by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 12 colleges for Women’s Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States 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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Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Grinnell College to be the best college for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States in the The Plains States Region. 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. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
St Olaf College earned the #2 place for student athletes. Based in Northfield, MN, St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $2,028 per participant, with expenses of about $1,941 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Cornell College is one of the top schools for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States, at #3. Located in Mount Vernon, IA, Cornell College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $2,262 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $1,926 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Martin Luther College came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States. Based in New Ulm, MN, Martin Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $1,556 in revenue per athlete, compared with $1,556 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Loras College earned the #5 place for student athletes. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dubuque, IA. Team revenue averages $2,173 per participant, compared with $2,173 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Webster University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,521, against $2,824 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Augsburg University placed #7 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States. Located in Minneapolis, MN, Augsburg University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $3,634 per participant, with expenses of about $3,634 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
University of Northwestern-St Paul came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Saint Paul, MN, University of Northwestern-St Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,438, compared with $1,438 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Bethany Lutheran College ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Mankato, MN. The program generates about $2,292 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $2,196 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Wartburg College landed the #10 spot this year. Based in Waverly, IA, Wartburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,015, with expenses of about $1,015 per participant. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Coe College ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States. Located in Cedar Rapids, IA, Coe College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $1,733 per participant, against $1,733 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Dubuque ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field (Division III) in Plains States. Based in Dubuque, IA, University of Dubuque is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,524, against $1,271 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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
See our data sources and methodologies.