by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 30 schools for Women’s Outdoor Track and Field (Division II) 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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Learn more about these schools below:
North Greenville University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Tigerville, SC. The program generates about $14,001 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $13,900 per participant. The school awards about $15,158 in athletic aid per athlete.
Carson-Newman University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This private not-for-profit school is set in Jefferson City, TN. The program generates about $14,158 in revenue per athlete, against $13,715 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $10,904 per athlete.
Emory & Henry University earned the #3 place for student athletes. Based in Emory, VA, Emory & Henry University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $12,557, with expenses of about $12,557 per participant. The school awards about $5,871 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ouachita Baptist University landed the #4 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Arkadelphia, AR, Ouachita Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $2,410 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,002 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,935.
Palm Beach Atlantic University earned the #5 place for student athletes. Based in West Palm Beach, FL, Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,029, against $2,029 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $10,383 per athlete.
Barton College placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Based in Wilson, NC, Barton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,294, against $6,294 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,654.
Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Based in Nashville, TN, Trevecca Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,954, compared with $4,954 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,766.
Winston-Salem State University placed #8 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Based in Winston-Salem, NC, Winston-Salem State University is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,259, against $14,259 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $6,441 per athlete.
Converse University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Based in Spartanburg, SC, Converse University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $5,130 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $5,080 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $7,241.
Erskine College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Due West, SC, Erskine College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,171, with expenses of about $3,987 per participant. The school awards about $3,924 in athletic aid per athlete.
Tuskegee University placed #11 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Tuskegee University is a private not-for-profit school based in Tuskegee, AL. The program generates about $3,228 in revenue per athlete, against $3,228 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $3,470.
Fayetteville State University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Fayetteville, NC, Fayetteville State University is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $8,530, compared with $8,530 spent per athlete. The school awards about $5,674 in athletic aid per athlete.
Claflin University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Orangeburg, SC, Claflin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,054, against $2,054 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $4,337.
Barry University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Barry University is a private not-for-profit school based in Miami, FL. The program generates about $1,131 in revenue per athlete, compared with $1,131 spent per athlete. The school awards about $10,733 in athletic aid per athlete.
Coker University ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Based in Hartsville, SC, Coker University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,683 per participant, with expenses of about $4,641 per participant. The school awards about $6,938 in athletic aid per athlete.
Columbus State University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Located in Columbus, GA, Columbus State University is a public institution. Team revenue averages $2,060 per participant, compared with $2,060 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $4,670.
Thomas More University ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Thomas More University is a private not-for-profit school based in Crestview Hills, KY. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,396, against $3,251 in expenses. The school awards about $4,453 in athletic aid per athlete.
Johnson C Smith University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Johnson C Smith University is a private not-for-profit school based in Charlotte, NC. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $6,154, with expenses of about $6,154 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $6,550.
Belmont Abbey College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Belmont, NC, Belmont Abbey College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $3,946 in revenue per athlete, compared with $3,946 spent per athlete. The school awards about $2,908 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of South Carolina Beaufort ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). This public school is set in Bluffton, SC. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,107, against $3,171 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $5,478.
Tusculum University ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Tusculum University is a private not-for-profit school based in Greeneville, TN. The program generates about $5,302 in revenue per athlete, against $5,416 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $6,457 per athlete.
Fort Valley State University placed #22 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Fort Valley State University is a public school based in Fort Valley, GA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,615, compared with $4,615 spent per athlete. The school awards about $2,378 in athletic aid per athlete.
Shaw University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Shaw University is a private not-for-profit school based in Raleigh, NC. Team revenue averages $6,000 per participant, against $6,000 in expenses. The school awards about $7,825 in athletic aid per athlete.
Clayton State University placed #24 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division II). Located in Morrow, GA, Clayton State University is a public institution. Team revenue averages $2,750 per participant, with expenses of about $1,806 per participant. Athletic aid averages $3,906 per athlete.
Virginia Union University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Richmond, VA, Virginia Union University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,082, against $1,082 in expenses. The school awards about $5,465 in athletic aid per athlete.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.