The Best Women’s Rowing Colleges | 2025

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The Different Divisions of U.S. Women’s College Rowing (D1, D2, D3 & Lightweight)

Rowing in the U.S. offers student-athletes a range of pathways, from powerhouse Division 1 programs to smaller, academically focused Division 3 teams and elite lightweight squads. As of 2025, more than 140 colleges compete nationally for women’s rowing titles. This guide explains how each division works - and lists the top women’s rowing colleges to help athletes and parents identify their best fit.

Jump to the 2025 Rankings ↓

Understanding the different Divisions in Rowing

Division 1 (D1) Rowing: 88 colleges

• Competitive Level:
  D1 rowing is the highest level of collegiate rowing in the U.S., featuring the most competitive programs. Athletes at this level are typically recruited based on high performance at junior levels and often aspire to compete internationally.

• Scholarship Availability:
  Full or partial athletic scholarships are common in D1, though availability varies by school. Programs are funded well, with extensive support in terms of coaching, equipment, and facilities.

• Commitment:
  Being part of a D1 team requires a significant time commitment, both in training and travel for races like the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships and NCAA Championships.

According to the 2025 NCAA results the top 20 rowing colleges are:

1. Stanford University

2. Yale University

3. University of Texas

4. University of Washington

5. University of Tennessee

6. Princeton University

7. Brown University

8. Rutgers University

9. UC Berkeley, Cal

10. University of Virginia

11. Michigan University

12. Syracuse University

13. Harvard University (Radcliffe)

14. Indiana University

15. University of Central Florida

16. Dartmouth College

17. University of Pennsylvania

18. Oregon State University

19. Northeastern University

20. Boston University

Division 2 (D2) Rowing: 10 Colleges

• Competitive Level:
  D2 rowing programs are still highly competitive but typically don't have the same depth or resources as D1 programs. However, many D2 schools offer strong competition and excellent development opportunities.

• Scholarships:
  Scholarships are available but generally less common and substantial compared to D1. Programs have smaller budgets, but they still offer high-quality coaching and facilities.

• Commitment:
  Time commitments in D2 are slightly less intense than D1, though athletes are still expected to maintain a high level of dedication to the sport.

Division 3 (D3) Rowing: 33 Colleges

• Competitive Level:
  D3 rowing is less intense and more focused on a balance between athletics, academics, and extracurricular activities. Programs in D3 are still competitive, but there is more flexibility compared to D1 and D2.

• Scholarships:
  D3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships. However, they often provide academic or need-based financial aid.

• Commitment:
  D3 rowing allows athletes to continue competing at a high level while focusing on academics and other college experiences. While the training load is lighter than in D1 and D2, it's still demanding.

Lightweight Rowing: 7 Colleges

• Category Specifics:
  Lightweight rowing differs from traditional "open-weight" categories, with specific weight limits (men ≤160 lbs, women ≤130 lbs) set for athletes. Lightweight programs can be part of D1 schools but often function as separate squads within those programs.

• Scholarships:
  Scholarship availability depends on whether the lightweight program is part of a D1 school.

• Commitment:
  Lightweight rowing teams often travel and compete in major regattas like the IRA Championships, offering elite-level competition despite smaller squad sizes.

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D1 Women’s Rowing Rankings | 2025

2025 Rank	College	2024 Rank	Change	Division	Location
1	Stanford University	2	↑ +1	Division I	Stanford, CA
2	Yale University	8	↑ +6	Division I	New Haven, CT
3	University of Texas	1	↓ –2	Division I	Austin, TX
4	University of Washington	5	↑ +1	Division I	Seattle, WA
5	University of Tennessee	3	↓ –2	Division I	Knoxville, TN
6	Princeton University	4	↓ –2	Division I	Princeton, NJ
7	Brown University	6	↓ –1	Division I	Providence, RI
8	Rutgers University	14	↑ +6	Division I	New Brunswick, NJ
9	University of California, Berkeley	9	—	Division I	Berkeley, CA
10	University of Virginia	13	↑ +3	Division I	Charlottesville, VA
11	University of Michigan	7	↓ –4	Division I	Ann Arbor, MI
12	Syracuse University	11	↓ –1	Division I	Syracuse, NY
13	Harvard University (Radcliffe)	38	↑ +25	Division I	Cambridge, MA
14	Indiana University	15	↑ +1	Division I	Bloomington, IN
15	University of Central Florida	31	↑ +16	Division I	Orlando, FL
16	Dartmouth College	29	↑ +13	Division I	Hanover, NH
17	University of Pennsylvania	10	↓ –7	Division I	Philadelphia, PA
18	Oregon State University	17	↓ –1	Division I	Corvallis, OR
19	Northeastern University	24	↑ +5	Division I	Boston, MA
20	Boston University	33	↑ +13	Division I	Boston, MA
21	University of Rhode Island	30	↑ +9	Division I	Kingston, RI
22	Fairfield University	71	↑ +49	Division I	Fairfield, CT
23	Columbia University	21	↓ –2	Division I	New York, NY
24	Michigan State University	34	↑ +10	Division I	East Lansing, MI
25	Duke University	17	↓ –8	Division I	Durham, NC
26	Ohio State University	11	↓ –15	Division I	Columbus, OH
27	Gonzaga University	22	↓ –5	Division I	Spokane, WA
28	University of North Carolina	40	↑ +12	Division I	Chapel Hill, NC
29	Washington State University	20	↓ –9	Division I	Pullman, WA
30	Clemson University	28	↓ –2	Division I	Clemson, SC
31	University of Southern California	23	↓ –8	Division I	Los Angeles, CA
32	University of Oklahoma	43	↑ +11	Division I	Norman, OK
33	University of Alabama	19	↓ –14	Division I	Tuscaloosa, AL
34	Cornell University	55	↑ +21	Division I	Ithaca, NY
35	University of Miami	25	↓ –10	Division I	Coral Gables, FL
36	University of Minnesota	26	↓ –10	Division I	Minneapolis, MN
37	Tulsa University	37	—	Division I	Tulsa, OK
38	University of Louisville	47	↑ +9	Division I	Louisville, KY
39	University of Iowa	36	↓ –3	Division I	Iowa City, IA
40	Southern Methodist University	45	↑ +5	Division I	Dallas, TX
41	MIT	51	↑ +10	Division III	Cambridge, MA
42	UCLA	27	↓ –15	Division I	Los Angeles, CA
43	University of Wisconsin	32	↓ –11	Division I	Madison, WI
44	Notre Dame	18	↓ –26	Division I	Notre Dame, IN
45	George Washington University	35	↓ –10	Division I	Washington, DC
46	University of Delaware	68	↑ +22	Division I	Newark, DE
47	United States Naval Academy (Navy)	41	↓ –6	Division I	Annapolis, MD
48	Drexel University	52	↑ +4	Division I	Philadelphia, PA
49	Georgetown University	59	↑ +10	Division I	Washington, DC
50	Sacramento State University	50	—	Division I	Sacramento, CA
51	Boston College	42	↓ –9	Division I	Chestnut Hill, MA
52	Saint Joseph’s University	70	↑ +18	Division I	Philadelphia, PA
53	Bucknell University	69	↑ +16	Division I	Lewisburg, PA
54	Colgate University	73	↑ +19	Division I	Hamilton, NY
55	Kansas University	49	↓ –6	Division I	Lawrence, KS
56	Villanova University	57	↑ +1	Division I	Villanova, PA
57	La Salle University	66	↑ +9	Division I	Philadelphia, PA
58	St Mary’s College of California	53	↓ –5	Division I	Moraga, CA
59	UC San Diego	39	↓ –20	Division I	La Jolla, CA
60	University of Massachusetts	56	↓ –4	Division I	Amherst, MA
61	Temple University	62	↑ +1	Division I	Philadelphia, PA
62	College of the Holy Cross	75	↑ +13	Division I	Worcester, MA
63	Stetson University	72	↑ +9	Division I	DeLand, FL
64	Kansas State University	54	↓ –10	Division I	Manhattan, KS
65	Eastern Michigan University	76	↑ +11	Division I	Ypsilanti, MI
66	Jacksonville University	44	↓ –22	Division I	Jacksonville, FL
67	Marist College	64	↓ –3	Division I	Poughkeepsie, NY
68	Sacred Heart University	61	↓ –7	Division I	Fairfield, CT
69	University of Connecticut	74	↑ +5	Division I	Storrs, CT
70	Creighton University	65	↓ –5	Division I	Omaha, NE
71	Old Dominion University	67	↓ –4	Division I	Norfolk, VA
72	University of Portland	63	↓ –9	Division I	Portland, OR
73	Canisius College	79	↑ +6	Division I	Buffalo, NY
74	Fordham University	58	↓ –16	Division I	Bronx, NY
75	West Virginia University	60	↓ –15	Division I	Morgantown, WV
76	Lehigh University	81	↑ +5	Division I	Bethlehem, PA
77	Loyola Marymount University	48	↓ –29	Division I	Los Angeles, CA
78	Duquesne University	77	↓ –1	Division I	Pittsburgh, PA
79	Monmouth University	86	↑ +7	Division I	West Long Branch, NJ
80	Santa Clara University	87	↑ +7	Division I	Santa Clara, CA
81	Iona College	82	↑ +1	Division I	New Rochelle, NY
82	Drake University	88	↑ +6	Division I	Des Moines, IA
83	George Mason University	80	↓ –3	Division I	Fairfax, VA
84	Bryant University	84	—	Division I	Smithfield, RI
85	University of Dayton	85	—	Division I	Dayton, OH
86	Seattle University	83	↓ –3	Division I	Seattle, WA
87	Robert Morris University	89	↑ +2	Division I	Moon Township, PA
88	Drake University	88	—	Division I	Des Moines, IA

Lightweight Women’s Rowing Rankings | 2025

2025 Rank	College	2024 Rank	Change	Division	Location
1	Princeton University	1	—	Division I (Lightweight)	Princeton, NJ
2	Harvard University (Radcliffe)	3	↑ +1	Division I (Lightweight)	Cambridge, MA
3	Georgetown University	5	↑ +2	Division I (Lightweight)	Washington, DC
4	Boston University	4	—	Division I (Lightweight)	Boston, MA
5	University of Wisconsin	7	↑ +2	Division I (Lightweight)	Madison, WI
6	Stanford University	2	↓ –4	Division I (Lightweight)	Stanford, CA
7	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	6	↓ –1	Division I (Lightweight)	Cambridge, MA

Division II Women’s Rowing Rankings | 2025

2025 Rank	College	2024 Rank	Change	Division	Location
1	Western Washington University	1	—	Division II	Bellingham, WA
2	Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University	4	↑ +2	Division II	Daytona Beach, FL
3	Cal Poly Humboldt	5	↑ +2	Division II	Arcata, CA
4	Florida Tech (FIT)	—	NEW	Division II	Melbourne, FL
5	Nova Southeastern University	9	↑ +4	Division II	Fort Lauderdale, FL
6	Seattle Pacific University	6	—	Division II	Seattle, WA
7	Rollins College	7	—	Division II	Winter Park, FL
8	Jefferson University	8	—	Division II	Philadelphia, PA
9	University of Central Oklahoma	3	↓ –6	Division II	Edmond, OK
10	Barry University	10	—	Division II	Miami Shores, FL

Division III Women’s Rowing Rankings | 2025

2025 Rank	College	2024 Rank	Change	Location
1	Tufts University	1	—	Medford, MA
2	Williams College	4	↑ +2	Williamstown, MA
3	Bates College	5	↑ +2	Lewiston, ME
4	Wesleyan University	2	↓ –2	Middletown, CT
5	Trinity College	3	↓ –2	Hartford, CT
6	Ithaca College	6	—	Ithaca, NY
7	William Smith College	12	↑ +5	Geneva, NY
8	St Mary’s College of Maryland	—	NEW	St. Mary's City, MD
9	Skidmore College	21	↑ +12	Saratoga Springs, NY
10	Wellesley College	7	↓ –3	Wellesley, MA
11	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	8	↓ –3	Worcester, MA
12	Smith College	10	↓ –2	Northampton, MA
13	Hamilton College	9	↓ –4	Clinton, NY
14	U.S. Coast Guard Academy	11	↓ –3	New London, CT
15	Clark University	15	—	Worcester, MA
16	Catholic University of America	25	↑ +9	Washington, DC
17	University of Puget Sound	13	↓ –4	Tacoma, WA
18	Colby College	34	↑ +16	Waterville, ME
19	Bryn Mawr College	20	↑ +1	Bryn Mawr, PA
20	Connecticut College	18	↓ –2	New London, CT
21	Washington College	24	↑ +3	Chestertown, MD
22	University of Rochester	23	↑ +1	Rochester, NY
23	Stockton University	19	↓ –4	Galloway, NJ
24	Rochester Institute of Technology	14	↓ –10	Rochester, NY
25	Pacific Lutheran University	30	↑ +5	Tacoma, WA
26	Pacific University	32	↑ +6	Forest Grove, OR
27	Mount Holyoke College	26	↓ –1	South Hadley, MA
28	Lewis & Clark College	17	↓ –11	Portland, OR
29	Franklin & Marshall College	22	↓ –7	Lancaster, PA
30	Milwaukee School of Engineering	—	NEW	Milwaukee, WI
31	St. Lawrence University	29	↓ –2	Canton, NY
32	Union College	28	↓ –4	Schenectady, NY
33	Simmons University	31	↓ –2	Boston, MA

Final Thoughts on Choosing the Right Program

Selecting the right rowing program is a personal decision based on many factors, including athletic goals, academic interests, and the campus experience you’re looking for. Whether you're aiming for a competitive D1 program, the balanced atmosphere of D2 or D3, or focusing on lightweight rowing, there’s a college that will fit your needs and aspirations.

It's essential to visit campuses, talk to coaches, and consider how each school aligns with your academic and athletic goals. We hope this guide helps you get started on your journey to finding the best rowing program for you.

Ready to turn research into results?

Choosing a college rowing program is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make and the rankings only tell part of the story. If you want clear guidance on which teams fit your academics, performance, and long-term goals, we help athletes build personalised U.S. recruiting plans that actually get results.