Women’s Division 1 Swimming Colleges

Division 1 is the highest a women’s swimmer can go in terms of college swimming. Many swimmers dream of going to a school where their favorite Olympian is an alumnus. Before deciding on a D1 school to swim, there are variables that need to be considered:

• Competing and succeeding against the best is in the heart of many high-level swimmers. The competition is extremely high quality in D1 and the workload for a swimmer in the pool is unmatched in other divisions.
• Larger schools mean larger budgets, as well as alumni donations. This often allows for better facilities, training staff, dining halls and dorms for athletes.
• Division 1 schools usually have large campuses with freshman lecture halls holding hundreds of students. The athletic department will likely have academic support staff to help with difficult classes.

How many women’s Division 1 swim teams are there?

There are 200 women’s Division 1 swimming colleges that span from coast to coast. Scholarships are offered at this level, but certain programs might have less than the maximum 14 scholarships that are allowed by the NCAA. The odds of receiving a full scholarship are low, as most swimmers receive partial scholarships.

Women’s Division 1 swimming rankings

The Division 1 level of women’s swimming is the most competitive division out there. NCSA has released power rankings that incorporate other factors beyond just team performance in ranking a school. An overall experience can be impacted by cost, as well as aid offered and other lifestyle variables. 

Best women’s Division 1 swimming colleges: 

1. Stanford University
2. Harvard University
3. University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA)
4. Princeton University
5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
6. Yale University
7. University of California
8. Duke University
9. Columbia University
10. University of Florida

NCAA rankings are also available and are based solely on performance, which counts points scored as well as in-season meet results. During the regular season, rankings can shift due to dual meets won or lost against a ranked school.