by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. We have ranked 15 programs for Women’s Outdoor Track and Field in Plains States by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Leading the list is Grinnell College, our #1 college for Women's Outdoor Track and Field in Plains States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Grinnell, IA. Team revenue averages $2,301 per participant, with expenses of about $2,301 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Rockhurst University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Women's Outdoor Track and Field in Plains States. Based in Kansas City, MO, Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,975, against $2,975 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $8,130 per athlete.
St Olaf College landed the #3 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field in Plains States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Northfield, MN. Team revenue averages $2,028 per participant, with expenses of about $1,941 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Cornell College is one of the top schools for Women's Outdoor Track and Field in Plains States, at #4. Based in Mount Vernon, IA, Cornell College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,262, against $1,926 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Winona State University landed the #5 spot for Women's Outdoor Track and Field in Plains States. Based in Winona, MN, Winona State University is a public institution. The program generates about $5,236 in revenue per athlete, compared with $5,236 spent per athlete. The school awards about $3,907 in athletic aid per athlete.
Martin Luther College placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field in Plains States. Located in New Ulm, MN, Martin Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $1,556 per participant, against $1,556 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $0 per athlete.
Loras College ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Outdoor Track and Field in Plains States. Located in Dubuque, IA, Loras College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $2,173, with expenses of about $2,173 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Webster University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Saint Louis, MO, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $2,521 per participant, with expenses of about $2,824 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Southwest Baptist University placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field in Plains States. Located in Bolivar, MO, Southwest Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $4,968 per participant, compared with $4,968 spent per athlete. The school awards about $7,015 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Northwestern-St Paul landed the #10 spot this year. University of Northwestern-St Paul is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Paul, MN. The program generates about $1,438 in revenue per athlete, against $1,438 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Augsburg University landed the #11 spot this year. Based in Minneapolis, MN, Augsburg University is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $3,634, compared with $3,634 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Wartburg College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Waverly, IA, Wartburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $1,015, compared with $1,015 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
Bethany Lutheran College did well this year, earning the #13 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Mankato, MN. The program generates about $2,292 in revenue per athlete, compared with $2,196 spent per athlete. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Coe College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cedar Rapids, IA. The program generates about $1,733 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $1,733 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Dubuque placed #15 among the best colleges for Women's Outdoor Track and Field 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, with expenses of about $1,271 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
*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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.