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 III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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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Explore the leading programs below:
Leading the list is Case Western Reserve University, our #1 college for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cleveland, OH. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,892, compared with $1,892 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oberlin College landed the #2 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). Located in Oberlin, OH, Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,236, with expenses of about $2,236 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Calvin University is one of the top schools for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III), at #3. Calvin University is a private not-for-profit school based in Grand Rapids, MI. Team revenue averages $1,443 per participant, with expenses of about $1,443 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ohio Northern University is one of the top schools for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III), at #4. Ohio Northern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Ada, OH. Team revenue averages $1,744 per participant, against $1,744 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
North Central College landed the #5 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). North Central College is a private not-for-profit school based in Naperville, IL. The program generates about $2,537 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $1,918 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Franciscan University of Steubenville did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $1,640 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $1,523 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology did well this year, earning the #7 position. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Terre Haute, IN. The program generates about $689 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $689 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Kenyon College ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Gambier, OH. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $686, compared with $686 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse landed the #9 spot this year. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public school based in La Crosse, WI. Team revenue averages $1,812 per participant, with expenses of about $1,680 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Illinois Institute of Technology placed #10 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). Based in Chicago, IL, Illinois Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $1,442 per participant, against $1,442 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire landed the #11 spot this year. Based in Eau Claire, WI, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a public institution. The program generates about $2,302 in revenue per athlete, against $2,244 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Earlham College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Richmond, IN. Team revenue averages $2,987 per participant, against $2,987 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Knox College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Galesburg, IL, Knox College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $9,245, compared with $5,323 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Lake Forest College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Based in Lake Forest, IL, Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $1,527 in revenue per athlete, against $1,527 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Aurora University placed #15 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Aurora, IL. Team revenue averages $2,912 per participant, compared with $2,912 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wisconsin Lutheran College landed the #16 spot this year. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private not-for-profit school based in Milwaukee, WI. The program generates about $2,210 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,210 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Millikin University ranked #17 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). Based in Decatur, IL, Millikin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $2,793 per participant, compared with $2,793 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Trine University ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Angola, IN. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $752, with expenses of about $757 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Hanover College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hanover, IN. The program generates about $1,607 in revenue per athlete, against $1,607 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Concordia University-Wisconsin came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Concordia University-Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school based in Mequon, WI. The program generates about $1,335 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $1,164 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). Located in Whitewater, WI, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a public institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $939, compared with $1,017 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Concordia University-Chicago came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Based in River Forest, IL, Concordia University-Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,559, with expenses of about $2,524 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Ripon College ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III). This private not-for-profit school is set in Ripon, WI. Team revenue averages $1,810 per participant, compared with $1,810 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Wisconsin-Superior came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Superior, WI. The program generates about $2,746 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,746 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Muskingum University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in New Concord, OH, Muskingum University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $1,736 per participant, compared with $1,736 spent per athlete. 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.
The ranking above is published 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.