by our College Data Analytics Team
For student athletes, the right college balances academics with athletics. Our ranking highlights 67 colleges for Women’s Volleyball 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:
Rice University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for Women's Volleyball. Based in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. The program generates about $131,225 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $131,225 per participant. The school awards about $41,166 in athletic aid per athlete.
The University of Texas at Austin earned the #2 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, alongside a GSR of 94%. Its federal graduation rate is 86%. Team revenue averages $86,927 per participant, compared with $204,671 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,650.
Southern Methodist University ranked #3 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 64%. Team revenue averages $256,120 per participant, with expenses of about $256,120 per participant. The school awards about $56,388 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Tulsa is one of the top schools for Women's Volleyball, at #4. Located in Tulsa, OK, University of Tulsa is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 58% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $112,624 in revenue per athlete, against $112,624 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $34,797 per athlete.
Abilene Christian University landed the #5 spot for Women's Volleyball. This private not-for-profit school is set in Abilene, TX. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. Team revenue averages $67,787 per participant, compared with $66,101 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $26,012 per athlete.
Baylor University ranked #6 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball. Baylor University is a private not-for-profit school based in Waco, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 985, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 89%. The program generates about $141,973 in revenue per athlete, against $141,973 in expenses. The school awards about $30,455 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas A&M University-College Station landed the #7 spot this year. This public school is set in College Station, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. About 57% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $74,805 per participant, compared with $245,153 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $17,123.
Dallas Baptist University landed the #8 spot this year. Based in Dallas, TX, Dallas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The program generates about $47,980 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $47,512 per participant. The school awards about $9,215 in athletic aid per athlete.
Texas State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball. Located in San Marcos, TX, Texas State University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $83,692, against $83,692 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $16,371.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University Campus Immersion is a public institution. Arizona State University Campus Immersion records an NCAA APR of 1000, and a 90% Graduation Success Rate. About 44% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $123,135 in revenue per athlete, compared with $123,135 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,490.
Texas Christian University placed #11 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Worth, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 978, and a 91% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Team revenue averages $186,483 per participant, compared with $186,483 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $37,174 per athlete.
University of Dallas ranked #12 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball. Located in Irving, TX, University of Dallas is a private not-for-profit institution. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,904, against $7,904 in expenses. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Northern Arizona University placed #13 among the best colleges for Women's Volleyball. Based in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 995, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 80%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $53,226, compared with $53,226 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $13,581 per athlete.
University of Houston landed the #14 spot this year. This public school is set in Houston, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, alongside a GSR of 88%. About 67% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $93,721 per participant, against $93,721 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $15,948.
Austin College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Sherman, TX, Austin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $8,788 per participant, with expenses of about $8,593 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball. Located in Norman, OK, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 77% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $15,245 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $167,024 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,789.
Houston Christian University landed the #17 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $43,580, with expenses of about $43,580 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,924.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranked #18 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball. This public school is set in Edinburg, TX. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 100%. The program generates about $63,954 in revenue per athlete, compared with $63,954 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $9,144.
The University of Texas at El Paso came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in El Paso, TX, The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. About 75% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $35,502 per participant, with expenses of about $75,109 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $18,754.
LeTourneau University ranked #20 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball. Located in Longview, TX, LeTourneau University is a private not-for-profit institution. Team revenue averages $7,746 per participant, against $7,746 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $0.
University of Arizona did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in Tucson, AZ, University of Arizona is a public institution. University of Arizona records an NCAA APR of 985, with a Graduation Success Rate of 89%. Its federal graduation rate is 43%. The program generates about $110,801 in revenue per athlete, against $110,801 in expenses. The school awards about $20,887 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of the Incarnate Word ranked #22 on our 2026 list for Women's Volleyball. This private not-for-profit school is set in San Antonio, TX. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 989, and a 92% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 83%. Team revenue averages $45,862 per participant, against $45,862 in expenses. Athletic aid averages $18,744 per athlete.
The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #23 spot this year. Based in Arlington, TX, The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution. The University of Texas at Arlington records an NCAA APR of 994, with a Graduation Success Rate of 91%. The federal graduation rate stands at 55%. The program generates about $61,136 in revenue per athlete, against $61,136 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $12,666.
Texas Lutheran University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Seguin, TX. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $7,898, with expenses of about $7,673 per participant. The school awards about $0 in athletic aid per athlete.
Oklahoma Christian University landed the #25 spot this year. Oklahoma Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Edmond, OK. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $20,015, with expenses of about $18,763 per participant. The school awards about $7,286 in athletic aid per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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.
