The Best Women’s Rowing Colleges

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The Different Devisions: D1, D2, D3 & Lightweight Rowing Programs

Rowing is a unique sport that attracts athletes to colleges across the U.S., offering opportunities for competition at various levels. Whether you're looking at Division 1 programs, the more intimate but competitive atmosphere of Division 2 and 3, or the specialized lightweight rowing category, there's a program that fits each athlete's ambitions and skill level. There are over 142 colleges that compete for the various women’s rowing titles across the U.S. In this guide, we’ll break down the differences between these divisions and provide a list of the top rowing colleges to help athletes and parents navigate their options.

Understanding the different Divisions in Rowing

Division 1 (D1) Rowing: 89 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 2024 NCAA results the top 20 rowing colleges are:

1. University of Texas

2. Stanford University

3. University of Tennessee

4. Princeton University

5. University of Washington

6. Brown University

7. Michigan University

8. Yale University

9. UC Berkeley, Cal

10. University of Pennsylvania

11. Syracuse University

12. Ohio State

13. University of Virginia

14. Rutgers University

15. Indiana University

16. Duke University

17. Notre Dame

18. Northeastern University

19. Boston University

20. Oregon State

Read our other blogs from different universities

Division 2 (D2) Rowing: 11 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: 34 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: 8 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.

Full List of Colleges:

Division 1

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

Lightweight Colleges

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

Division 2

Rank	College	Division	Location
1	Western Washington University	Division II	Bellingham, WA
2	Mercyhurst University	Division II	Erie, PA
3	University of Central Oklahoma	Division II	Edmond, OK
4	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University	Division II	Prescott, AZ
5	Cal Poly Humboldt	Division II	Arcata, CA
6	Seattle Pacific University	Division II	Seattle, WA
7	Rollins College	Division II	Winter Park, FL
8	Jefferson University	Division II	Philadelphia, PA
9	Nova Southeastern University	Division II	Fort Lauderdale, FL
10	Barry University	Division II	Miami Shores, FL
11	Assumption University	Division II	Worcester, MA

Division 3

Rank	College	Division	Location
1	Tufts University	Division III	Medford, MA
2	Wesleyan University	Division III	Middletown, CT
3	Trinity College	Division III	Hartford, CT
4	Williams College	Division III	Williamstown, MA
5	Bates College	Division III	Lewiston, ME
6	Ithaca College	Division III	Ithaca, NY
7	Wellesley College	Division III	Wellesley, MA
8	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	Division III	Worcester, MA
9	Hamilton College	Division III	Clinton, NY
10	Smith College	Division III	Northampton, MA
11	United States Coast Guard Academy	Division III	New London, CT
12	Hobart and William Smith Colleges	Division III	Geneva, NY
13	University of Puget Sound	Division III	Tacoma, WA
14	Rochester Institute of Technology	Division III	Rochester, NY
15	Clark University	Division III	Worcester, MA
16	Saint Mary's College	Division III	Notre Dame, IN
17	Lewis & Clark College	Division III	Portland, OR
18	Connecticut College	Division III	New London, CT
19	Stockton University	Division III	Galloway, NJ
20	Bryn Mawr College	Division III	Bryn Mawr, PA
21	Skidmore College	Division III	Saratoga Springs, NY
22	Franklin & Marshall College	Division III	Lancaster, PA
23	University of Rochester	Division III	Rochester, NY
24	Washington College	Division III	Chestertown, MD
25	Catholic University of America	Division III	Washington, D.C.
26	Mount Holyoke College	Division III	South Hadley, MA
27	Marietta College	Division III	Marietta, OH
28	Union College	Division III	Schenectady, NY
29	St. Lawrence University	Division III	Canton, NY
30	Pacific Lutheran University	Division III	Tacoma, WA
31	Simmons University	Division III	Boston, MA
32	Pacific University	Division III	Forest Grove, OR
33	St. John Fisher University	Division III	Rochester, NY
34	Colby College	Division III	Waterville, ME

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.

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