United States. Based in Golden, CO, Colorado School of Mines is a public institution. Team revenue averages $6,153 per participant, with expenses of about $6,153 per participant. The school awards about $7,984 in athletic aid per athlete.
Michigan Technological University earned the #2 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Houghton, MI. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,284, against $7,216 in expenses. The school awards about $13,159 in athletic aid per athlete.
Rockhurst University landed the #3 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Kansas City, MO. Team revenue averages $2,975 per participant, with expenses of about $2,975 per participant. Athletic aid averages $8,130 per athlete.
Thomas Jefferson University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. The program generates about $2,789 in revenue per athlete, compared with $2,789 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,341 in athletic aid per athlete.
North Greenville University came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Based in Tigerville, SC, North Greenville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $14,001 per participant, compared with $13,900 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,158.
California State University-San Bernardino ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in San Bernardino, CA, California State University-San Bernardino is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $17,325, against $17,260 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $5,698 per athlete.
Cedarville University landed the #7 spot this year. Cedarville University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cedarville, OH. Team revenue averages $3,590 per participant, against $3,590 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,791.
Northern Michigan University placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Marquette, MI, Northern Michigan University is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,707, compared with $8,865 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,323.
Adelphi University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Garden City, NY. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,838, with expenses of about $1,838 per participant. The school awards about $7,963 in athletic aid per athlete.
Molloy University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rockville Centre, NY. The program generates about $3,395 in revenue per athlete, compared with $3,573 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $5,589 per athlete.
Holy Family University placed #11 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. The program generates about $5,363 in revenue per athlete, compared with $5,331 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,523.
Emory & Henry University landed the #12 spot this year. Located in Emory, VA, Emory & Henry University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $12,557 per participant, against $12,557 in expenses. The school awards about $5,871 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Chico ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). California State University-Chico is a public school based in Chico, CA. The program generates about $7,091 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $7,502 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $2,367.
Goldey-Beacom College ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Wilmington, DE, Goldey-Beacom College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,707, compared with $6,707 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $5,149 per athlete.
Winona State University landed the #15 spot this year. Winona State University is a public school based in Winona, MN. Team revenue averages $5,236 per participant, against $5,236 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $3,907 per athlete.
Ouachita Baptist University placed #16 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Arkadelphia, AR. The program generates about $2,410 in revenue per athlete, compared with $2,002 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,935.
Carson-Newman University landed the #17 spot this year. Located in Jefferson City, TN, Carson-Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $14,158 per participant, with expenses of about $13,715 per participant. The school awards about $10,904 in athletic aid per athlete.
Trevecca Nazarene University placed #18 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Nashville, TN, Trevecca Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,954 per participant, with expenses of about $4,954 per participant. The school awards about $5,766 in athletic aid per athlete.
Sonoma State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Rohnert Park, CA. The program generates about $4,039 in revenue per athlete, compared with $4,039 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $3,732 per athlete.
Winston-Salem State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Winston-Salem State University is a public institution. The program generates about $14,259 in revenue per athlete, compared with $14,259 spent per athlete. The school awards about $6,441 in athletic aid per athlete.
Dominican University New York ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Based in Orangeburg, NY, Dominican University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $5,819, with expenses of about $5,819 per participant. Athletic aid averages $4,678 per athlete.
Palm Beach Atlantic University ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Based in West Palm Beach, FL, Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $2,029 per participant, against $2,029 in expenses. The school awards about $10,383 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Merced did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Merced, CA, University of California-Merced is a public institution. Team revenue averages $4,500 per participant, compared with $4,596 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $1,179.
Southern Nazarene University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Southern Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bethany, OK. Team revenue averages $5,353 per participant, against $5,312 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $7,122 per athlete.
Barton College landed the #25 spot this year. Barton College is a private not-for-profit school based in Wilson, NC. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,294, against $6,294 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,654.
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
*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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
