2026 Best Colleges for Women’s Volleyball (Division I) in California
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 26 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 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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Top 25 Colleges for Women’s Volleyball (Division I)
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). University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $162,638, compared with $162,638 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $40,006 per athlete.
University of California-Los Angeles is one of the top schools for Women's Volleyball (Division I), at #2. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University of California-Los Angeles is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 85%. The program generates about $138,512 in revenue per athlete, against $138,512 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $24,306.
University of California-Berkeley landed the #3 spot for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Based in Berkeley, CA, University of California-Berkeley is a public institution. University of California-Berkeley records an NCAA APR of 995, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $159,644, with expenses of about $159,644 per participant. Athletic aid averages $21,267 per athlete.
Stanford University came in at #4 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%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. 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 came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in San Diego, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. Team revenue averages $113,979 per participant, compared with $113,979 spent per athlete. The school awards about $19,537 in athletic aid per athlete.
Pepperdine University placed #6 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Malibu, CA, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. Its federal graduation rate is 92%. Team revenue averages $89,991 per participant, against $89,991 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $27,861 per athlete.
Loyola Marymount University landed the #7 spot this year. Located in Los Angeles, CA, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 70%. Team revenue averages $106,114 per participant, with expenses of about $106,114 per participant. Athletic aid averages $40,056 per athlete.
California Baptist University landed the #8 spot this year. Based in Riverside, CA, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $79,410, against $76,810 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $23,790 per athlete.
California State University-Fresno ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located 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%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $103,870, with expenses of about $103,870 per participant. The school awards about $15,577 in athletic aid per athlete.
Saint Mary's College of California ranked #10 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Saint Mary's College of California is a private not-for-profit school based in Moraga, CA. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 82%. Team revenue averages $92,597 per participant, with expenses of about $92,597 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,999 per athlete.
University of the Pacific ranked #11 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). University of the Pacific is a private not-for-profit school based in Stockton, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 978, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 54%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $93,246, compared with $93,246 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,596 per athlete.
Santa Clara University did well this year, earning the #12 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Santa Clara, CA. 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, with expenses of about $83,595 per participant. The school awards about $19,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of San Francisco ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in San Francisco, CA, University of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 975, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 18% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $82,515 in revenue per athlete, compared with $82,515 spent per athlete. The school awards about $31,788 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Sacramento placed #14 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This public school is set in Sacramento, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 90%. The program generates about $71,472 in revenue per athlete, against $71,472 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $11,560 per athlete.
San Diego State University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in San Diego, CA, San Diego State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 965, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 78% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $73,506, against $95,968 in expenses. The school awards about $21,450 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Northridge came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Northridge, CA, California State University-Northridge is a public institution. California State University-Northridge records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $57,877, against $59,209 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,174.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in San Luis Obispo, CA, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 92%. The program generates about $46,147 in revenue per athlete, against $46,147 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $10,344 per athlete.
University of California-Santa Barbara ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). University of California-Santa Barbara is a public school based in Santa Barbara, CA. University of California-Santa Barbara records an NCAA APR of 987, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. The program generates about $62,332 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $62,332 per participant. The school awards about $11,355 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Davis placed #19 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Davis, CA, University of California-Davis is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 976, and a 94% Graduation Success Rate. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $70,906 in revenue per athlete, against $70,906 in expenses. The school awards about $14,267 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-San Diego placed #20 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in La Jolla, CA, University of California-San Diego is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $71,974 per participant, compared with $71,974 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,847.
San Jose State University landed the #21 spot this year. Located in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 955, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. Its federal graduation rate is 62%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $74,820, with expenses of about $74,820 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,034.
University of California-Irvine came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Irvine, CA, University of California-Irvine is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. About 73% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $45,779, against $45,779 in expenses. The school awards about $13,955 in athletic aid per athlete.
California State University-Fullerton landed the #23 spot this year. Located in Fullerton, CA, California State University-Fullerton is a public institution. California State University-Fullerton records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 75%. The federal graduation rate stands at 57%. Team revenue averages $58,492 per participant, with expenses of about $58,492 per participant. Athletic aid averages $9,497 per athlete.
California State University-Bakersfield landed the #24 spot this year. This public school is set in Bakersfield, CA. California State University-Bakersfield records an NCAA APR of 981, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 60%. The program generates about $59,192 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $59,192 per participant. The school awards about $10,121 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of California-Riverside placed #25 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This public school is set in Riverside, CA. The team's NCAA APR score is 980, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 38%. The program generates about $57,946 in revenue per athlete, against $57,946 in expenses. The school awards about $11,154 in athletic aid per athlete.
Rest of the Top 20% Colleges for Women’s Volleyball (Division I)
These programs also stood out among the best this year:
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Notes and References
*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.
