by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. We have ranked 115 colleges for Women’s Volleyball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you decide, 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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Here are the top-ranked colleges for student athletes:
Our analysis found Duke University to be the best college for Women's Volleyball (Division I) in the Southeast Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Durham, NC. Duke University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $125,958 per participant, compared with $124,341 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $34,321 per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 91%. Team revenue averages $121,549 per participant, with expenses of about $121,549 per participant. Athletic aid averages $26,976 per athlete.
University of Mississippi is one of the top schools for Women's Volleyball (Division I), at #3. This public school is set in University, MS. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 92%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $161,713, against $161,713 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,457.
University of Kentucky earned the #4 place for student athletes. University of Kentucky is a public school based in Lexington, KY. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. Team revenue averages $214,353 per participant, compared with $214,353 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,921 per athlete.
University of Miami came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Coral Gables, FL. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 69%. Team revenue averages $160,081 per participant, with expenses of about $160,081 per participant. Athletic aid averages $38,474 per athlete.
Clemson University landed the #6 spot this year. This public school is set in Clemson, SC. Clemson University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 81%. Team revenue averages $135,467 per participant, with expenses of about $135,467 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $21,730.
University of South Carolina-Columbia placed #7 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Based in Columbia, SC, University of South Carolina-Columbia is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $136,255 in revenue per athlete, against $136,255 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,645.
University of Louisville landed the #8 spot this year. University of Louisville is a public school based in Louisville, KY. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. The program generates about $637,975 in revenue per athlete, compared with $179,948 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $21,083 per athlete.
University of Central Florida placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This public school is set in Orlando, FL. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 53%. The program generates about $131,931 in revenue per athlete, compared with $123,001 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $25,195.
Wofford College landed the #10 spot this year. Based in Spartanburg, SC, Wofford College is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 89%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $70,555, with expenses of about $70,555 per participant. The school awards about $26,368 in athletic aid per athlete.
Elon University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Elon, NC, Elon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. The program generates about $77,952 in revenue per athlete, against $77,952 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $25,795 per athlete.
University of Florida did well this year, earning the #12 position. University of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $73,923, with expenses of about $243,128 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,180.
Wake Forest University ranked #13 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Based in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 980, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 69% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $128,671 per participant, with expenses of about $128,671 per participant. Athletic aid averages $38,933 per athlete.
James Madison University ranked #14 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Harrisonburg, VA, James Madison University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. The program generates about $88,502 in revenue per athlete, against $88,502 in expenses. The school awards about $19,945 in athletic aid per athlete.
Belmont University landed the #15 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 78%. Team revenue averages $70,943 per participant, against $70,943 in expenses. The school awards about $21,742 in athletic aid per athlete.
Lipscomb University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. The program generates about $88,684 in revenue per athlete, compared with $88,684 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $18,176 per athlete.
Samford University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Birmingham, AL, Samford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Samford University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $72,211, compared with $66,423 spent per athlete. The school awards about $20,864 in athletic aid per athlete.
Mississippi State University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Mississippi State, MS. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 33% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $111,704 per participant, with expenses of about $111,704 per participant. Athletic aid averages $24,143 per athlete.
Tulane University of Louisiana did well this year, earning the #19 position. Tulane University of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit school based in New Orleans, LA. Tulane University of Louisiana records an NCAA APR of 988, alongside a GSR of 90%. The federal graduation rate stands at 73%. The program generates about $170,141 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $93,417 per participant. The school awards about $36,413 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Alabama ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University of Alabama is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 55%. Team revenue averages $121,946 per participant, against $121,946 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $20,760 per athlete.
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is a public institution. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus records an NCAA APR of 995, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 82%. Team revenue averages $24,733 per participant, with expenses of about $117,251 per participant. Athletic aid averages $22,289 per athlete.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville landed the #22 spot this year. This public school is set in Knoxville, TN. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 82%. Team revenue averages $20,760 per participant, with expenses of about $159,880 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $29,054.
William & Mary did well this year, earning the #23 position. This public school is set in Williamsburg, VA. 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 92%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $49,694, against $61,012 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,943.
Florida Atlantic University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Florida Atlantic University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $75,240, with expenses of about $75,240 per participant. The school awards about $16,971 in athletic aid per athlete.
Liberty University landed the #25 spot this year. Based in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $95,563 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $95,563 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,589.
Not far behind, these colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.