Main image courtesy of Swimmer's Daily.
All of us know how hectic the college search can get. Between finishing up school, completing applications, and arranging to finance your education, there’s probably a lot on your plate-- and this can get more difficult for athletes who want to get involved in a competitive program in college.
But this all gets a little bit easier when you know what schools to look out for-- which ones have programs that can suit your needs. If you want to swim competitively in college, read on-- we’ve put together a list of some of the best and most promising colleges for swimming programs.
What Should I Look for in a College Swimming Program?
There are several factors that are important to keep in mind while you’re looking for the right swimming program. Obviously, since you’ll be spending a lot of time with your team during practices, you’ll want to make sure that the swimming program at your college of choice has a good coach, supportive team culture, and good swimming facilities.
The level at which you want to compete is also important to take into account. There are great schools at the Division I, II, and III levels, and choosing what schools to apply to often ends up being a matter of understanding what kind of swimmer you are and how ambitious you are.
Swimming isn’t all that counts, though. It’s important to make sure that the schools you apply to offer the type of academic scene that you’re looking for-- including the majors and minors you’re interested in and a strong teaching faculty. Lots of the schools on this list also boast great reputations in academics-- if you’re looking to swim competitively after college, it’s really helpful to have competed at a college with a good academic reputation, too.
Those are some of the things that you should probably keep in mind if you’re planning on swimming in college. But what schools meet these standards reliably? Here are some of the best colleges for swimmers to attend!
The Best Colleges for Swimming
Stanford University
The first entry on our list, Stanford University has an excellent swimming program for both men and women. Stanford has won the most NCAA championships out of any Division I swimming team, with the men winning 8 and the women winning 11. Not to mention, the Cardinals have won over 500 NCAA individual titles-- it’s truly an amazing program.
Besides its swimming teams’ great results, Stanford University boasts excellent swimming facilities-- including an Olympic-sized pool, diving well, and warm-up pool. The coaches, Greg Meehan for the women and Ted Knapp for the men, have great records, too. If you can keep up to the high standards that Stanford keeps, it’s an excellent school to attend as a swimmer.
University of Florida
The Florida Gators have a solid swimming program, too, for hopeful prospective students who want to swim in college. The men’s and women’s teams are NCAA Division I, and they compete in the Southeastern Conference. Both teams have won 2 NCAA championship titles and multiple other conference titles-- a strong testament to their consistent quality. If you want to be part of a strong, consistent team, the University of Florida should stay on your list of colleges to apply to.
Princeton University
If you’re an ambitious student and swimmer, keep Princeton University on your radar for college! Princeton’s academic reputation precedes it everywhere, so you’ll definitely be attending an excellent school if you’re accepted and enrolled. But the school’s swim teams, the Princeton Tigers, perform just as well. Both the men's and women's teams are currently ranked third in the US, based on the NCSA’s power rankings-- so this is a great opportunity whether you’re a guy or a girl.
Harvard University
In addition to its rigorous academic reputation, Harvard University has a very strong swimming program, too. The Harvard Crimsons have great swimming facilities, including a 50-meter pool with a diving well, and they’ve won plenty of NCAA titles and conference championships. At the moment, both the men’s and women’s teams are ranked fourth in the United States by the NCSA-- a testament to the hard work of these swimmers and their supportive faculty and coaches.
One thing to beware of is that Harvard athletes don’t get scholarships for their sport-- so if you’re planning on having scholarships associated with a swimming program, you won’t find that at Harvard. But the school does aim to meet everyone’s financial aid needs.
University of California-- Berkeley
The Golden Bears are another excellent NCAA Division I college swimming team with a great record. The team plays in the Pacific-12 Conference. Both the men’s and women’s swim teams are one of the top ten in the United States, and both have won numerous championships-- 11 for the men and 8 for the women. Besides that, both have made plenty of NCAA tournament appearances, which is proof of the fact that they consistently compete at a high level. If you want to be part of a high-achieving swimming team with a supportive and constructive atmosphere and team culture, The University of California at Berkeley may be a good place to keep in mind.
University of Texas-- Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is another excellent entry on this list, with a strong swimming and diving team for both men and women. The Texas Longhorns are an NCAA Division I team that competes in the Big 12 Conference, and they have a great track record. The men’s team has won 15 NCAA championships and 41 consecutive conference championships since 1981-- an impressive streak by any account. The women’s team has won seven NCAA championships, attesting to their skill, too.
The University of Texas at Austin has produced several Olympic swimmers, including several gold medalists-- so the outcomes for UTexas swimmers are great, too. If this sounds like a school and a swimming team you want to get involved with, look into their youth development program. The Longhorn Aquatics Program aims to develop students’ swimming and diving skills before college, and several participants go on to attend UTexas as swimmers.
University of Michigan
As with all of the University of Michigan’s varsity sports, the swimming and diving teams are hugely popular. There's a good reason, too-- this NCAA Division I team has won more national championships than any other athletic team at the school. With 19 NCAA championships and 42 championships in its Big Ten Conference, the Michigan Wolverines have an outstanding record. Plus, due to the popularity of sports at Michigan, you’ll find yourself with plenty of support as a swimmer here, should you choose to attend. This is an all-around excellent school to keep on your college list if you’re interested in swimming competitively in a supportive team environment.
Auburn University
The Auburn Tigers, the Division I swimming team at Auburn University, has really grown since 1990, when David Marsh became head coach. Combined, the men’s and women’s teams have won 13 NCAA championships and 23 titles in the Southeastern Conference. This gives the swimming team the third highest number of NCAA championships in the United States-- an impressive ranking, to be sure. If you’re committed to swimming in college, check out Auburn University-- with its strong showing in the past several decades, it’s sure to be a rewarding program to get involved with.
Those Were the Best Colleges for Swimming!
If you’re in the midst of your college search, you know how difficult it can be to juggle all of your obligations. Figuring out how to put together a strong college application feels like a shot in the dark, and so does trying to learn about how to finance your education. Thinking about all of that as well as your day-to-day obligations can be stressful.
But it’s always helpful to have an idea of what you want out of your college experience, whether that’s a specific major, coursework, extracurricular, or sport. The colleges on this list are all excellent places to consider if you’re committed to swimming at the collegiate level-- all of them have solid records, good facilities, and good coaching. So make sure to check them out!
