NCAA Division 3 Women’s Soccer Colleges: A Well-Rounded College Experience

Student-athletes looking for an opportunity to push themselves athletically and academically might find the right fit at an NCAA D3 women’s soccer college. Many D3 women’s soccer schools are known for their academic rigor, but schools at this level also field some talented soccer programs. NCAA D3 women’s soccer players usually have more flexibility than D1 or D2 athletes to explore interests and activities outside of their sport, similarly to NAIA women’s soccer schools. The recruiting process is also much less rigid than D1 or D2 schools, so coaches have more freedom in when and how they can reach out to recruits. With 441 NCAA D3 women’s soccer colleges across the U.S., there are great opportunities for incoming freshmen recruits looking to play in college.

Do NCAA Division 3 schools give out athletic scholarships?

No, NCAA D3 women’s soccer schools generally do not offer athletic scholarships, though that should not deter potential recruits. D3 women’s soccer colleges provide student-athletes with the opportunity to receive merit, need-based or academic scholarships. In fact, most D3 students are on some kind of financial aid and D3 women’s soccer programs can be very helpful in finding scholarship money for athletes. Make sure to research opportunities and don’t discount a D3 school.

D3 women’s soccer championship

Held annually since 1986, the NCAA Division 3 Women’s Soccer Championship consists of a tournament that fields 64 teams. The championship game is usually held in early December and the title is currently owned by the Williams Ephs.

D3 women’s soccer rankings 

Student-athletes looking to play NCAA D3 women’s soccer will find that there are more than 440 schools with women’s soccer programs. With so many options to research, student-athletes can quickly become overwhelmed while making their list of prospective schools. To ease the stress of navigating all of these options, NCSA Power Rankings help student-athletes find the right college fit for them based on their athletic, academic, social and financial needs. Below are the top 10 D3 schools with women’s soccer teams.

1. Johns Hopkins University
2. Amherst College
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
4. Emory University
5. University of California – Santa Cruz
6. Tufts University
7. Carnegie Mellon University
8. University of Chicago
9. New York University
10. Washington University in St. Louis

View all the top D3 women’s soccer schools.

Student-athletes can view how the NCAA ranks these programs on the NCAA website.