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Women’s Division 3 Swimming Colleges

Female swimming freestyle

Student-athletes looking for a unique college experience could find their dream school at a Division 3 college. Much like D2 swimmers, these athletes have more downtime and a less demanding athletic schedule. Those who want to pursue hobbies in the arts or join clubs on campus can do so at D3 swimming colleges. The lack of athletic scholarships does not mean there is no money available to help student-athletes offset costs. Grants and financial aid are available to student-athletes with good academics, as well as leadership skills.

Also, the recruiting process is less regulated for Division 3, so recruits and coaches can communicate with each other earlier – giving swimmers at this level more time to be actively engaged in recruiting. A lengthy communication process with a coach, as well as a few unofficial visits, can give a feel for the energy of the team and the campus life. 

How many Division 3 swimming colleges are there?

Division 3 women’s swimming boasts 242 programs to choose from. This is the largest number of programs in any division, so there are a multitude of choices for perspective recruits. Athletic scholarships are not available at this level, but there are other opportunities to help reduce the financial strain of college. Academic, along with other merit-based scholarships, are available. Financial aid is another a great way help pay for school.

Women’s Division 3 swimming rankings

Below are the NCSA power rankings for the 10 ten best Division 3 women’s swimming colleges.

  1. Johns Hopkins University
  2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  3. Emory University
  4. Amherst College
  5. California Institute of Technology
  6. Tufts University
  7. Pomona-Pitzer Colleges
  8. Swarthmore College
  9. University of Chicago
  10. Washington University in St. Louis 

NCSA’s list of best colleges incorporates factors that are not included in NCAA rankings. The average cost of tuition after financial aid is one example. This is especially important for D3, where athletic scholarships are not available but other types of financial aid are. NCSA creates these rankings to give a student-athlete a more holistic idea of the type of college experience different schools offer.

Full List of D3 Women’s Swimming Colleges

School
City and State
Type
Conference
Division
New Haven, Connecticut
Private
Division III Independents
NCAA D3
Albion, Michigan
Private
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Reading, Pennsylvania
Private
Middle Atlantic Conferences
NCAA D3
Alfred, New York
Private
Empire 8 Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Private
North Coast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Alma, Michigan
Private
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Reading, Pennsylvania
Private
Middle Atlantic Conferences
NCAA D3
Amherst, Massachusetts
Private
New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Anderson, Indiana
Private
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Glenside, Pennsylvania
Private
Middle Atlantic Conferences
NCAA D3
Wilmore, Kentucky
Private
River States Conference
NCAA D3
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Private
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Rock Island, Illinois
Private
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
NCAA D3
Sherman, Texas
Private
Southern Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Private
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Berea, Ohio
Private
Ohio Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Annandale-On-Hudson, New York
Private
Liberty League
NCAA D3
Lewiston, Maine
Private
New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Beloit, Wisconsin
Private
Midwest Conference
NCAA D3
Mount Berry, Georgia
Private
Southern Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Bethany, West Virginia
Private
Presidents' Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Birmingham, Alabama
Private
Southern Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Bluffton, Ohio
Private
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Brunswick, Maine
Private
New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Waltham, Massachusetts
Private
University Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Bridgewater, Virginia
Private
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Public
Commonwealth Coast Football
NCAA D3
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Private
Centennial Conference
NCAA D3
Radnor, Pennsylvania
Private
Colonial States Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Pasadena, California
Private
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Thousand Oaks, California
Private
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Private
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Northfield, Minnesota
Private
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Private
University Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Private
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
NCAA D3
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Public
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
NCAA D3
Cleveland, Ohio
Private
Presidents' Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Washington, District Of Columbia
Private
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Private
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Shreveport, Louisiana
Private
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Pella, Iowa
Private
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Danville, Kentucky
Private
Southern Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Orange, California
Private
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Private
Presidents' Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Claremont, California
Private
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division III), Western Water Polo Association (Division III)
NCAA D3
Worcester, Massachusetts
Private
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Potsdam, New York
Private
Liberty League
NCAA D3
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Private
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Waterville, Maine
Private
New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
New London, New Hampshire
Private
North Atlantic Conference
NCAA D3
St. Joseph, Minnesota
Private
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Wooster, Ohio
Private
North Coast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Private
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Moorhead, Minnesota
Private
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Mequon, Wisconsin
Private
Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
NCAA D3
New London, Connecticut
Private
New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Granville, Ohio
Private
North Coast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Greencastle, Indiana
Private
North Coast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Private
Centennial Conference
NCAA D3
Madison, New Jersey
Private
Landmark Conference
NCAA D3
Willimantic, Connecticut
Public
Little East Conference
NCAA D3
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Private
Landmark Conference
NCAA D3
Chicopee, Massachusetts
Private
New England Collegiate Conference
NCAA D3
Emory, Virginia
Private
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Atlanta, Georgia
Private
University Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Madison, New Jersey
Private
Middle Atlantic Conferences
NCAA D3
Ferrum, Virginia
Private
USA South Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Steubenville, Ohio
Private
Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
NCAA D3
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Private
Centennial Conference
NCAA D3
Franklin, Indiana
Private
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Washington, District Of Columbia
Private
Eastern Collegiate Football Conference
NCAA D3
Newberg, Oregon
Private
Northwest Conference
NCAA D3
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Private
Centennial Conference
NCAA D3
Wenham, Massachusetts
Private
Commonwealth Coast Conference
NCAA D3
Baltimore, Maryland
Private
Landmark Conference
NCAA D3
Greensboro, North Carolina
Private
USA South Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Grinnell, Iowa
Private
Midwest Conference
NCAA D3
Grove City, Pennsylvania
Private
Presidents' Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Greensboro, North Carolina
Private
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Saint Peter, Minnesota
Private
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Clinton, New York
Private
New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Private
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Hanover, Indiana
Private
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Oneonta, New York
Private
Empire 8 Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Tiffin, Ohio
Private
Ohio Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Conway, Arkansas
Private
Southern Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Hiram, Ohio
Private
North Coast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Geneva, New York
Private
Liberty League
NCAA D3
Roanoke, Virginia
Private
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Frederick, Maryland
Private
MAC Commonwealth Conference
NCAA D3
Holland, Michigan
Private
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Bangor, Maine
Private
Eastern Collegiate Football Conference
NCAA D3
Jacksonville, Illinois
Private
Midwest Conference
NCAA D3
Chicago, Illinois
Private
Division III Independents
NCAA D3
Bloomington, Illinois
Private
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
NCAA D3
East Whitehead, Pennsylvania
Private
Colonial States Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Ithaca, New York
Private
Liberty League
NCAA D3
University Heights, Ohio
Private
Ohio Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Baltimore, Maryland
Private
Centennial Conference
NCAA D3
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Private
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Union, New Jersey
Public
New Jersey Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Keene, New Hampshire
Public
Little East Conference
NCAA D3
Gambier, Ohio
Private
North Coast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Private
Division III Independents
NCAA D3
Galesburg, Illinois
Private
Midwest Conference
NCAA D3
Lake Forest, Illinois
Private
Midwest Conference
NCAA D3
Appleton, Wisconsin
Private
Midwest Conference
NCAA D3
Annville, Pennsylvania
Private
Middle Atlantic Conferences
NCAA D3
Portland, Oregon
Private
Northwest Conference
NCAA D3
McMinnville, Oregon
Private
Northwest Conference
NCAA D3
Dubuque, Iowa
Private
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Decorah, Iowa
Private
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Private
Middle Atlantic Conferences
NCAA D3
St. Paul, Minnesota
Private
Midwest Conference
NCAA D3
Castine, Maine
Public
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
North Manchester, Indiana
Private
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Arlington, Virginia
Private
Capital Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Private
Colonial States Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Private
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Westminster, Maryland
Private
Centennial Conference
NCAA D3
Abilene, Texas
Private
American Southwest Conference
NCAA D3
Buffalo, New York
Private
Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
NCAA D3
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Private
Middle Atlantic Conferences
NCAA D3
Middlebury, Vermont
Private
New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Decatur, Illinois
Private
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
NCAA D3
Oakland, California
Private
Northwest Conference
NCAA D3
Jackson, Mississippi
Private
Southern Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Private
Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
NCAA D3
Dallas, Pennsylvania
Private
Middle Atlantic Conferences
NCAA D3
Monmouth, Illinois
Private
Midwest Conference
NCAA D3
Montclair, New Jersey
Public
New Jersey Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Private
Centennial Conference
NCAA D3
South Hadley, Massachusetts
Private
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Newburgh, New York
Private
Skyline Conference
NCAA D3
Rochester, New York
Private
Empire 8 Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Lincoln, Nebraska
Private
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
New York, New York
Private
University Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Naperville, Illinois
Private
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
NCAA D3
Northfield, Vermont
Private
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Oberlin, Ohio
Private
North Coast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Los Angeles, California
Private
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Ada, Ohio
Private
Ohio Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Delaware, Ohio
Private
North Coast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Olivet, Michigan
Private
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Tacoma, Washington
Private
Division III Independents
NCAA D3
Forest Grove, Oregon
Private
Northwest Conference
NCAA D3
Altoona, Pennsylvania
Public
Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
NCAA D3
Erie, Pennsylvania
Public
Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
NCAA D3
Misenheimer, North Carolina
Private
USA South Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Demorest, Georgia
Private
USA South Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Plymouth, New Hampshire
Public
Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Claremont, California
Private
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Elsah, Illinois
Private
St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Mahwah, New Jersey
Public
New Jersey Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Lynchburg, Virginia
Private
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Ashland, Virginia
Private
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Weston, Massachusetts
Private
Great Northeast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Troy, New York
Private
Liberty League
NCAA D3
Providence, Rhode Island
Public
Little East Conference
NCAA D3
Memphis, Tennessee
Private
Southern Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Ripon, Wisconsin
Private
Midwest Conference
NCAA D3
Salem, Virginia
Private
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Rochester, New York
Private
Liberty League
NCAA D3
Bristol, Rhode Island
Private
Commonwealth Coast Conference
NCAA D3
Terre Haute, Indiana
Private
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Glassboro, New Jersey
Public
New Jersey Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Collegeville, Minnesota
Private
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Standish, Maine
Private
Great Northeast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Private
Presidents' Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Private
USA South Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Salisbury, Maryland
Public
Empire 8 Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Bronxville, New York
Private
Skyline Conference
NCAA D3
Sewanee, Tennessee
Private
Southern Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Boston, Massachusetts
Private
Great Northeast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Indianola, Iowa
Private
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Saratoga Springs, New York
Private
Liberty League
NCAA D3
Northampton, Massachusetts
Private
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Buena Vista, Virginia
Private
Capital Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Georgetown, Texas
Private
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Springfield, Massachusetts
Private
ECAC (Division III, Football I-AA), Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (Division III), Empire Eight (Division III), New England College Wrestling Association (Division III), New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (Division III), Pilgrim League (Division III)
NCAA D3
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Private
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Patchogue, New York
Private
Skyline Conference, Eastern College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Brooklyn, New York
Private
Skyline Conference
NCAA D3
Canton, New York
Private
Liberty League
NCAA D3
St. Mary's City, Maryland
Public
Capital Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
De Pere, Wisconsin
Private
Midwest Conference
NCAA D3
Northfield, Minnesota
Private
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Hoboken, New Jersey
Private
Empire 8 Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Stevenson, Maryland
Private
Middle Atlantic Conferences
NCAA D3
Buffalo, New York
Public
Empire 8 Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Brockport, New York
Public
Empire 8 Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Oneonta, New York
Public
State University of New York Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Cobleskill, New York
Public
North Eastern Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Cortland, New York
Public
State University of New York Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Delhi, New York
Public
Mountain Valley Collegiate Conference
NCAA D3
Fredonia, New York
Public
State University of New York Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Geneseo, New York
Public
State University of New York Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Throggs Neck, New York
Public
Eastern Collegiate Football Conference
NCAA D3
New Paltz, New York
Public
State University of New York Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Oswego, New York
Public
State University of New York Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Potsdam, New York
Public
State University of New York Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Purchase, New York
Public
Skyline Conference
NCAA D3
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
Private
Centennial Conference
NCAA D3
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Private
Centennial Conference
NCAA D3
Sweet Briar, Virginia
Private
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Ewing, New Jersey
Public
New Jersey Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Lexington, Kentucky
Private
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Hartford, Connecticut
Private
New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
San Antonio, Texas
Private
Southern Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Medford, Massachusetts
Private
New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Schenectady, New York
Private
Liberty League
NCAA D3
New London, Connecticut
Public
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Kings Point, New York
Public
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Santa Cruz, California
Public
Division III Independents
NCAA D3
Chicago, Illinois
Private
Midwest Conference
NCAA D3
La Verne, California
Private
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Lynchburg, Virginia
Private
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Public
Capital Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Public
Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Morris, Minnesota
Public
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Alliance, Ohio
Private
Ohio Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Biddeford, Maine
Private
Commonwealth Coast Conference
NCAA D3
Bradford, Pennsylvania
Public
Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
NCAA D3
Tacoma, Washington
Private
Northwest Conference
NCAA D3
Redlands, California
Private
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Rochester, New York
Private
University Athletic Association
NCAA D3
West Hartford, Connecticut
Private
Great Northeast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Private
Landmark Conference
NCAA D3
Houston, Texas
Private
Red River Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Clarksville, Arkansas
Private
American Southwest Conference
NCAA D3
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Public
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Public
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Public
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Public
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Whitewater, Wisconsin
Public
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Private
Centennial Conference
NCAA D3
Utica, New York
Private
Empire 8 Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Poughkeepsie, New York
Private
Liberty League
NCAA D3
Norfolk, Virginia
Private
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Swannanoa, North Carolina
Private
NCAA Division III & USCAA
NCAA D3
Washington, Pennsylvania
Private
Presidents' Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Lexington, Virginia
Private
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Chestertown, Maryland
Private
Centennial Conference
NCAA D3
Saint Louis, Missouri
Private
University Athletic Association
NCAA D3
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Private
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Aurora, New York
Private
North Eastern Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Middletown, Connecticut
Private
New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Danbury, Connecticut
Public
Freedom Football Conference
NCAA D3
Springfield, Massachusetts
Private
Commonwealth Coast Football
NCAA D3
Westfield, Massachusetts
Public
Commonwealth Coast Football
NCAA D3
New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
Private
Presidents' Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Wheaton, Illinois
Private
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
NCAA D3
Norton, Massachusetts
Private
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Walla Walla, Washington
Private
Northwest Conference
NCAA D3
Whittier, California
Private
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Spokane, Washington
Private
Northwest Conference
NCAA D3
Chester, Pennsylvania
Private
Middle Atlantic Conferences
NCAA D3
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Private
Middle Atlantic Conferences
NCAA D3
Salem, Oregon
Private
Northwest Conference
NCAA D3
Wayne, New Jersey
Public
New Jersey Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Raleigh, North Carolina
Private
USA South Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Private
New England Small College Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Wilmington, Ohio
Private
Ohio Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Springfield, Ohio
Private
North Coast Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
Worcester, Massachusetts
Private
New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
NCAA D3
York, Pennsylvania
Private
Capital Athletic Conference
NCAA D3