Ranked by results · 2021 to 2025

The best D3 women's soccer schools, by results

By average final national ranking from 2021 to 2025, the D3 women's programs with the best results are Messiah University, Johns Hopkins University, Amherst College. This page ranks 50 of the 279 programs that were ranked in at least 4 of those seasons, and sets each school’s graduation rate beside its results.

Programs ranked: 279
Seasons: 2021–25
Listed here: 50

The best D3 women's soccer schools, by results: 50 programs ranked here, read Oct 6, 2026.

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Pictured: Kalamazoo v Baldwin Wallace, women’s, 2024

Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0

How is “best” measured here?

One way only: results on the field. For each program we average its final national ranking across the seasons from 2021 to 2025. The ranking is the final Massey Ratings for the earlier seasons and, from 2025, the NCAA Power Index (NPI). A program is listed when it was ranked in at least 4 of those seasons, so one good year does not put a team on the list.

It says nothing about coaching, facilities, playing time or whether the school suits your player. Use it to understand the level, not to pick a college.

This list, in short
Level	D3 women's
Seasons averaged	2021 to 2025
Programs with enough seasons	279
Listed on this page	50
Minimum seasons ranked	4

Which D3 women's soccer programs have the best results?

The top 50 of 279, best average first. A lower average rank is better.

Programs by average final national ranking
#	School	State	Avg rank	Seasons	Grad rate	Roster
1	Messiah University	Pennsylvania	6.6	5	78%	26
2	Johns Hopkins University	Maryland	7.6	5	95%	34
3	Amherst College	Massachusetts	8.6	5	93%	27
4	Carnegie Mellon University	Pennsylvania	11.6	5	93%	35
5	Misericordia University	Pennsylvania	13.0	5	69%	31
6	Tufts University	Massachusetts	14.0	5	93%	27
7	Emory University	Georgia	14.6	5	92%	30
8	Loras College	Iowa	18.8	5	70%	43
9	Wesleyan University (Connecticut)	Connecticut	20.0	5	92%	34
10	University of Chicago	Illinois	20.5	4	95%	33
11	Trinity University (Texas)	Texas	21.2	5	82%	29
12	Williams College	Massachusetts	21.6	5	97%	31
13	Calvin University	Michigan	24.2	5	77%	30
14	University of Rochester	New York	24.6	5	84%	31
15	Middlebury College	Vermont	26.0	5	93%	34
16	Washington and Lee University	Virginia	31.2	5	95%	32
17	University of Scranton	Pennsylvania	31.4	5	81%	36
18	Swarthmore College	Pennsylvania	39.6	5	94%	34
19	Bowdoin College	Maine	40.2	5	96%	29
20	Hamilton College	New York	40.6	5	91%	27
21	Rowan University	New Jersey	42.0	5	68%	32
22	Hardin-Simmons University	Texas	43.8	5	50%	29
23	University of Puget Sound	Washington	44.4	5	68%	28
24	Brandeis University	Massachusetts	47.2	5	86%	25
25	St. Catherine University	Minnesota	47.2	5	64%	26
26	Centre College	Kentucky	47.4	5	85%	39
27	Montclair State University	New Jersey	49.6	5	64%	26
28	Dickinson College	Pennsylvania	49.8	5	83%	30
29	Vassar College	New York	51.4	5	89%	29
30	Trinity College (Connecticut)	Connecticut	52.4	5	83%	29
31	Ithaca College	New York	55.0	5	74%	29
32	University of Lynchburg	Virginia	55.2	5	62%	34
33	McDaniel College	Maryland	56.8	5	64%	28
34	Hope College	Michigan	58.4	5	82%	27
35	York College (Pennsylvania)	Pennsylvania	63.6	5	60%	36
36	Colby College	Maine	65.0	5	90%	35
37	Carleton College	Minnesota	68.2	5	91%	30
38	Bridgewater College (Virginia)	Virginia	70.0	5	49%	29
39	University of Mary Washington	Virginia	71.6	5	67%	34
40	Simpson College	Iowa	73.0	5	66%	33
41	Babson College	Massachusetts	74.0	5	92%	34
42	Chapman University	California	76.2	5	80%	39
43	Trine University	Indiana	80.8	5	67%	28
44	Ohio Northern University	Ohio	82.0	5	70%	28
45	Skidmore College	New York	84.8	5	82%	27
46	Denison University	Ohio	89.6	5	80%	31
47	Occidental College	California	93.8	5	85%	27
48	Capital University	Ohio	94.2	5	66%	24
49	Otterbein University	Ohio	94.6	5	69%	33
50	Union College (New York)	New York	95.2	5	85%	29

Which of them graduate the most students?

The same programs, sorted by the school’s six-year graduation rate instead. The order changes, which is the point.

The listed programs by graduation rate
School	Side	Grad rate	Avg rank
Williams College	Women's	97%	21.6
Bowdoin College	Women's	96%	40.2
Johns Hopkins University	Women's	95%	7.6
University of Chicago	Women's	95%	20.5
Washington and Lee University	Women's	95%	31.2
Swarthmore College	Women's	94%	39.6
Amherst College	Women's	93%	8.6
Carnegie Mellon University	Women's	93%	11.6
Tufts University	Women's	93%	14.0
Middlebury College	Women's	93%	26.0
Emory University	Women's	92%	14.6
Wesleyan University (Connecticut)	Women's	92%	20.0
Babson College	Women's	92%	74.0
Hamilton College	Women's	91%	40.6
Carleton College	Women's	91%	68.2

How this was counted

Avg rank is the mean of the program’s final national ranking in each season it was ranked, from 2021 to 2025; Seasons is how many that was. Grad rate is the school’s six-year graduation rate for all students (IPEDS DRVGR2023 · GBA6RTT). Roster is the 2026-27 squad as the school lists it, where we could confirm the season.

Rankings change every season. This page is recalculated when the data is refreshed, and the date below is the last time.

Last checked: October 6, 2026

Quick answers

Which D3 women's soccer programs have the best results?

By average final national ranking from 2021 to 2025: Messiah University (6.6), Johns Hopkins University (7.6), Amherst College (8.6), Carnegie Mellon University (11.6), Misericordia University (13.0). A lower number is better.

How is “best” decided on this page?

By results only. Each program’s final national ranking is averaged across the seasons from 2021 to 2025, and a program is listed when it was ranked in at least 4 of them. It is not a rating of coaching, facilities or academics.

Is the highest-ranked program the best choice for my player?

Not usually. A top-ranked program recruits a small number of players a year from a national and international pool. The better question is which programs your player can make the squad at and get on the field for, at a school that suits them. The graduation-rate table is here to show that the two orders differ.

Why are there no “best” lists for Division II or the NAIA?

We hold one season of Division II rankings, and those rank a team inside its region, not the country. We hold no national ranking history for the NAIA. One season is not enough to call anything a result over time, so those pages are not published.

Where to go next

Your player, your list

The best program is the one your player fits.

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