The Ultimate Showdown: The Best Soccer Colleges In the USA - Part 1: NCAA D1 !
University of Maryland Women’s (NCAA D1) ready for a big game ahead! Photo by Jeffrey F Lin.
Best Soccer Colleges In the USA: Part 1 - NCAA D1 Are you a talented soccer player dreaming of making it big on the field? Then you may want to consider attending one of the best soccer colleges in the USA. These schools offer top-notch coaching, state-of-the-art facilities, and a rigorous athletic program that can help you reach your full potential as a player. But with so many options to choose from, which schools should you be looking at? In this series we'll take a closer look at the best men's and women's soccer colleges in the USA across the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA.
First things first: how do we define "best" (that can be a bit of a loaded term!)? We've taken a few factors into consideration when compiling this list. These include the teams' overall records, conference standings, tournament performances, and individual player accolades. Additionally, we've factored in things like the quality of facilities, coaching staff, and the academic reputation of the institution.
Note: This is by no means an exhaustive list, and rankings change yearly. The top men’s and women’s college soccer rankings (also known as the RPI) will always shift from one season to the next, and prospective student athletes should look more broadly at schools outside of this list to uncover the right fit college soccer program for their own unique attributes athletically and academically.
NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Colleges
The NCAA Division I is the most competitive college soccer league in the country, with some of the best teams and players in the world. Here are the top 5 men's soccer colleges in the NCAA Division I according to the 2022 season:
Wake Forest University: Wake Forest is consistently one of the best soccer programs in the country. They won the NCAA championship in 2007 and have made the Final Four 8 times in the last 20 years.
University of North Carolina: The Tar Heels have a storied history in college soccer, with 20 NCAA championships to their name. They consistently recruit some of the best high school players in the country and have produced several MLS players in recent years.
Indiana University: The Hoosiers have won 8 NCAA championships and are always a top contender in the Big Ten Conference. Their stadium, Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium, is considered one of the best soccer facilities in the country.
University of Maryland: The Terrapins have won 4 NCAA championships and consistently produce top-level talent. Their coach, Sasho Cirovski, has been with the program for over 20 years and is one of the most respected coaches in college soccer.
University of Virginia: The Cavaliers have won 7 NCAA championships and consistently produce some of the best players in the country. They play in the ACC, which is widely considered the toughest soccer conference in the NCAA.
NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Colleges
The NCAA Division I also has a competitive women's soccer league, with some of the best female players in the world. Here are the top 5 women's soccer colleges in the NCAA Division I according to the 2022 season:
Florida State University: The Seminoles won the NCAA championship in 2014 and have made the Final Four 14 times in the last 20 years. They consistently recruit some of the best high school players in the country and have produced several NWSL players in recent years.
University of North Carolina: The Tar Heels are not only one of the best men's soccer programs in the country, but they also have a storied history in women's soccer, with 21 NCAA championships to their name. They consistently produce top-level talent and have several players currently on the USWNT.
Stanford University: The Cardinal won the NCAA championship in 2019 and have made the Final Four 11 times in the last 20 years. They consistently recruit some of the best high school players in the country and have produced several NWSL players in recent years.
University of Virginia: The Cavaliers have won 1 NCAA championship and consistently produce top-level talent. They play in the ACC, which is widely considered the toughest soccer conference in the NCAA.
University of Southern California: The Trojans won the NCAA championship in 2016 and have made the Final Four 6 times in the last 20 years. They consistently recruit some of the best high school players in the country and have produced several NWSL players in recent years.
What sets these programs apart from the rest? It's simple: their consistent success on the field. These programs have a history of producing some of the best players in US soccer history, and their dominance in the NCAA is a testament to their dedication to the sport.
If you are a college soccer prospect looking to become part of one of these top soccer colleges, there are a few things you need to do. First and foremost, you need to be an exceptional soccer player. These programs are looking for the best of the best, so you need to be at the top of your game. In addition to your on-field skills, you also need to have excellent academics. These programs are looking for well-rounded individuals who are not only great athletes but also great students.
In the next part of this series, we’ll look into some of the best NCAA D2 men’s and women’s college soccer programs. If you’re looking at uncovering college soccer scholarship opportunities across the USA college athletics system, find out how Upper 90 College can assist you on your journey via our range of services here.
