by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 57 schools for Women’s Outdoor Track and Field 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.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Pick a path below.
Explore the leading programs below:
Leading the list is Mercer University, our #1 college for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Located in Macon, GA, Mercer University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $17,322 per participant, with expenses of about $17,322 per participant. The school awards about $23,898 in athletic aid per athlete.
Gardner-Webb University landed the #2 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. This private not-for-profit school is set in Boiling Springs, NC. Team revenue averages $22,249 per participant, with expenses of about $22,249 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $14,936.
Washington and Lee University landed the #3 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Washington and Lee University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lexington, VA. Team revenue averages $2,476 per participant, against $2,469 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Christopher Newport University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Christopher Newport University is a public school based in Newport News, VA. The program generates about $4,043 in revenue per athlete, compared with $4,043 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
College of Charleston landed the #5 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. College of Charleston is a public school based in Charleston, SC. Team revenue averages $4,721 per participant, with expenses of about $4,721 per participant. The school awards about $11,551 in athletic aid per athlete.
Hampton University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Located in Hampton, VA, Hampton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,570, compared with $14,755 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,394.
Asbury University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wilmore, KY. The program generates about $4,637 in revenue per athlete, compared with $4,637 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of South Alabama ranked #8 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. University of South Alabama is a public school based in Mobile, AL. The program generates about $9,857 in revenue per athlete, against $9,857 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $15,705 per athlete.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Tallahassee, FL, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is a public institution. The program generates about $22,446 in revenue per athlete, against $17,609 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,235.
North Greenville University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Tigerville, SC, North Greenville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,001, compared with $13,900 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,158.
Covenant College landed the #11 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lookout Mountain, GA. Team revenue averages $3,113 per participant, against $3,051 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Hendrix College ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. This private not-for-profit school is set in Conway, AR. Team revenue averages $3,469 per participant, with expenses of about $3,469 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Jacksonville State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Located in Jacksonville, AL, Jacksonville State University is a public institution. The program generates about $9,732 in revenue per athlete, compared with $9,732 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $14,761 per athlete.
Ouachita Baptist University landed the #14 spot this year. Located in Arkadelphia, AR, Ouachita Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. 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.
Emory & Henry University did well this year, earning the #15 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Emory, VA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $12,557, against $12,557 in expenses. The school awards about $5,871 in athletic aid per athlete.
Trevecca Nazarene University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based 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. Athletic aid averages $5,766 per athlete.
Berea College did well this year, earning the #17 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Berea, KY. Team revenue averages $2,237 per participant, against $1,319 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Regent University ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Located in Virginia Beach, VA, Regent University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,845 per participant, against $4,845 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Roanoke College did well this year, earning the #19 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Salem, VA. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,307, compared with $1,307 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Transylvania University placed #20 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Based in Lexington, KY, Transylvania University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,409, against $1,409 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Palm Beach Atlantic University did well this year, earning the #21 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in West Palm Beach, FL. Team revenue averages $2,029 per participant, with expenses of about $2,029 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,383.
Carson-Newman University placed #22 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Based in Jefferson City, TN, Carson-Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $14,158, with expenses of about $13,715 per participant. The school awards about $10,904 in athletic aid per athlete.
Barton College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Wilson, NC, Barton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $6,294 per participant, with expenses of about $6,294 per participant. The school awards about $6,654 in athletic aid per athlete.
Winston-Salem State University placed #24 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Winston-Salem State University is a public school based in Winston-Salem, NC. The program generates about $14,259 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $14,259 per participant. The school awards about $6,441 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of New Orleans did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in New Orleans, LA, University of New Orleans is a public institution. Team revenue averages $17,581 per participant, compared with $17,581 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,626.
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. 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.