by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. This list ranks 143 colleges for Women’s Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) 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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No school ranked higher than Middlebury College this year for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). Located in Middlebury, VT, Middlebury College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $5,322 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $5,322 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
California Institute of Technology came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). California Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Pasadena, CA. Team revenue averages $4,031 per participant, against $4,031 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wellesley College ranked #3 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Wellesley, MA. The program generates about $3,961 in revenue per athlete, compared with $3,961 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Colby College landed the #4 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Waterville, ME. Team revenue averages $3,430 per participant, with expenses of about $3,430 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the top schools for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III), at #5. Based in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,386, against $2,386 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Colorado College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,384 per participant, with expenses of about $5,640 per participant. Athletic aid averages $5,478 per athlete.
Washington and Lee University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Lexington, VA, Washington and Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,476, against $2,469 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Franklin and Marshall College ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). Based in Lancaster, PA, Franklin and Marshall College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $3,807 in revenue per athlete, against $3,009 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $53.
Hamilton College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Clinton, NY, Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,749, against $2,749 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Amherst College placed #10 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). Based in Amherst, MA, Amherst College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,360, compared with $2,360 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Vassar College ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). Vassar College is a private not-for-profit school based in Poughkeepsie, NY. Team revenue averages $3,162 per participant, with expenses of about $3,013 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Williams College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Williamstown, MA, Williams College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $1,843 per participant, compared with $1,843 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Chapman University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Orange, CA, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $2,315 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,315 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Grinnell College landed the #14 spot this year. Located in Grinnell, IA, Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $2,301 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,301 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Christopher Newport University did well this year, earning the #15 position. This public school is set in Newport News, VA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,043, against $4,043 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #16 spot this year. Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cleveland, OH. The program generates about $1,892 in revenue per athlete, compared with $1,892 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Willamette University ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Salem, OR. The program generates about $4,264 in revenue per athlete, compared with $4,264 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Ithaca College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Ithaca College is a private not-for-profit school based in Ithaca, NY. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,497, with expenses of about $3,497 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Salve Regina University landed the #19 spot this year. Salve Regina University is a private not-for-profit school based in Newport, RI. The program generates about $3,219 in revenue per athlete, against $3,118 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
St Lawrence University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. St Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit school based in Canton, NY. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,370, against $2,370 in expenses. The school awards about $3,126 in athletic aid per athlete.
Rochester Institute of Technology did well this year, earning the #21 position. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Rochester, NY. Team revenue averages $3,593 per participant, with expenses of about $3,499 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $3,070.
Endicott College ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). Based in Beverly, MA, Endicott College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $2,803 in revenue per athlete, compared with $2,803 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Redlands came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Redlands, CA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $4,297, compared with $3,996 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
California Lutheran University ranked #24 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Thousand Oaks, CA. The program generates about $2,622 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,622 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
St Olaf College landed the #25 spot this year. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit school based in Northfield, MN. The program generates about $2,028 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $1,941 per participant. The school awards about $0 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 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.