by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. This list ranks 25 programs for Women’s Volleyball (Division I) 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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Explore the leading programs below:
Our analysis found Rice University to be the best college for Women's Volleyball (Division I) in Texas. Located in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $131,225 in revenue per athlete, compared with $131,225 spent per athlete. The school awards about $41,166 in athletic aid per athlete.
Southern Methodist University ranked #2 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. Southern Methodist University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 92%. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $256,120, compared with $256,120 spent per athlete. The school awards about $56,388 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin earned the #3 place for student athletes. This public school is set in Austin, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 94%. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Team revenue averages $86,927 per participant, against $204,671 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $22,650 per athlete.
Baylor University came in at #4 on this year's ranking for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Baylor University records an NCAA APR of 985, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 89%. Team revenue averages $141,973 per participant, against $141,973 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $30,455 per athlete.
Abilene Christian University landed the #5 spot for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Abilene, TX. Abilene Christian University records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 82% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $67,787 per participant, compared with $66,101 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $26,012.
Texas A&M University-College Station ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This public school is set in College Station, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $74,805 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $245,153 per participant. Athletic aid averages $17,123 per athlete.
Texas State University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in San Marcos, TX, Texas State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Team revenue averages $83,692 per participant, with expenses of about $83,692 per participant. Athletic aid averages $16,371 per athlete.
Texas Christian University did well this year, earning the #8 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Worth, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 978, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 80%. The program generates about $186,483 in revenue per athlete, compared with $186,483 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $37,174 per athlete.
University of Houston came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Houston, TX. University of Houston records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $93,721, compared with $93,721 spent per athlete. The school awards about $15,948 in athletic aid per athlete.
Houston Christian University landed the #10 spot this year. Located in Houston, TX, Houston Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $43,580, compared with $43,580 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $20,924 per athlete.
The University of Texas at El Paso did well this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in El Paso, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 92%. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $35,502 per participant, with expenses of about $75,109 per participant. Athletic aid averages $18,754 per athlete.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley placed #12 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Located in Edinburg, TX, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $63,954 in revenue per athlete, against $63,954 in expenses. The school awards about $9,144 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word placed #13 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in San Antonio, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 989, alongside a GSR of 92%. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $45,862, compared with $45,862 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,744.
The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #14 spot this year. Located in Arlington, TX, The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 994, alongside a GSR of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 55%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $61,136, compared with $61,136 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,666.
Texas Tech University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Texas Tech University is a public school based in Lubbock, TX. Texas Tech University records an NCAA APR of 988, alongside a GSR 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.
The University of Texas at San Antonio did well this year, earning the #16 position. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 984, alongside a GSR of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 36%. The program generates about $74,081 in revenue per athlete, compared with $74,081 spent per athlete. The school awards about $16,155 in athletic aid per athlete.
Sam Houston State University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Huntsville, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 988, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 86% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $38,129 per participant, with expenses of about $38,129 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,743.
Tarleton State University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Tarleton State University is a public school based in Stephenville, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 984, with a Graduation Success Rate of 86%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $58,950 per participant, against $58,950 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $11,883.
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi landed the #19 spot this year. Based in Corpus Christi, TX, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 982, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 67%. The program generates about $49,103 in revenue per athlete, compared with $49,103 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $10,202.
East Texas A&M University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Commerce, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 976, with a Graduation Success Rate of 88%. About 62% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $45,053 per participant, with expenses of about $45,017 per participant. Athletic aid averages $12,747 per athlete.
Stephen F Austin State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). Based in Nacogdoches, TX, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. About 58% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $37,936, against $37,936 in expenses. The school awards about $8,595 in athletic aid per athlete.
Lamar University landed the #22 spot this year. Lamar University is a public school based in Beaumont, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 963, with a Graduation Success Rate of 85%. About 60% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $47,325 per participant, compared with $47,325 spent per athlete. The school awards about $13,491 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of North Texas ranked #23 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball (Division I). This public school is set in Denton, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 960, and a 57% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 22%. The program generates about $52,488 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $52,488 per participant. The school awards about $11,504 in athletic aid per athlete.
Prairie View A & M University landed the #24 spot this year. This public school is set in Prairie View, TX. Prairie View A & M University records an NCAA APR of 947, and a 95% Graduation Success Rate. About 63% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $30,677 per participant, with expenses of about $30,677 per participant. The school awards about $7,400 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas Southern University landed the #25 spot this year. Located in Houston, TX, Texas Southern University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 984, alongside a GSR of 89%. The federal graduation rate stands at 33%. The program generates about $30,096 in revenue per athlete, against $30,096 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $8,795 per athlete.
*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
See our data sources and methodologies.