by our College Data Analytics Team
Choosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 34 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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Learn more about these schools below:
Rice University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 82%. Team revenue averages $131,225 per participant, with expenses of about $131,225 per participant. Athletic aid averages $41,166 per athlete.
Southern Methodist University came in at #2 on this year's ranking for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 64% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $256,120, with expenses of about $256,120 per participant. Athletic aid averages $56,388 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin earned the #3 place for student athletes. Based in Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $86,927 in revenue per athlete, compared with $204,671 spent per athlete. The school awards about $22,650 in athletic aid per athlete.
Baylor University ranked #4 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Baylor University is a private not-for-profit school based in Waco, TX. Baylor University records an NCAA APR of 985, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 89%. The program generates about $141,973 in revenue per athlete, compared with $141,973 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $30,455.
University of Tulsa earned the #5 place for student athletes. University of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit school based in Tulsa, OK. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 58%. The program generates about $112,624 in revenue per athlete, against $112,624 in expenses. The school awards about $34,797 in athletic aid per athlete.
Abilene Christian University landed the #6 spot this year. Located in Abilene, TX, Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 82%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $67,787, compared with $66,101 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $26,012 per athlete.
Texas A&M University-College Station landed the #7 spot this year. Based in College Station, TX, Texas A&M University-College Station is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 57%. Team revenue averages $74,805 per participant, compared with $245,153 spent per athlete. The school awards about $17,123 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas Christian University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Worth, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 978, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. About 80% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $186,483 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $186,483 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $37,174.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion placed #9 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Based in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University Campus Immersion is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 44%. The program generates about $123,135 in revenue per athlete, against $123,135 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $27,490 per athlete.
Texas State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in San Marcos, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. Team revenue averages $83,692 per participant, against $83,692 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,371.
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Norman, OK, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 77%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $15,245, compared with $167,024 spent per athlete. The school awards about $27,789 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Houston did well this year, earning the #12 position. This public school is set in Houston, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 88% Graduation Success Rate. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $93,721 in revenue per athlete, compared with $93,721 spent per athlete. The school awards about $15,948 in athletic aid per athlete.
Northern Arizona University landed the #13 spot this year. Located in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Team revenue averages $53,226 per participant, compared with $53,226 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $13,581 per athlete.
Houston Christian University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Houston Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 995, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $43,580 per participant, compared with $43,580 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,924.
University of Arizona came in at #15 in this year's ranking. University of Arizona is a public school based in Tucson, AZ. The team's NCAA APR score is 985, alongside a GSR of 89%. About 43% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $110,801 per participant, with expenses of about $110,801 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,887.
The University of Texas at El Paso came in at #16 in this year's ranking. The University of Texas at El Paso is a public school based in El Paso, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 75%. Team revenue averages $35,502 per participant, compared with $75,109 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $18,754 per athlete.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did well this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in Edinburg, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $63,954, with expenses of about $63,954 per participant. The school awards about $9,144 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of New Mexico-Main Campus did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Albuquerque, NM, University of New Mexico-Main Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, and a 78% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $75,808, compared with $73,174 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $19,510 per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word came in at #19 in this year's ranking. University of the Incarnate Word is a private not-for-profit school based in San Antonio, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, alongside a GSR of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Team revenue averages $45,862 per participant, with expenses of about $45,862 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,744.
The University of Texas at Arlington did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Arlington, TX, The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. Its federal graduation rate is 55%. The program generates about $61,136 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $61,136 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,666.
Texas Tech University ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This public school is set in Lubbock, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 988, with a Graduation Success Rate of 93%. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. Team revenue averages $14,184 per participant, compared with $91,227 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,662 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oral Roberts University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Oral Roberts University is a private not-for-profit school based in Tulsa, OK. Oral Roberts University records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 89% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 63%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $57,939, against $57,939 in expenses. The school awards about $15,443 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at San Antonio did well this year, earning the #23 position. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public school based in San Antonio, TX. The University of Texas at San Antonio records an NCAA APR of 984, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 36%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $74,081, compared with $74,081 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,155.
Grand Canyon University placed #24 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit school based in Phoenix, AZ. The team's NCAA APR score is 988, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 77% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $71,404, against $71,404 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $9,958 per athlete.
Sam Houston State University landed the #25 spot this year. Based in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 86%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $38,129, with expenses of about $38,129 per participant. The school awards about $11,743 in athletic aid per athlete.
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. 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
