Women’s Division 3 Golf Colleges

Student-athletes looking for a traditional college experience, where they can balance their personal life with their sport, often find NCAA Division 3 to be the best fit. These schools tend to be smaller, private institutions and are known for their rigorous academic programs. Plus, coaches at this level don’t have to follow to the same contact requirements as Division 1 and 2 coaches. They can manage their own recruiting process and reach out to student-athletes at any point during high school. Families may find the window of opportunity is greater with Division 3 golf schools, as some coaches still recruit well into senior year. 

How many Division 3 women’s golf teams are there in the U.S.?

With 324 Division 3 golf schools, this level has more women’s golf colleges than any other division. It’s true that athletes can’t receive athletic scholarships. However, many coaches work with the admissions department to find ways to supplement financial aid packages with grants, merit-based aid, and academic scholarships. As private institutions, these funds tend to be readily available, so they can make a competitive offer. Student-athletes who excel academically will especially benefit from this and can receive a scholarship package that significantly reduces college costs. 

Division 3 women’s golf rankings

Sure, athletics are important but to find the best college fit, student-athletes should consider the factors that matter most to them, including academics and campus life. To help break this down, we conducted an analysis and created a comprehensive list of Power Rankings. Here are the top 10 Division 3 golf colleges: 

1. Emory University
2. Amherst College
3. Washington University in St. Louis
4. Carnegie Mellon University
5. Williams College
6. New York University
7. Pomona-Pitzer Colleges
8. Bowdoin College
9. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges
10. University of California – Santa Cruz

The NCAA also compiles a list of D3 golf rankings to determine the best women’s golf programs. Their results are purely based on athletic performance.

Full list of D3 golf colleges