Program Rankings

Programs, updated now for 2023, are ranked on their overall team strength, attrition rate, and swimmer improvement. A small attrition rate, a high strength rating, and a high positive swimmer improvement percentage are good. A program's ranking in all three is combined - adding together the z-scores in each category - to find their overall rank.

Attrition is the percentage of non-seniors who do not return to swim the following year to that same program across the 2012-2020 timeframe.
Improvement is the average percentage change in times in a swimmer's top three events from one year to the next.
Strength is the team's average invite-level strength from 2013-2020.

Conference:

Rank	Team	Combined Score	Strength Rank	Team Strength	Attrition Rank	Attrition Rate	Improvement Rank	Improvement %
1	Ohio State University	3.55	4	669.526	67	-0.017	37	0.056
2	Northwestern University	3.19	16	568.0	31	-0.011	51	0.043
3	Virginia, University of	3.09	1	764.263	77	-0.019	138	-0.047
4	Duke University	3.05	23	525.0	4	-0.004	89	0.001
5	North Carolina State University	2.97	3	695.842	86	-0.021	88	0.001
6	University of Wyoming (W)	2.9	74	338.368	140	-0.028	1	0.319
7	Kentucky, University of	2.89	12	616.579	114	-0.024	25	0.079
8	Wisconsin, University of, Madison	2.87	21	544.368	10	-0.008	97	-0.006
9	California, University of, Berkeley	2.77	6	653.105	38	-0.012	143	-0.06
10	Stanford University	2.75	2	699.0	66	-0.017	141	-0.058
11	Princeton University	2.75	24	524.0	47	-0.014	42	0.05
12	Columbia University	2.74	54	391.895	37	-0.012	11	0.13
13	North Carolina, University of, Chapel Hill	2.7	15	583.421	135	-0.027	15	0.108
14	Buffalo, State University of New York	2.6	37	438.0	11	-0.008	46	0.045
15	University of Minnesota	2.56	28	512.0	53	-0.015	49	0.045
16	Towson University	2.55	77	333.316	15	-0.008	13	0.121
17	Bucknell University	2.53	93	304.684	26	-0.011	6	0.158
18	Texas A&M University	2.52	17	568.0	16	-0.009	139	-0.055
19	Florida, University of	2.51	7	651.263	141	-0.029	45	0.047
20	University of Denver	2.5	52	397.0	23	-0.01	24	0.08
21	Villanova University	2.5	75	335.211	57	-0.016	3	0.174
22	University of Nevada, Las Vegas (W)	2.48	61	373.0	13	-0.008	23	0.08
23	Missouri, University of	2.39	18	555.211	74	-0.019	67	0.023
24	University of California, Los Angeles	2.27	20	549.053	93	-0.022	53	0.042
25	Akron, University of	2.24	34	463.0	3	-0.004	135	-0.045
26	William and Mary, College of	2.18	71	348.053	29	-0.011	18	0.091
27	UC Santa Barbara	2.17	42	422.0	1	-0.003	124	-0.03
28	University of North Carolina Wilmington	2.12	47	407.0	43	-0.014	34	0.061
29	Michigan, University of	2.1	11	618.053	124	-0.025	91	-0.0
30	University of Alabama	2.05	13	611.842	101	-0.023	115	-0.022
31	Georgia Institute of Technology	2.03	49	405.0	19	-0.009	78	0.014
32	University of Richmond	1.82	63	357.0	2	-0.004	107	-0.015
33	Brown University	1.82	45	412.842	34	-0.012	84	0.007
34	Fordham University	1.82	85	324.0	5	-0.004	80	0.011
35	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (W)	1.75	105	285.316	56	-0.015	12	0.125
36	San Diego State University	1.72	33	465.0	79	-0.019	70	0.022
37	Rice University	1.67	36	439.263	7	-0.007	148	-0.072
38	Iowa State University	1.64	73	341.053	27	-0.011	58	0.033
39	Drexel University	1.57	97	297.0	18	-0.009	52	0.043
40	Louisville, University of	1.57	8	650.526	126	-0.026	153	-0.081
41	West Virginia University	1.43	65	353.158	36	-0.012	82	0.01
42	Texas Christian University	1.43	83	326.0	12	-0.008	95	-0.004
43	Indiana State University	1.37	101	290.105	24	-0.01	55	0.035
44	Notre Dame, University of	1.33	26	515.526	33	-0.011	174	-0.127
45	Dartmouth College	1.33	82	326.0	59	-0.016	41	0.051
46	University of Nevada, Reno	1.31	62	364.0	22	-0.01	125	-0.031
47	Rutgers University	1.28	68	351.0	32	-0.011	101	-0.011
48	Arizona, University of	1.26	31	480.789	108	-0.024	98	-0.007
49	U.S. Naval Academy	1.25	39	431.053	65	-0.017	122	-0.028
50	St. Bonaventure University	1.25	134	227.263	54	-0.015	14	0.11
51	Oakland University	1.2	64	354.842	95	-0.023	29	0.07
52	Vanderbilt University	1.15	99	293.737	28	-0.011	79	0.012
53	Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania)	1.09	164	171.842	110	-0.024	2	0.204
54	Arizona State University	1.07	22	532.684	162	-0.036	56	0.035
55	Lehigh University	1.07	102	287.947	82	-0.02	20	0.085
56	Georgetown University	1.06	115	263.789	42	-0.013	50	0.044
57	Indiana University	1.02	14	605.474	165	-0.037	105	-0.013
58	Connecticut, University of	0.98	103	287.0	21	-0.01	102	-0.011
59	Colorado State University	0.98	76	334.0	58	-0.016	86	0.006
60	University of Pennsylvania	0.97	56	381.421	76	-0.019	93	-0.002
61	Pittsburgh, University of	0.96	48	406.0	90	-0.022	94	-0.002
62	Campbell University	0.95	126	243.211	49	-0.014	36	0.057
63	Loyola University Maryland	0.93	142	208.684	51	-0.015	21	0.083
64	UC San Diego	0.93	69	351.0	80	-0.02	74	0.02
65	University of Nebraska at Omaha	0.91	137	215.737	130	-0.026	4	0.172
66	Purdue University	0.91	40	422.684	89	-0.021	119	-0.023
67	Howard University	0.89	178	139.789	71	-0.018	5	0.16
68	New Hampshire, University of	0.88	117	259.0	70	-0.018	31	0.067
69	James Madison University	0.85	60	373.0	8	-0.007	172	-0.113
70	Michigan State University	0.84	131	233.0	39	-0.012	54	0.037
71	University of South Dakota	0.83	118	258.684	99	-0.023	17	0.103
72	South Carolina, University of, Columbia	0.79	25	516.316	174	-0.04	39	0.052
73	Pennsylvania State University	0.71	35	449.947	159	-0.035	48	0.045
74	Boise State University	0.65	112	268.0	17	-0.009	132	-0.039
75	U.S. Military Academy	0.64	96	298.0	9	-0.007	151	-0.078
76	Cornell University	0.6	89	312.842	122	-0.025	38	0.054
77	Washington State University	0.54	46	409.526	149	-0.032	61	0.029
78	Holy Cross, College of the	0.53	165	168.158	44	-0.014	35	0.06
79	Miami University (Ohio)	0.51	58	378.158	100	-0.023	117	-0.022
80	Auburn University	0.5	84	325.895	120	-0.025	59	0.032
81	VA Tech	0.49	30	487.421	171	-0.04	57	0.034
82	Northern Arizona University	0.45	87	323.421	50	-0.015	140	-0.057
83	Northeastern University	0.44	95	298.053	45	-0.014	136	-0.045
84	Liberty University	0.43	50	404.632	150	-0.032	69	0.022
85	Kansas, University of	0.38	67	351.0	46	-0.014	157	-0.088
86	Delaware, University of	0.28	107	274.737	168	-0.038	7	0.153
87	South Dakota State University	0.26	138	215.053	96	-0.023	30	0.068
88	Seton Hall University	0.23	132	230.526	35	-0.012	129	-0.036
89	Florida State University	0.18	29	492.526	131	-0.027	173	-0.114
90	Saint Louis University	0.17	150	197.895	102	-0.023	28	0.074
91	Gardner-Webb University	0.15	151	190.368	105	-0.023	22	0.081
92	Eastern Michigan University	0.13	94	303.421	133	-0.027	66	0.024
93	Southern Methodist University	0.03	44	414.789	153	-0.033	118	-0.023
94	Utah, University of	0.03	51	402.105	154	-0.033	103	-0.012
95	George Washington University	0.01	55	389.474	121	-0.025	147	-0.069
96	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	0.01	43	417.947	177	-0.042	44	0.048
97	Pepperdine University	-0.0	159	177.0	40	-0.012	111	-0.017
98	University of Illinois	-0.04	133	229.107	92	-0.022	75	0.018
99	Florida Gulf Coast University	-0.04	88	317.316	107	-0.024	128	-0.034
100	University of North Carolina Asheville	-0.1	114	265.368	14	-0.008	175	-0.128
101	La Salle University	-0.16	154	183.0	69	-0.018	85	0.006
102	Rhode Island, University of	-0.17	163	175.684	115	-0.024	33	0.063
103	Harvard University	-0.19	32	465.211	41	-0.013	187	-0.247
104	Grand Canyon Univ	-0.19	120	258.0	62	-0.016	146	-0.065
105	Marist College	-0.24	160	176.0	60	-0.016	106	-0.015
106	Fairfield University	-0.27	153	186.474	52	-0.015	127	-0.033
107	University of Evansville (W)	-0.27	168	160.053	83	-0.02	60	0.032
108	American University	-0.31	156	182.316	64	-0.017	114	-0.019
109	California Baptist University	-0.31	108	272.947	106	-0.023	126	-0.032
110	U.S. Air Force Academy (W)	-0.31	122	254.0	111	-0.024	108	-0.015
111	California State University Bakersfield	-0.33	116	259.684	138	-0.028	81	0.011
112	Louisiana State University	-0.34	27	514.263	103	-0.023	186	-0.218
113	Houston, University of	-0.4	38	435.579	147	-0.031	165	-0.1
114	Old Dominion University (W)	-0.41	129	237.0	73	-0.018	142	-0.059
115	Ball State University	-0.43	106	283.263	81	-0.02	155	-0.082
116	University of California, Davis	-0.43	92	305.526	117	-0.024	145	-0.061
117	New Mexico, University of	-0.44	128	240.579	182	-0.044	10	0.147
118	Texas, University of	-0.47	9	639.737	75	-0.019	194	-0.361
119	University of Miami (Florida)	-0.48	59	375.789	134	-0.027	163	-0.097
120	Vermont, University of	-0.5	143	202.947	129	-0.026	68	0.023
121	Providence College	-0.52	174	151.0	20	-0.009	154	-0.081
122	University of San Diego	-0.53	140	210.789	94	-0.023	113	-0.017
123	Boston University	-0.55	119	258.211	139	-0.028	104	-0.013
124	Duquesne University	-0.55	91	306.368	112	-0.024	152	-0.08
125	Wisconsin, University of, Milwaukee	-0.57	149	198.789	88	-0.021	120	-0.026
126	Florida International University	-0.59	41	422.211	184	-0.047	72	0.022
127	Missouri State University (W)	-0.61	72	344.684	157	-0.035	121	-0.027
128	University of Maryland Baltimore County	-0.63	135	222.0	91	-0.022	134	-0.044
129	Illinois State University	-0.68	113	265.526	116	-0.024	144	-0.06
130	New Mexico State University	-0.7	90	308.0	166	-0.037	77	0.014
131	Colgate University	-0.78	172	153.263	127	-0.026	65	0.024
132	Siena College	-0.79	188	113.053	25	-0.01	149	-0.075
133	San Jose State University	-0.79	98	295.474	158	-0.035	100	-0.009
134	Wagner College	-0.8	148	199.579	97	-0.023	131	-0.038
135	Tulane University	-0.8	81	326.737	128	-0.026	168	-0.105
136	Illinois, University of, Chicago (M)	-0.81	145	202.0	136	-0.027	96	-0.004
137	Indiana University Purdue University Indy	-0.83	127	242.421	156	-0.034	73	0.02
138	Iowa, University of	-0.83	66	352.158	187	-0.052	19	0.088
139	University of Toledo	-0.9	109	271.0	176	-0.041	43	0.05
140	Youngstown State University	-0.95	169	159.316	113	-0.024	110	-0.016
141	Arkansas, University of, Little Rock	-0.98	161	175.895	63	-0.017	159	-0.092
142	Canisius College	-1.05	180	134.316	144	-0.03	47	0.045
143	Georgia, University of	-1.08	10	624.474	183	-0.044	184	-0.206
144	George Mason University	-1.09	100	293.421	84	-0.021	178	-0.158
145	Florida Atlantic University W	-1.09	111	268.526	118	-0.024	170	-0.108
146	Ohio University	-1.11	78	332.684	181	-0.043	92	-0.001
147	St. Francis College (New York)	-1.13	185	119.0	48	-0.014	156	-0.086
148	Maine, University of	-1.15	170	158.579	104	-0.023	133	-0.042
149	Northern Iowa, University of	-1.16	121	254.789	123	-0.025	166	-0.101
150	Niagara University	-1.18	175	146.737	146	-0.031	64	0.026
151	Stony Brook University	-1.19	179	138.632	109	-0.024	123	-0.028
152	Northern Colorado, University of	-1.2	104	286.421	175	-0.041	90	0.0
153	Bowling Green State University	-1.21	124	245.842	119	-0.025	167	-0.103
154	Marshall University	-1.22	110	269.789	61	-0.016	181	-0.193
155	Fresno State University	-1.22	70	349.053	161	-0.036	158	-0.088
156	Dixie State University	-1.25	176	146.0	78	-0.019	150	-0.076
157	Idaho, University of	-1.26	166	163.17	173	-0.04	27	0.078
158	Sacred Heart University	-1.27	182	131.895	125	-0.026	112	-0.017
159	East Carolina University	-1.28	79	332.579	190	-0.059	16	0.108
160	Eastern Illinois University	-1.32	184	126.895	164	-0.037	26	0.078
161	Loyola Marymount University	-1.38	186	113.421	143	-0.029	83	0.01
162	Lafayette College	-1.44	193	74.579	137	-0.027	71	0.022
163	University of Hawaii	-1.49	53	395.632	179	-0.043	160	-0.093
164	Western Illinois University	-1.51	191	83.0	6	-0.006	179	-0.166
165	Long Island University	-1.56	144	202.526	152	-0.032	137	-0.047
166	Central Connecticut State University	-1.61	147	200.632	87	-0.021	177	-0.145
167	North Florida, University of	-1.75	152	186.579	189	-0.057	9	0.151
168	Saint Peter's University	-1.81	192	80.0	142	-0.029	109	-0.015
169	Mount Saint Mary's	-1.87	189	102.632	68	-0.017	176	-0.132
170	Bryant University (W)	-1.88	125	244.0	30	-0.011	192	-0.287
171	Southern California, University of	-1.88	19	549.526	191	-0.06	169	-0.108
172	University of Incarnate Word	-1.89	139	210.895	98	-0.023	180	-0.17
173	Merrimack College	-1.9	194	71.368	155	-0.033	76	0.018
174	Brigham Young University	-1.92	80	329.421	188	-0.053	99	-0.009
175	University of St. Thomas MN	-1.93	167	161.0	172	-0.04	87	0.003
176	Utah Tech University	-1.98	86	324.0	178	-0.043	162	-0.097
177	Butler University	-1.99	155	182.842	72	-0.018	182	-0.197
178	Binghamton, State University of NY	-2.03	162	175.684	167	-0.037	130	-0.037
179	Wisconsin, University of, Green Bay	-2.08	177	143.474	180	-0.043	62	0.029
180	Bellarmine University	-2.25	181	134.053	55	-0.015	185	-0.214
181	Georgia Southern University	-2.27	158	181.0	185	-0.049	63	0.028
182	Cleveland State University	-2.33	146	201.526	163	-0.037	161	-0.094
183	Cincinnati, University of	-2.38	57	379.053	186	-0.051	171	-0.113
184	Massachusetts, University of	-2.5	123	251.158	145	-0.031	183	-0.201
185	Rider University	-2.68	183	131.368	160	-0.035	164	-0.098
186	University of Tennessee	-2.85	5	665.632	85	-0.021	196	-0.633
187	Boston College	-2.89	130	233.915	193	-0.067	32	0.066
188	University of the Pacific	-3.0	136	219.105	132	-0.027	189	-0.267
189	Iona College	-3.35	187	113.263	196	-0.073	8	0.152
190	North Texas, University of	-3.46	141	210.474	151	-0.032	190	-0.268
191	Cal Poly	-3.56	173	151.258	194	-0.067	40	0.052
192	Monmouth University	-4.26	171	157.316	170	-0.04	188	-0.258
193	Valparaiso University (W)	-4.35	190	88.474	192	-0.063	116	-0.022
194	Seattle University (W)	-5.09	157	181.105	148	-0.031	195	-0.438
195	Manhattan College	-5.69	195	67.421	169	-0.039	193	-0.355
196	Virginia Military Institute	-7.47	196	48.211	195	-0.071	191	-0.274