NCAA Division 1 field hockey colleges include some of best field hockey players in the world. It isn’t uncommon to see an Olympian on an opposing roster or on your own team. These are the best of the best with the speed and strength of elite athletes. Below are a variety of elements to consider when deciding whether to play at one of the D1 field hockey colleges or what college to sign with in this division:
NCAA Division 1 field hockey colleges are for those who consider themselves the best player in the state or their region and want to compete at the highest level. Other divisions can offer a challenge, but there is no higher level of college competition than D1 field hockey.
Going to a larger university often means that there will be a larger budget for the athletic department. Alumni donations and revenue of athletic departments mean top of the line facilities, trainers, dining halls and dorms/apartments for athletes.
Large D1 schools often have freshman classes that could have hundreds of students. For student-athletes that need a more personal learning experience, it may be a challenge to stay engaged in huge lecture halls.
The support staff for academics is unmatched in other divisions, as these athletic departments can provide tutors as well as academic counselors for every athlete.
Going to a top university could land you a spot on a national team.
How many Division 1 field hockey teams are there?
There are 79 Division 1 field hockey teams that have a high concentration in the northeast of the US, as well as California. With 12 scholarships being the maximum per D1 team there are not many athletes on a full scholarship. A few players receiving a full scholarship can impact the team’s performance negatively due to lacking support at other positions. With around 3 scholarships given out per class, it is important to get into contact with coaches early before roster space and scholarship money runs out at the school of your dreams.
D1 field hockey rankings
Division 1 field hockey rankings can be divided into performance-based and overall student experience. NCSA has compiled data and published power rankings that take more than just the season’s final record into account.
Stanford University
Princeton University
Harvard University
Yale University
University of Pennsylvania – Penn
Columbia University
University of California – Berkeley
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Duke University
Competing at one of the top Division 1 field hockey colleges is a huge responsibility with a demanding training schedule. The above rankings from NCSA consider other variables that make a specific program great. These include graduation rate, number of favorites on our database expressing interest and average cost after financial aid. There are also the NCAA division 1 rankings based solely on performance over the course of the field hockey season.
