Your Complete List of Women’s D1 Track and Field Colleges

NCAA Division 1 track and field colleges host the most elite collegiate programs. These recruits are not only the best in their high-school—or even the U.S.—but also include a mix of international student-athletes. In 2018, 226 roster spots at D1 track and field colleges went to international women’s track and field athletes—a 40% increase from 2013.

Student-athletes who are interested in competing at this level should be prepared physically and mentally for the time, commitment and pressures of being a D1 athlete. These recruits train almost year-round in addition to their regular season—which for some programs could be both indoors in the winter and outdoors in the spring—travel to meets and participate in mandatory academic study hours. D1 athletes are truly dedicated to track and field, which shapes the entirety of their collegiate experience.

What are the benefits of going to one of these top D1 colleges for track and field? For many, it’s developing close-knit relationships with teammates, elite coaches and athletes in other sports. It’s competing at the highest level, with the best of the best competitors that push you to be even better. It’s also well-funded, state-of-the-art athletic facilities, cheering sports fans, full and partial athletic scholarships and a chance of a lifetime.

If you have the athleticism, drive, endurance and motivation to be a D1 women’s track and field athlete, check out our complete list of division 1 track and field colleges below.

Where can I find Division 1 women’s track and field programs? 

There are 338 NCAA Division 1 track and field colleges located across the country. These tend to be made up of a mix of:

• Large public state schools such as University of Wisconsin, University of Florida, UCLA and University of Virginia.
• Ivy League institutions like Harvard University, Princeton University and Dartmouth College.
• Athletic powerhouses like University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Villanova University and Duke University.
• Academically elite private colleges like Northwestern University, University of Notre Dame and Georgetown University.

For women’s track and field recruits set on attending one of these Division 1 track and field colleges, it’s important to narrow down your list based on personal preferences and where you qualify to compete. Do you prefer a larger campus and student body that is typically associated with state schools, or would you prefer to be in a smaller, private university?  Are your grades and test scores competitive enough for the Ivy League?

After honing on your preferences, take a look at the NCAA women’s track and field rankings and the NCSA Power Rankings to see which D1 track and field colleges are a potential fit. Remember to keep your options open and don’t limit yourself just to the best of the best.

NCAA Division 1 women’s track and field rankings 

What are the best colleges for track and field? NCSA analyzed more than 300 D1 track and field colleges to find the best track and field colleges for women’s track recruits.

Wondering what other schools made the list? Take a look at the NCSA Power Rankings for a full list of top Division 1 track and field colleges. Then, check out the NCAA women’s track and field rankings for D1 track and field colleges.

Interested in seeing which schools regularly top the NCAA women’s track and field rankings for D1 programs? For the most current, up-to-date stats, the NCAA, U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) and the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) are a great place to start. 

Full list of women’s D1 track and field colleges