The Best 10 Division I Universities for Women’s Soccer

For upcoming student-athletes, choosing a university comes down to much more than just the center’s academic reputation. It’s a choice that athletes meditate on a lot and take into account the sporting fame of the team they’re interested in. For that reason, as each has its decision-making criteria, there has to be a common ground, which would be the next list of the top 10 women’s football universities.

Naturally, competitiveness in the United States is high, and more so in women’s football. Still, you don’t need to be a superstar to play there. These are the top ten universities, so it is understood that you need an impeccable sports resume to get into a university like this. On the other hand, it must also be said that there are other lower-profile universities that are more accessible to players. This is not to say that anyone can get a scholarship. The coaches as well as the university itself track the player and her sporting career and from there, the percentage of the sports scholarship will be decided. For more information on football scholarships in the United States see this Mooxye blog on; “Soccer Scholarships in the USA”.

 

Which are the best soccer universities in the United States?

These are the top-10 men’s soccer universities in the United States:

 

1. Stanford University – Stanford, CA

 

 

The Stanford University women’s soccer team is often topping the Pac-12 Conference ranking and the NCAA Division 1 ranking. Together, the Cardinal has grossed awards over the years, including nine Pac-12 Player of the Year Awards and 11 Pac-12 Coach of the Year Awards. Stanford Cardinal has won six Pac-12 titles, competed in six College Cup tournaments and reached the Division 1 finals three times. They had twice been named NCAA University Cup Champions.

 

2. Florida State – Tallahassee, Florida

 

 

The Florida State University women’s soccer team has made it to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship 18 times since 2000. Of those 18 appearances, the team advanced to the second round 17 times, and the quarter-finals 12 times. In fact, in addition to being crowned champions in 2014, 2019 has been a round year for the Seminoles, closing the year thus proclaiming for the second time NCAA DI champions.

 

3. Georgetown University – Washington D.C 

 

 

The Georgetown women’s team has been dominating since it was first established in 1991. This year has been one of the most fruitful for Georgetown’s to get into the championship semi-finals. Over the past decade, they have made two appearances in the championship, (2007 and 2010) qualifying until the quarter-finals both times. Also, several renowned players have come out of the ranks of Georgetown, such as Ingrid Wells, who was selected for the US national team U23 before becoming the star of the Swiss team Goteborg FC.

 

4. North Carolina – Chapel Hill, North Carolina 

 

 

Considering that the Women’s Soccer team Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina has won 22 of the 36 NCAA National Championships, there is no doubt that it belongs to the list of the best women’s football teams. Some of UNC’s most notable students include Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Tobin Heath, Heather O’Reilly, Crystal Dunn, Meghan Klingenberg and Ashlyn Harris. Many of them were called for the U.S. national team.

 

5. UCLA – Los Angeles, CA 

 

 

UCLA Bruins are always ranked at the top of NCAA Division I rankings. They are without a doubt one of the best and most dominant women’s soccer teams in the country. In the six years that have been part of the Pac-12 Conference, the Bruins have won the conference twice and were second twice. However, it’s not as impressive as the fact that the team has made 21 appearances in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. It is a program that every year usually sends several players to the NWSL.

 

6. Tennessee – Knoxville, Tennessee

 

 

The University of Tennessee women’s soccer team is consistently ranked as one of the top teams in both the NCAA and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Lady Vols has secured a place in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship 11 times since 2001.

 

7. West Virginia – Morgantown, West Virginia

 

 

West Virginia’s are a regular at the NCAA Championships. The Mountaineers are an NCAA Division I team, and as such, compete in the Big 12 Conference. Impressively, this women’s soccer team has qualified for the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship in the last 16 consecutive seasons.

 

8. Duke – Durham, North Carolina

 

 

Duke is a university that needs to be mentioned given its academic program and it also needs to be recognized thanks to the soccer team. They have been three times qualified for the national championship and this year they reached the top 10 of the national rankings.

 

9. Texas A&M – College Station, TX

 

 

The Aggies have appeared in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship a total of 23 times, each year since 1995. Of those 23 appearances, the women have made the quarter-finals 14 times, and the quarter-finals six times. Aggie players have been named 19 athletes All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year three times.

 

10. Santa Clara University – Santa Clara, CA

 

 

SCU is one of the regulars at the top. This power program has ranked among the top 10 NCAA teams for 20 consecutive seasons! The team most recently won the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship in 2001, although it has been included among the finalists several times since.

 

 

If you are an athlete and you would like to study at an American university while playing soccer, we recommend you to create an account in Mooxye. Coaches are already using our platform to recruit players worldwide.