NCAA Division 1 colleges are known for having large student populations and top tier athletic programs. Of the more than 170,000 student-athletes who play at the Division 1 level, 3,471 compete at one of the NCAA’s 115 Division 1 women’s lacrosse programs. The majority of these programs are located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. These athletes are at the top of the talent pool and are held to high academic and athletic standards.
The NAIA and NJCAA report the smallest average roster size for women’s lacrosse with 17 players. At the NCAA level, the average team size varies from division to division.
Division 1: 30
Division 2: 23
Division 3: 21
NAIA: 17
NJCAA: 17
There are 117 schools that offer Division 1 women’s lacrosse in 16 conferences: AEC, AAC, ASC, Atlantic 10, ACC, Big East, Big South, Big Ten, CAA, Independents, Ivy League, MAAC, MPSF, Northeast Conference, Pac-12, Patriots League and Southern Conference.
Student-athletes are looking for colleges that offer them more than just great athletic opportunities. To help athletes identify the best college fit for them, NCSA Power Rankings analyze college cost, academics, size and more to determine the top D1 lacrosse colleges. The NCAA also produces a list of top Division 1 lacrosse colleges that student-athletes can reference.