Best Swimming Colleges

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College swimming provides one of the best environments for training at an elite level. Universities have the facilities and coaching staff to foster the best talent worldwide. The top swimming colleges regularly produce Olympians while staying at the top of lists of top recruits internationally. The right program can turn a top recruit into a household name in swimming.

How We Chose the Best Swimming Colleges?

Picking the best swimming colleges is about looking into national competitions along with conference championships. Coaching staff can attract top talent along with coaches that are decided to head the Olympic teams are often those that have top performers at the NCAA level. The facilities have solid funding for teams at the top level and technology to help assist swimmers with technique. Academic reputation helps attract student-athletes with sports teams having support academically. Alumni success at the world level can be the greatest recruiting tool, as many professional swimmers train with their college coaches after graduation.

Best Men’s Swimming Colleges

#5 University of Florida

University of Florida has a vast number of Olympians, with the head coach Anthony Nesty being an Olympic gold medalist while representing Suriname at the 1992 games. Ryan Lochte also attended UF, while Katie Ledecky trains in Gainesville with Bobby Finke. Both swimmers won the 1500 and 800-meter freestyles at the 2020 Olympic games. Florida has a top public school rating among universities. Swimming at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville is second to none, with multiple pools, one outdoors and the other indoors. UF frequently places in the top 5 at the NCAA championships and was 3rd at the 2024 national competition.

#4 University of Southern California

University of Southern California is headed by Lea Maurer who won national titles at Stanford along with an individual Olympic gold medal. Maurer heads the men’s team, women coaching men at the Division 1 level is becoming far more prevalent. Swimming outdoors in warm weather is a dream and reality when it comes to going to USC. Lenny Krayzelburg is a famous alumnus who dominated backstroke events and won Olympic gold. Ous Mellouli won in the pool and in the open water events at the Olympics, showing that USC produces great distance swimmers and sprinters. USC has won numerous NCAA growns but has not won in the last few decades.

#3 University of Michigan

The University of Michigan has 12 NCAA crowns and 7 unofficial titles. Jon Urbancek is known as the distance swimming guru, while Mike Bottom brought Michigan into the sprinting limelight. 

Matt Bowe took over in 2023 with quite a bit of pressure to perform. Tyler Clary is the most famous recent alumni after winning the 200-meter backstroke over Ryan Lochte at the Olympic Games. Michigan is one of the best public universities in the world,, meaning that career opportunities are abundant for alumni.

#2 University of California

The University of California-Berkeley has dominated the last few decades. With Dave Durden at the helm, the college has won multiple NCAA championships. Ryan Murphy is the most prolific champion in the last 20 years in terms of backstroke events. Murphy held the 100 and 200-meter backstroke world records and aims for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The Cal Bears have won 8 NCAA championships, with many on the horizon. Cal Berkeley has a great academic reputation, and it is possible to get a fantastic job in the San Francisco Bay area.

#1 University of Texas

The University of Texas has had an Olympic gold medalist at countless games. Aaron Piersol went nearly a decade without losing 100-meter backstroke at any level. Eddie Reese is the head coach and has been an Olympic head coach for 5 different decades. Bob Bowman is taking over. If the name sounds familiar, Bowman was Michael Phelps’ coach. The Longhorns have 15 NCAA championships, the most among all colleges. The facilities are quite impressive, but the coaching staff and the training environment are why top recruits pick Texas annually.

Best Women’s Swimming Colleges

#5 University of California

UC-Berkeley has had some of the most prolific NCAA swimmers ever with the best of which being Natalie Coughlin. Cal has had success recently, winning multiple NCAA titles under former coach Teri McKeever. Dave Durden is the head coach for the women’s team, and the university is looking for a replacement or has decided to keep Durden as the head of both the men’s and women’s programs. The most successful Olympics an alumni has had is that of Missy Franklin winning 5 gold medals at the 2012 Olympics in London. The interesting aspect is that this occurred years before Franklink even stepped on Cal’s campus as a student.

#4 University of Texas

The University of Texas had quite a title run under former head coach Richard Quick. The last few decades have seen several individual national champions but not NCAA titles. Carol Capitani is the head coach, although Bob Bowman, who was recently hired, could bring in quite a few top women recruits. Alumni success is not as formidable as the men’s side, which has legends in nearly every single Olympic event. UT has quite an endowment, with the football team bringing in so much money annually that the facilities are top-notch.

#3 University of Virginia

The University of Virginia has risen to prominence after years of being outside of the top 5 at the NCAA championships. Head coach Todd DeSorbo has taken the program to the next level with top recruits like Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh. Both swimmers were named NCAA Swimmer of the Year during the 4-year title run. DeSorbo has a unique training mindset, with swimmers swimming fast throughout the year and has been known to ask a lot of his swimmers. UVA is a top academic institution, and Charlottesville is an incredible college town.

#2 University of Georgia

The University of Georgia has had sustained success under former coach Jack Bauerle. The “House That Jack Built” has included numerous gold medalists and world record holders. Stefanie Moreno has a lot to live up to after taking over the program in 2023. Melanie Margalis is a perfect example, she is an Olympic medalist and is now the head coach of the budding Southern Methodist University women’s swim team. Athens is an amazing place to go to college and the facilities really make it worth it to dedicate time to being a student-athlete. Couple this with a storied 7 NCAA championships, the Bulldogs are quite a draw to top recruits.

#1 Stanford University 

Stanford University in Palo Alto, California sports two Olympic-sized swimming pools. The men’s and women’s programs are separate although both have had their share of success. Greg Meehan is now the head coach of this prestigious program that has alumni of the likes of Katie Ledecky and Simone Manuel who both won Olympic gold at the same games. The resources Stanford has are nearly unmatched due to a giant endowment created by alumni donations.

Emerging Programs to Watch

The University of Virginia is on the move after winning the last 4 NCAA championships. With their top recruits, this trend looks to continue for quite some time. International recruits are making a larger impact than ever before although a majority of recruits still come from inside the US. The future of women’s swimming is bright, with so much talent worldwide. 

Key Considerations for Selecting a College for Swimmers

Selecting a college depends on what goals an individual has from a swimming and career perspective. Doing research is immensely important as a coach could leave for another opportunity, so selecting the right college is immensely important. Asking q uestions about academic support along with taking all allowed recruiting visits cannot be undervalued. Talking with the current team is also very important, but remember, as a top recruit, the team might tell you varying stories to earn your commitment.

Best Swimming Colleges FAQs

How many Division 1 swim programs are there?

There are 200 D1 women’s swimming programs. 

How many D3 swim programs are there?

There are 242 women’s swimming programs at the D3 level. 

Who is the best college swimmer?

On the women’s side, Gretchen Walsh is the top college swimmer who competes for the University of Virginia. Leon Marchand for Arizona State holds the title of best men’s college swimmer. 

Are there scholarships available for swimming athletes at top colleges?

Men’s teams are given 9.9 scholarships per team, while women’s teams have 14 scholarships available. 

What are the benefits of joining a collegiate swimming program?

Team gear along with access to academic help that might not be available to those that are not student athletes. 

How competitive is it to make the roster of a top swimming college?

Swimming at a top college is very competitive, but there are spots for those who are not on scholarship. Swimming is very direct, as times cannot be faked and can easily be accessed by coaches. 

Can I still pursue a professional swimming career after college?

Yes, swimming professionally is common among college swimmers as it is easier to focus on training without academic obligations.