by our College Data Analytics Team
Picking a college for your sport means looking beyond the field or court. Our ranking highlights 302 colleges for Women’s Softball (Division I) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual weighs 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.
Want to narrow by division or explore related lists? Pick a path below.
Explore the leading programs below:
Duke University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 100%. Team revenue averages $146,126 per participant, with expenses of about $165,190 per participant. Athletic aid averages $34,321 per athlete.
Stanford University landed the #2 spot for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 998, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 93% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $160,247 per participant, compared with $160,247 spent per athlete. The school awards about $42,012 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Notre Dame is one of the top schools for Women's Softball (Division I), at #3. Based in Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame 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%. About 100% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $140,408, compared with $140,408 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $34,391.
Northwestern University landed the #4 spot for Women's Softball (Division I). This private not-for-profit school is set in Evanston, IL. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 92%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $70,074, against $145,522 in expenses. The school awards about $53,919 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Virginia-Main Campus came in at #5 on this year's ranking for Women's Softball (Division I). Based in Charlottesville, VA, University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. Its federal graduation rate is 79%. The program generates about $100,177 in revenue per athlete, against $100,177 in expenses. The school awards about $26,976 in athletic aid per athlete.
George Washington University landed the #6 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Washington, DC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 92%. Team revenue averages $71,304 per participant, with expenses of about $71,304 per participant. Athletic aid averages $29,880 per athlete.
Villanova University ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Villanova, PA, Villanova 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 92%. The program generates about $87,288 in revenue per athlete, against $87,288 in expenses. The school awards about $25,480 in athletic aid per athlete.
Clemson University did well this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Clemson, SC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The program generates about $187,542 in revenue per athlete, against $187,542 in expenses. The school awards about $21,730 in athletic aid per athlete.
Fordham University landed the #9 spot this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bronx, NY. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 71%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $91,407, compared with $91,407 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $32,443.
Boston University landed the #10 spot this year. Boston University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. The team's NCAA APR score is 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 83%. The program generates about $96,496 in revenue per athlete, compared with $96,496 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,954.
Ohio State University-Main Campus placed #11 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 994, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. The federal graduation rate stands at 84%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $113,577, compared with $113,577 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,151.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus placed #12 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Seattle, WA, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a public institution. University of Washington-Seattle Campus records an NCAA APR of 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 67%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $70,118, compared with $218,581 spent per athlete. The school awards about $26,539 in athletic aid per athlete.
Colgate University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hamilton, NY. Colgate University records an NCAA APR of 996, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 95%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $77,925, compared with $77,925 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $22,658 per athlete.
Loyola University Chicago placed #14 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000, alongside a GSR of 94%. About 94% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $65,448 per participant, with expenses of about $65,448 per participant. Athletic aid averages $23,325 per athlete.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion ranked #15 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). Located 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 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 52% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $150,348 per participant, with expenses of about $150,348 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $27,490.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 50% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $128,752 per participant, against $128,752 in expenses. The school awards about $26,379 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Kentucky landed the #17 spot this year. University of Kentucky is a public school based in Lexington, KY. University of Kentucky records an NCAA APR of 1000, alongside a GSR of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 57%. Team revenue averages $154,134 per participant, against $154,134 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $23,921.
University of California-Los Angeles placed #18 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). This public school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, alongside a GSR of 90%. Its federal graduation rate is 82%. Team revenue averages $171,560 per participant, compared with $171,560 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $24,306 per athlete.
Indiana University-Bloomington did well this year, earning the #19 position. Indiana University-Bloomington is a public school based in Bloomington, IN. The team's NCAA APR score is 993, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 90% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $131,482 per participant, compared with $131,482 spent per athlete. Athletic aid averages $23,161 per athlete.
Michigan State University placed #20 among the best colleges for Women's Softball (Division I). Located in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. The team's NCAA APR score is 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 63%. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $88,810, against $88,810 in expenses. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $22,500.
University of Connecticut ranked #21 on our 2026 list for Women's Softball (Division I). University of Connecticut is a public school based in Storrs, CT. Its student-athletes post an NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 996, alongside a GSR of 100%. About 83% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Team revenue averages $85,811 per participant, compared with $85,811 spent per athlete. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,776.
The University of Alabama came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Tuscaloosa, AL, The University of Alabama is a public institution. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, and a 100% Graduation Success Rate. About 74% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. The program generates about $185,133 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $185,133 per participant. Per-athlete athletic aid is roughly $20,760.
Lehigh University landed the #23 spot this year. Based in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lehigh University records an NCAA APR of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 94%. About 94% of athletes graduate under the federal rate. Per-participant team revenue is roughly $80,732, compared with $80,732 spent per athlete. The school awards about $19,391 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of South Carolina-Columbia landed the #24 spot this year. This public school is set in Columbia, SC. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 1000, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. Its federal graduation rate is 72%. Team revenue averages $147,058 per participant, with expenses of about $147,058 per participant. The school awards about $18,645 in athletic aid per athlete.
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus came in at #25 in this year's ranking. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is a public school based in Norman, OK. Athletes here earn an NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 997, with a Graduation Success Rate of 100%. The federal graduation rate stands at 55%. The program generates about $129,227 in revenue per athlete, with expenses of about $370,715 per participant. Athletic aid averages $27,789 per athlete.
These schools rounded out the top of the list:
These colleges narrowly missed the top tiers:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 52 | Lafayette College | Easton, PA |
| 53 | Samford University | Birmingham, AL |
| 54 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA |
| 55 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA |
| 56 | University of San Diego | San Diego, CA |
| 57 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC |
| 58 | University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA |
| 59 | Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY |
| 60 | College of the Holy Cross | Worcester, MA |
| 61 | Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, MO |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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.
