Do you want to play softball with your preferred team in any of the colleges around you? It’s cool, but there are a few things to put into consideration while looking forward to enrolling in any of the colleges.
However, we have a list of States that offer Softball programs and their divisions. if you want junior college teams, there are State that concentrates on that.
And these States include Texas and Illinois, their major focus is on deals with junior college teams.
In this article, we have researched the best colleges for softball. Below is the list of 20 Colleges With Softball teams that provide softball by the governing bodies in each state.
The list can be sorted to show which states have the most Junior College or Division 1 teams.
Let’s get started already.
Table Of Contents
- National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
- National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA)
- Top 20 Colleges With Softball Teams
- #1. STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- #2. University Of Florida
- #3. University Of California – Los Angeles – UCLA
- #4. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
- #5. Harvard University
- #6. University Of Michigan
- #7. University Of California – Berkeley
- #8. Princeton University
- #9. University Of Georgia
- #10. Florida State University
- #11. University Of Washington
- #12. Yale University
- #13. University Of Texas – Austin
- #14. Ohio State University
- #15. Purdue University
- #16. University Of Illinois
- #17. University Of Wisconsin
- #18. University Of Virginia
- #19. Duke University
- #20. Columbia University
- FAQs
- Conclusion
- References
- Our Recommended Posts
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
The NCAA is a group that most institutions are a part of. There are three divisions in the NCAA. Divisions 1 and 2 may provide financial aid. Schools in Division 3 do not provide scholarships.
After COVID, the NCAA started the process of updating its eligibility policies for Divisions 1 and 2. For the most recent requirements, be sure to visit their website.
Division 1
Up to 12 softball equivalent scholarships may be made available by colleges in this division. Pay great attention to the qualifications needed.
The NCAA eligibility center requires prospective athletes to register. According to the NCAA, for the upcoming academic year:
Academic eligibility for student-athletes who enroll in a Division I school in 2024–23 will be met by achieving a 2.3 grade-point average in 16 NCAA-approved core courses.
With 10 core courses (seven in English, math, and science) finished by the beginning of their seventh high school semester (before senior year).
Division 2
Colleges in this tier may provide softball scholarships worth up to 7.2 equivalency points. There are fewer amateur status restrictions and the academic eligibility criteria are simpler than D1.
The NCAA updates its eligibility requirements for Division 2 in the same way that it did for Division 1.
Student-athletes who enroll in a Division II school in the 2024–22 or 2024–23 academic years will be academically eligible if they attain a 2.2 grade-point average in the 16 NCAA-approved core courses for the upcoming academic year.
The NCAA can provide you with the most recent rule updates.
Only Division 2 permits collegiate softball teams to host tryouts for potential enrollees. The eligibility rules listed in the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete should be carefully read. Division 2 college applicants must register with the NCAA eligibility center.
Division 3
This division of colleges does not provide any athletic scholarships. Individual conferences have their eligibility and recruiting rules. There is no requirement for prospective athletes to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
The talent spectrum is covered by the largest of the three divisions. The bulk of academically challenging institutions is predicated in this division (the Ivy League and Stanford are exceptions), where your chances of being accepted may be aided by being recruited by the softball coach.
National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA)
The NCCAA is organized into two sections and consists largely of bible colleges and minor Christian colleges. Up to 12 softball scholarships may be given out by Division 1 universities.
Colleges in Division 2 are not permitted to provide any athletic scholarships. If there have been any changes to the eligibility standards, check with the NCCAA.
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
Only divisions 1 and 2 of the NJCAA’s three divisions give up to 24 scholarships. Except for the uncommon school that offers certain four-year degrees, they are typically two-year programs.
According to the NJCAA website, you must have a high school diploma to be eligible.
It is advised that each prospective student-athlete discuss their athletic eligibility with the athletic staff at the NJCAA college they have decided to attend due to the unique academic and athletic circumstances of each individual and the complexity of the NJCAA eligibility requirements.
Top 20 Colleges With Softball Teams
#1. STANFORD UNIVERSITY
The Stanford Cardinal softball team represents Stanford University in NCAA Division I college softball.
The team participates in the Pac-12 Conference. The Cardinal are currently led by head coach Jessica Allister.
Team plays its home games at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium located on the university’s campus.
#2. University Of Florida
The University of Florida’s softball team, the Florida Gators, competes in the sport. Florida competes in the Southeastern Conference’s Division I and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The Florida Softball team has won two Women’s College World Series (WCWS) national championships, nine SEC regular season titles, five SEC tournament titles, and made eleven WCWS appearances in its 26-year history.
#3. University Of California – Los Angeles – UCLA
The NCAA Division I college softball team representing Universitthe y of California, Berkeley is known as the California Golden Bears.
Levine-Fricke Field, which is situated in Strawberry Canyon close to California Memorial Stadium, is where the club plays its home games.
Despite being a 1995 construction, the stadium does not meet NCAA requirements and cannot host NCAA tournament games.
One of the school’s most enduringly successful programs is California softball, which has a national championship in 2002 and a current 26-year NCAA tournament streak. Chelsea Spencer, the current head coach, was a player at California under Diane Ninemire.
#4. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
The North Carolina Tar Heels softball team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in NCAA Division I college softball. They participate in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
#5. Harvard University
In NCAA Division I collegiate softball, Harvard University is represented by the Harvard Crimson team. Ivy League competition is attended by the team.
Head coach Jenny Allard is now in charge of the Crimson. On the university’s campus, at Soldiers Field, the squad plays their home games.
#6. University Of Michigan
Division I games of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the University of Michigan is represented by the Michigan Wolverines softball team.
College softball was brought into to scheduled list of varsity sports in 1978. This happened at the University of Michigan.
#7. University Of California – Berkeley
The school has an organization called Fastpitch Softball at Berkeley that was founded to enable students who already play softball to keep doing so, which can help the gain experience so that experts can pick them up in the future.
When searching for an experienced softball game player.
The school’s primary objectives in the next few years compared to establish consistent practice and game schedules, to attract new players.
That will participate in the National Club Softball Association, and build club softball as a recognized sport.
#8. Princeton University
The Ivy League conference is home to Princeton University, which is situated in Princeton, New Jersey.
Softball, Princeton University does provide athletic scholarships.
Academic scholarships are available for all. For the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA, and NJCAA, athletic scholarships are offered. 34% of all student-athletes receive athletic scholarships, on average.
#9. University Of Georgia
In NCAA Division I college softball, the University of Georgia is represented by the Georgia Bulldogs softball team. In the Southeastern Conference, the squad competes.
Tony Baldwin is the Bulldogs’ head coach at the moment. On the university’s campus, at Jack Turner Stadium, the squad plays its home games.
#10. Florida State University
The Florida State Seminoles women’s softball team competes on behalf of Florida State University. The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I and the Atlantic Coast Conference are where Florida State competes.
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#11. University Of Washington
The University of Washington is represented by the Washington Huskies softball team. which is in NCAA Division I college softball,
They compete in the Pac-12 Conference and host their home games at Seattle’s Husky Softball Stadium.
#12. Yale University
The NCSA student athlete portal provides details on the Yale University Softball program and need- and merit-based financial options.
Out-of-State Tuition: $55,500
Athletic Director: Thomas Beckett Division: NCAA I
Type of College: Private, Urban
#13. University Of Texas – Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is represented by the Texas Longhorns softball team. They currently play their ball games in the Big 12 Conference stadium.
#14. Ohio State University
In NCAA Division I collegiate softball, Ohio State University is represented by the Ohio State Buckeyes softball team. At the Ohio State University, the students are allowed to compete in the Big Ten Conference.
Kelly Kovach Schoenly is the head coach of the Buckeyes at the moment. On the university’s campus, at Buckeye Field, where the squad players play.
#15. Purdue University
This is an NCA Division I college softball program, Purdue University is represented by the Purdue Boilermakers team.
The team also took part in competing In the Big Ten Conference, Boo De Oliveira was now made the current coach of the Boilermakers. On the university’s campus, at Bittinger Stadium, where the squad plays its home games.
#16. University Of Illinois
College softball, at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, is represented by the Illinois Fighting Illini team. It is an NCAA Division I a softball program
The university Of Illinois is also one of the schools that competes in the Big Ten Conference. Tyra Perry is the current head coach of the Fighting Illini.
#17. University Of Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is represented by the Wisconsin Badgers softball team.
The team competes in the Big Ten Conference’s Leaders Division. Yvette Healy is the current head coach of the Badgers.
The school is In NCAA Division I college softball.
#18. University Of Virginia
The University of Virginia does provide softball athletes with sports scholarships. All student-athletes have scholarships available as one of their benefits.
For the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA, and NJCAA, athletic scholarships are offered. 34% of all student-athletes live on athletic scholarships, on average.
#19. Duke University
In 2017, the Duke Blue Devils Softball team became a Division I varsity member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Duke University had Marissa Young, as their former Big Ten Player of the Year.
Young worked as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina for two years. Making the team well-recognized.
#20. Columbia University
The Ivy League conference is where Columbia University’s softball team competes. Columbia University is located in New York.
For softball, Columbia University does provide athletic scholarships. Students have the opportunity for scholarships available to everyone.
In Columbia University’s softball game 34% of all student-athletes receive athletic scholarships, on average.
FAQs
Across five different division levels—NCAA Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, NAIA, and NJCAA—there are more than 1,500 collegiate softball teams.
The Chapel Hill’s University of North Carolina.
California State University, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Harvard College.
Stanford College.
Florida College
Michigan College
California University.
Washington College.
California, and Southern California in particular, has long served as the nation’s center for fastpitch softball.
The state hosts more than 130 collegiate programs in total and has the most NCAA Division I programs of any state.
Only about 8% of high school softball players will play Division 1 ball at the collegiate level.
And to top it off, not every softball player will be awarded a scholarship for athletics. In other words, it’s difficult to get recruited for softball and secure softball scholarship.
Conclusion
The benefits of joining the softball teams are numerous, as we have already mentioned in this article. You should register with any of the Colleges With Softball Teams if you’re seeing this game as a future career.
As this is part of your education and career pursuit, you have the choice to make from the list of colleges with softball teams mentioned above.
We sincerely hope you have fun as you enroll in any of the colleges. Do leave us with a comment if you find this article helpful.
References
Our Recommended Posts
