In the hectic process of being accepted into a division 1 college for gymnastics one of the most important steps is to set your goals and find what colleges you would like to be accepted to. After all, if you do not have this goal in mind it is much less likely to become a reality.

We have put together this guide of the top 11 division 1 colleges for gymnastics. This article will include information about these colleges’ student life, school culture, and overall standard of living as well as information on the D1 gymnastics teams that you will be applying to. All of these factors are important when deciding the best place to go. We hope that this resource helps you in your research process.

To see the full list of choices please review this page created by NCSASports.org.

11) University of Pittsburgh

• $33,746 – Tuition
• $27,938 – Avg. Cost After Aid
• Graduation Rate – 82.5%
• Acceptance Rate – 63.9%
• Team Size: 22 Gymnasts

Gymnastics Information:

• Head Coach: Samantha Snider
• Phone Number: 412-648-8328
• Email: ssnider@athletics.pitt.edu

Average Freshman All-Time High Scores:

• Vault: 9.783
• Bars: 9.900
• Beam: 9.84
• Floor: 9.883
• All-Around: 39.410

Summary

The University of Pittsburgh is a picturesque college with amazing architecture and beautiful scenery. Seated in the heart of Pittsburgh this is an amazing college to attend. It was founded in 1787 and has a rich legacy and history to match. This school offers many different options for students looking to study a wide variety of subjects and enjoy their college lives. The University of Pittsburgh does have more of a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics over the humanities so keep this in mind for what topics you are most interested in.

Pros

• The school has a very collaborative nature
• Many classes to choose from that would interest most students
• Fun student and city life

Cons

• On-campus living could use some improvements
• Can be difficult to join certain social circles
• Relatively high cost of tuition

10) University of Pennsylvania – Penn

• $57,770 – Tuition
• $25,802 – Avg. Cost After Aid
• Graduation Rate – 95.5%
• Acceptance Rate – 9%
• Team Size: 20 Gymnasts

Gymnastics Information:

• Head coach: Kirsten Becker
• Email: kstra@upenn.edu
• Phone Number: 898-5316

Average Team All-Time High Scores (Freshman Scores Not Yet Listed):

• Vault: 9.661
• Bars: 9.504
• Beam: 9.425
• Floor: 9.709
• All-Around: 38.299

Summary

This school is another beautiful learning environment that has a lively and productive atmosphere to it. The University of Pennsylvania began in 1740 and has helped students to reach the jobs of their dreams ever since then by providing many great opportunities. This college boasts an amazing graduation rate which is a testimate to the work ethic and atmosphere of the school.

Pros

• Has a work hard, play hard atmosphere
• Delivers great paths to top-notch jobs and opportunities beyond college
• Has great city public transportation for students without a vehicle

Cons

• Some adjacent neighborhoods can be rough
• Philadelphia is not the safest city
• Can have a very serious atmosphere around academics

9) North Carolina State University

• $29,220 – Tuition
• $16,458 – Avg. Cost After Aid
• Graduation Rate – 80.8%
• Acceptance Rate – 46.2%
• Team Size: 20 Gymnasts

Gymnastics Information:

• Head Coach: Kim Landrus
• Email: kalandru@ncsu.edu
• Phone: (919) 515-2938

Average Team All-Time High Scores (Freshman Scores Not Yet Listed):

• Vault: 9.746
• Bars: 9.500
• Beam: 9.550
• Floor: 9.565
• All-Around: 38.361

Summary

North Carolina State University is known as a great college for its math, sciences, and technology studies. This beautiful school is spacious and inviting and features many great degrees and educational options for students. Additionally, it is known for having an incredibly safe and clean campus for all to enjoy. Come here for a great opportunity to learn and grow in your educational and professional career.

Pros

• Has a great university life with many options for extracurriculars
• There are many resources on campus to support you
• Endless opportunities when it comes to networking

Cons

• Off-campus housing is difficult to find and expensive
• Dorm living can also be difficult to find
• Lack of diversity

8) University of Georgia

• $31,120 – Tuition
• $13,649 – Avg. Cost After Aid
• Graduation Rate – 85.1%
• Acceptance Rate – 48.4%
• Team Size: 19 Gymnasts

Gymnastics Information:

• Head Coach: Courtney Kupets Carter
• Phone Number: 706-542-2185
• Email: None available

Average Team All-Time High Scores (Freshman Scores Not Yet Listed):

• Vault: 9.867
• Bars: 9.875
• Beam: 9.883
• Floor: 9.933
• All-Around: 39.558

The University of Georgia scores very highly in student satisfaction. Many say that this school feels like a home away from home, with an atmosphere like that of a close-knit family. This school has more of a collaborative nature rather than a competitive one. Not only are the students often kind the professors are known to take their time and go above and beyond to best serve their students.

Pros

• More affordable than some other options on this list
• Has a close-knit feeling despite the size of the community
• Academics are great teachers and teachers often go above and beyond

Cons

• Dorms living can be difficult
• Safety outside of the campus is a concern due to crime in the city
• Lack of diversity on campus

7) Ohio State University

• $32,061 – Tuition
• $17,616 – Avg. Cost After Aid
• Graduation Rate – 83.1%
• Acceptance Rate – 68.5%
• Team Size: 20 Gymnasts

Gymnastics Information:

• Head Coach: Meredith Paulicivic
• Email: PAULICIVIC.1@OSU.EDU
• Phone Number: None Provided

Average Freshman All-Time High Scores:

• Vault: 9.834
• Bars: 9.850
• Beam: 9.9125
• Floor: 9.950
• All-Around: 39.547

Summary

Ohio State University is the home of a very spirited and involved group of students. This school has a very lively and supportive student life that facilitates new relationships between students which can last a lifetime. It is also easy to make new connections here that can create new opportunities far outside of college. Check out more information on this beautiful urban school to experience everything that it has to offer.

Pros

• Undeniable school spirit
• Very involved sports programs
• Supportive and lively Student Life
• Easy to make connections

Cons

• Safety on campus at night can be an issue
• Dorms are poorly managed and taken care of
• Mental health services are very hard to access

6) University of California – Berkeley

• $44,007 – Tuition
• $15,329 – Avg. Cost After Aid
• Graduation Rate – 91.6%
• Acceptance Rate – 17.5%
• Team Size: 15 Gymnasts

Gymnastics Information:

• Co-Head Coach: Justin Howell
• Email: jhowell@berkeley.edu
• Co-Head Coach: Elisabeth Crandall-Howell
• Email: ecrandall@berkeley.edu

Average Freshman All-Time High Scores:

• Vault: 9.875
• Bars: 9.9125
• Beam: 9.900
• Floor: 9.888
• All-Around: 39.575

Summary

UC Berkley is another school that is very well known for its great weather and excellent academics. If you are looking for an awesome school in California this might be the best choice for you. With such a high graduation rate it is no wonder so many students want to come and stay at this school. Some of the only cons of this school include difficulty to find living accommodations and some safety concerns around the area.

Pros

• Excellent academic programs
• Great value earned from your education
• Most students are hardworking and motivated

Cons

• Safety can be a concern
• Dorms are difficult to find
• Overly competitive culture and environment at times

5) University of Michigan

• $51,200 – Tuition
• $15,336 – Avg. Cost After Aid
• Graduation Rate – 91.9%
• Acceptance Rate – 26.1%
• Team Size: 13 Gymnasts

Gymnastics Information:

• Head Coach: Bev Plocki
• Phone: 647-1259

Average Team All-Time High Scores (Freshman Scores Not Yet Listed):

• Vault: 9.981
• Bars: 9.930
• Beam: 9.948
• Floor: 9.936
• All-Around: 39.796

Summary

The University of Michigan is a great college for hard-working students who want to get ahead and stay ahead in life. While being a productivity-minded school this university does not sacrifice building friendships and connections as there are many opportunities to find amazing fellow students. The students are not the only ones working hard at this school, many students rated this college as having a very high amount of teachers who have gone above and beyond to enrich their educational experience. If this sounds like something that you are interested in then we recommend checking out the University of Michigan.

Pro

• Hard-working professors who put a lot of effort into their classes
• Driven and determined students
• Plenty of events and clubs to attend across campus

Con

• Sometimes the size of the school can make it easy to feel disconnected
• Difficult to find affordable housing
• There have been some issues with the greek life at the school

4) Stanford University

• $53,529 – Tuition
• $11,496 – Avg. Cost After Aid
• Graduation Rate – 94.4%
• Acceptance Rate – 5.2%
• Team Size: 11 Gymnasts

Gymnastics Information:

• Head Coach: Tabitha Yim
• Email: tyim@stanford.edu
• Cell Phone: 650.725.6143

Average Team All-Time High Scores (Freshman Scores Not Yet Listed):

• Vault: 9.695
• Bars: 9.538
• Beam: 9.788
• Floor: 9.831
• All-Around: 38.851

Summary

Stanford University is one of the best know colleges for its standard of living and personal and academic growth of the students. The acceptance rate is incredibly small so getting a place at this amazing school can be difficult, but it is a wonderful college to set yourself up for success throughout life. It is no wonder that the graduation rate is nearly the highest on this list with so many great perks at this university.

Pros

• Fairly easy to get the classes that you want
• Great place for academic and personal growth
• Build connections that will last a lifetime
• The college’s reputation proceeds itself

Cons

• Party life can be difficult to find
• Very expensive housing
• University can be strict

3) University of Florida

• $28,659 – Tuition
• $6,302 – Avg. Cost After Aid
• Graduation Rate – 88.5%
• Acceptance Rate – 31.1%
• Team Size: 18 Gymnasts

Gymnastics Information:

• Head Coach: Jenny Rowland
• Email: jennyr@gators.ufl.edu
• Phone Number: Not available

Average Freshman All-Time High Scores:

• Vault: 9.963
• Bars: 9.913
• Beam: 9.925
• Floor: 9.963
• All-Around: 39.763

Summary

The University of Florida is a spirited and thriving school. There is a heavy emphasis on sports at this college which is a great sign if you are looking to compete on their university gymnastics team. Despite the difficulty of this school, it is common for students to work together rather than work against one another creating a close-knit community.

Pros

• Challenging but supportive
• Campus life has many options for things to do
• Large focus on sports

Cons

• The city outside of campus can be lackluster and boring at times
• Safety is a concern
• Dorms are run-down

2) University of California – Los Angeles – UCLA

• $42,994 – Tuition
• $14,279 – Avg. Cost After Aid
• Graduation Rate – 90.5%
• Acceptance Rate – 14.3%
• Team Size: 21 Gymnasts

Gymnastics Information:

• Head Coach: Janelle McDonald
• Email: jmcdonald@athletics.ucla.edu

Average Freshman All-Time High Scores:

• Vault: 9.883
• Bars: 9.925
• Beam: 9.925
• Floor: 9.958
• All-Around: 39.692

Summary

UCLA is a beautiful school that is well known for its gymnastics teams and performances. It has wonderful weather and excellent safety ratings that are enjoyed by all students. Additionally, there are hundreds of clubs to choose from and enjoy while you expand your horizons. This is one of the best schools that you could hope to attend for a fulfilling and wonderful gymnastics career as well as a great college experience.

Pros

• Beautiful campus and landscape
• There are over 1000 clubs and many things to do to socialize
• Great support systems to help you academically
• Excellent safety and party life

Cons

• The workload can be extremely stressful
• Very expensive housing accommodations

1) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• $36,159– Tuition
• $12,352 – Avg. Cost After Aid
• Graduation Rate – 89.3%
• Acceptance Rate – 25%
• Team Size: 21 Gymnasts

Gymnastics Information:

• Head Coach: Danna Durante
• Email: ddurante@unc.edu

Average Team All-Time High Scores (Freshman Scores Not Yet Listed):

• Vault: 9.813
• Bars: 9.866
• Beam: 9.823
• Floor: 9.757
• All-Around: 39.260

Summary

The University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is an amazing college with a large variety of majors, clubs, and opportunities for all incoming students. The atmosphere of the school is very welcoming and accepting of new students. It is no wonder that this is the most sought-after division 1 school for college gymnastics. The admissions office and academic counselors are also known for going above and beyond to help their incoming students. This school is a wonderful place for anyone to compete and continue their gymnastics career.

Pros

• Very welcoming to new students
• Offers many opportunities for socialization with many clubs and organizations
• Many job opportunities
• A large variety of majors provided
• Great admissions offices and academic counselors

Cons

• Poor selections for on-campus food
• Difficult parking

Thank you for reading through this article. We hope that this information helps you to find the colleges that you would most like to attend. Creating your goals and sticking to them are the first steps to making your college dreams come true. It might be a long and difficult road but it will be all worth it in the end. We wish you the best of luck in applying and being accepted into your perfect college!

Check out this article for more guidance on how to get recruited by your ideal college gymnastics team.