by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. This list ranks 38 schools for Women’s Volleyball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, 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.
Looking for a different division or a related ranking? Pick a path below.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
University of Southern California tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Based in Los Angeles, CA, University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 73%. The program generates about $162,638 in revenue per athlete, compared with $162,638 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $40,006.
University of California-Los Angeles landed the #2 spot for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Los Angeles, CA, University of California-Los Angeles is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 85%. Team revenue averages $138,512 per participant, with expenses of about $138,512 per participant. The school awards about $24,306 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus came in at #3 on this year's ranking for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This public school is set in Seattle, WA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $78,879 per participant, compared with $181,108 spent per athlete. The school awards about $26,539 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Berkeley landed the #4 spot for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Berkeley, CA, University of California-Berkeley is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $159,644 per participant, against $159,644 in expenses. The school awards about $21,267 in athletic aid per athlete.
Stanford University came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school based in Stanford, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 977, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $247,102, against $247,102 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $42,012.
University of San Diego did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in San Diego, CA, University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $113,979, against $113,979 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,537 per athlete.
Pepperdine University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit school based in Malibu, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 93% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 92%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $89,991, with expenses of about $89,991 per participant. The school awards about $27,861 in athletic aid per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University landed the #8 spot this year. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 988, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 70% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $106,114 per participant, against $106,114 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $40,056.
California Baptist University did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Riverside, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Team revenue averages $79,410 per participant, against $76,810 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $23,790 per athlete.
Gonzaga University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Spokane, WA, Gonzaga University is a private not-for-profit institution. Gonzaga University records an NCAA APR of 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $98,658, with expenses of about $103,583 per participant. The school awards about $14,963 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oregon State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This public school is set in Corvallis, OR. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Team revenue averages $136,384 per participant, with expenses of about $136,384 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $19,022.
University of Hawaii at Manoa ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Honolulu, HI, University of Hawaii at Manoa is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 78% Graduation Success Rate. About 56% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $125,573 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $112,952 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,398.
Washington State University landed the #13 spot this year. Washington State University is a public school based in Pullman, WA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 73% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $47,095, compared with $79,287 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $20,338 per athlete.
California State University-Fresno landed the #14 spot this year. Based in Fresno, CA, California State University-Fresno is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 50%. The program generates about $103,870 in revenue per athlete, against $103,870 in expenses. The school awards about $15,577 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Moraga, CA, Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, alongside a GSR of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 82%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $92,597, compared with $92,597 spent per athlete. The school awards about $18,999 in athletic aid per athlete.
Santa Clara University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, alongside a GSR of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 77%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $83,595, against $83,595 in expenses. The school awards about $19,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of the Pacific came in at #17 in this year's ranking. University of the Pacific is a private not-for-profit school based in Stockton, CA. University of the Pacific records an NCAA APR of 978, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 54% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $93,246 per participant, against $93,246 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,596.
University of San Francisco did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in San Francisco, CA, University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. University of San Francisco records an NCAA APR of 975, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 18%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $82,515, with expenses of about $82,515 per participant. The school awards about $31,788 in athletic aid per athlete.
San Diego State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. San Diego State University is a public school based in San Diego, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 965, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 78%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $73,506, compared with $95,968 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,450 per athlete.
California State University-Sacramento placed #20 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This public school is set in Sacramento, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 90%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $71,472, against $71,472 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,560.
University of Portland did well this year, earning the #21 position. Based in Portland, OR, University of Portland is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $64,539, against $64,539 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $17,618 per athlete.
Seattle University placed #22 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Seattle, WA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 983, alongside a GSR of 92%. About 56% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $80,272, against $80,272 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $19,482 per athlete.
California State University-Northridge did well this year, earning the #23 position. This public school is set in Northridge, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. Team revenue averages $57,877 per participant, with expenses of about $59,209 per participant. Athletic aid averages $11,174 per athlete.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas landed the #24 spot this year. Located in Las Vegas, NV, University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 988, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $30,539 per participant, compared with $77,104 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,395 per athlete.
University of Nevada-Reno came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Reno, NV, University of Nevada-Reno is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 46%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $57,186, with expenses of about $55,657 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,799.
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. 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.