Most Influential Colleges in Swimming and Diving Today

Badge for MOST INFLUENTIAL COLLEGES IN SWIMMING AND DIVING

Most Influential Colleges in Swimming and Diving

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  1. University of Michigan
  2. University of Texas at Austin
  3. University of California, Berkeley
  4. University of Florida
  5. Auburn University
  6. University of Southern California
  7. Stanford University
  8. University of Georgia
  9. Indiana University Bloomington
  10. University of California, Santa Barbara
  1. Harvard University
  2. University of California, Berkeley
  3. Columbia University
  4. Stanford University
  5. University of Michigan
  6. University of California, Los Angeles
  7. University of Southern California
  8. University of Texas at Austin
  9. Northwestern University
  10. Indiana University Bloomington
  1. University of Arizona 87%
  2. Loyola University Maryland 83%
  3. Indiana University Bloomington 82%
  4. University of Louisville 82%
  5. University of Nebraska–Lincoln 79%
  6. University of Tennessee 68%
  7. Texas A&M University 63%
  8. Ohio State University 53%
  9. Purdue University 53%
  10. North Carolina State University 47%
  1. Auburn University 20 to 1
  2. University of California, Berkeley 19 to 1
  3. Texas A&M University 18 to 1
  4. University of Texas at Austin 18 to 1
  5. University of California, Los Angeles 18 to 1
  6. University of Tennessee 18 to 1
  7. University of Arizona 17 to 1
  8. University of California, Santa Barbara 17 to 1
  9. Indiana University Bloomington 17 to 1
  10. Ohio State University 17 to 1
  1. Columbia University $66,139
  2. University of Southern California $64,726
  3. Northwestern University $63,468
  4. Stanford University $58,416
  5. Emory University $57,948
  6. Harvard University $57,261
  7. University of Miami $57,194
  8. Loyola University Maryland $53,430
  9. University of Michigan $17,454
  10. University of Louisville $12,324
  1. University of Southern California $63,468
  2. Stanford University $56,487
  3. Harvard University $52,456
  4. Columbia University $52,016
  5. Northwestern University $51,869
  6. Emory University $45,800
  7. University of Miami $41,580
  8. University of Michigan $25,894
  9. Loyola University Maryland $18,900
  10. University of Louisville $13,944
  1. University of Louisville
  2. Loyola University Maryland
  3. Ohio State University
  4. Columbia University
  5. University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  6. University of California, Los Angeles
  7. Emory University
  8. Texas A&M University
  9. Harvard University
  10. Northwestern University
  1. Loyola University Maryland
  2. Auburn University
  3. University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  4. University of Louisville
  5. North Carolina State University
  6. University of Tennessee
  7. Texas A&M University
  8. University of Georgia
  9. University of Miami
  10. University of Florida
  1. Harvard University 3%
  2. Columbia University 4%
  3. Stanford University 4%
  4. Northwestern University 7%
  5. University of California, Los Angeles 9%
  6. Emory University 11%
  7. University of California, Berkeley 11%
  8. University of Southern California 12%
  9. University of Michigan 18%
  10. University of Miami 19%
  1. Stanford University 5 to 1
  2. Northwestern University 6 to 1
  3. Columbia University 6 to 1
  4. Harvard University 7 to 1
  5. Emory University 9 to 1
  6. University of Southern California 9 to 1
  7. University of Michigan 12 to 1
  8. University of Miami 13 to 1
  9. Loyola University Maryland 13 to 1
  10. University of Louisville 13 to 1
  1. University of Florida $4,477
  2. North Carolina State University $6,535
  3. University of Nebraska–Lincoln $7,770
  4. Texas A&M University $8,815
  5. Purdue University $9,718
  6. University of Georgia $9,790
  7. Indiana University Bloomington $10,012
  8. Auburn University $10,392
  9. University of Arizona $11,210
  10. University of Tennessee $11,332
  1. University of Nebraska–Lincoln $6,138
  2. Texas A&M University $6,885
  3. University of Georgia $8,878
  4. North Carolina State University $9,095
  5. Purdue University $9,718
  6. Indiana University Bloomington $10,033
  7. Auburn University $10,386
  8. University of Florida $10,770
  9. University of Tennessee $11,468
  10. University of California, Los Angeles $11,700

The most influential college swimming and diving programs feature athletes with exceptional talent, skills, and dedication! Many have established a successful college career that resulted in their inclusion in Team USA and participation in the Olympics.

Indeed, college swimming and diving teams supply more than 90% of the US Olympic Team, an amateur-to-professional funnel that continues to inspire current and future athletes. Greats like Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky have helped to shape the sport, and were certainly influential in college swimming.

Of course, every successful student athlete wouldn’t be where they are now without the intensive support of a great coaching staff, access to state-of-the-art training programs and facilities, and the commitment to continuing growth and development in the sport. Every successful collegiate swimming and diving team benefits from the extensive support provided by their respective colleges and universities, too, from athletic scholarships and financial support to morale boosters.

The swimming and diving team event dates back to the first NCAA Championship titles in 1924. Then and now, the swim and dive events have been scored as a single event—and it has been the subject of controversy, too, considering that swimming is a racing competition while diving is based on a subjective awards point system.

 swimmer in the pool smiling

Featured Programs

How We Determine the Most Influential Athletes

Academic Influence identified thousands of professional swimmers and divers who started their successful careers in collegiate sports. We covered the 2012-2022 period and the student-athletes and professional athletes who are or were in collegiate swimming and diving teams, respectively.

We used our machine learning-powered InfluenceRanking™ Engine in determining the swimmers and divers with the greatest influence on the sport, as measured by numerical scores of their citations across websites as well as their achievements and merits, winning one to four NCAA titles in different divisions and categories.

When the InfluenceRanking™ Engine has the cumulative scores for all swimmers and divers, including for First Division III swimmer, it then identifies the colleges and universities they are associated with. The colleges and universities are then ranked accordingly and their top 10 championship team athletes also featured.

two divers diving off a diving board

The Most Influential Colleges in Swimming and Diving Today

  1. #1

    University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor , MI
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $18K

    Acceptance

    18%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    52K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1440/32

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Michigan

    Cost of Degree: $17,786
    Expenses: $16,820
    Starting Salary: $79,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving teams compete in the NCAA Division I category. In 2012, the men’s team and women’s team were combined instead of being coached separately.

    The men’s swimming and diving program is known for its prolific production of the best student-athletes, a fact that contributed to its reputation as among the best collegiate programs in the United States. Since its recognition as a varsity sport in 1921 at UMich, the men’s swimming and diving teams have won 12 official NCAA titles and seven unofficial NCAA championship titles!

    Such is its achievement that UMich’s men’s and swimming program has won more national championships than any other of the university’s varsity programs and the most NCAA championship titles in collegiate swimming and diving history.

    Furthermore, Michigan has 58 Big Ten titles, of which the most recent was won in the 2020-2021 season. The 58-title feat is the most Big Ten championship titles won by any other collegiate swimming and diving program, too.

    Michigan also boasts more than 100 Olympians and nearly 400 All-Americans. Many of its former student-athletes and coaches are in the International Swimming Hall of Fame, too.

    Michigan is affiliated with the USA club swimming team through Club Wolverine. Here, collegiate swim athletes train with the Elite Team during summer sessions and young competitive swimmers also get personalized coaching during the Varsity Swimming program. Even Michael Phelps trained here, too, for four years in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

    University of Michigan’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Michael Phelps
    2. Jon Urbanchek
    3. Peter Vanderkaay
    4. Tom Malchow
    5. Tom Dolan
    6. Dick Kimball
    7. Tyler Clary
    8. Gustavo Borges
    9. Charlie Houchin
    10. Derya Büyükuncu
    11. Gus Stager
    12. Alex Vanderkaay
    13. Connor Jaeger
    14. Andy Potts
    15. Ann Colloton
    16. Marcel Wouda
    17. Dan Ketchum
    18. Mike Barrowman
    19. Sean Ryan
    20. Carl Robie
    21. Eric Namesnik
    22. Bob Webster
    23. Valeria Silva
    24. Micki King
    25. Chris Thompson
    26. Davis Tarwater
    27. Frank Legacki
    28. Andrew Hurd
    29. Alan McClatchey
    30. Ruth Pickett Thompson
    More Influential Swimmers and Divers
    1. Bob Sohl
    2. Gabby DeLoof
    3. Bill Farley
    4. John Davies
    5. Brent Lang
    6. Dave Gillanders
    7. Francis Heydt
    8. Gordon Downie
    9. Eric Wunderlich
    10. Owen Von Richter
    11. Byron MacDonald
    12. Siobhán Haughey
    13. Maggie Mac Neil
    14. G. Rene Ryan
    15. Álvaro Gaxiola
    16. Shannon Shakespeare
    17. Anders Lie
    18. Ronald Gora
    19. Jack Wardrop
    20. Felix Auböck
    21. Melinda Copp
    22. Natasha Moodie
    23. Dick Hanley
    24. Christina Seufert
    25. Richard Rydze
    26. Joan Spillane
    27. Diane Dudeck
    28. Raymond Papa
    29. Bi Yirong
    30. Steve Bigelow
    31. Ginny Duenkel
    32. Claudia Lau
    33. Burwell Jones
    34. Jamie Yeung
    35. Samantha Arsenault
    36. Fernando Canales
    37. Daniel Madwed
  2. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    31%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    55K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1365/29

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at Austin

    Cost of Degree: $11,698
    Expenses: $18,548
    Starting Salary: $73,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Texas Longhorns swimming and diving program is divided into the men’s and women’s teams, both of which compete in the Big 12 Conference and belong to the NCAA Division I category. Tex Robertson created and developed the first swim team at UT Austin and was its head coach at varying periods (1936-1943 and 1946-1950). Under his coaching tenure, the Longhorns swimming and diving program won 13 Southwest Conference championships.

    When Eddie Reese became head coach of the men’s swim team in 1979, the team entered its golden era. Since 1981, the swimming and diving teams have won 41 consecutive conference championship titles and 15 NCAA championship titles. The 1988-1990, 2000-2002, and 2015-2018 seasons saw the Longhorns’ dominance while its latest team victory was in 2021.

    The women’s team also did impressively well with seven NCAA championship titles and two AIAW titles. Richard Quick was its head coach during its consecutive 1984-1988 championship titles while it was Mark Schubert in the 1990 and 1991 titles.

    The swimming and diving teams for the men’s and women’s categories have also won Big 12 Conference championship titles, of which the latest are in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

    UT Austin has a robust youth development program, too—the Longhorn Aquatics program, a feeder program for its swimming and diving team. The Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center is UT Austin’s primary venue for the combined sports.

    UT Austin’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Aaron Peirsol
    2. Ian Crocker
    3. Ricky Berens
    4. Brendan Hansen
    5. Neil Walker
    6. Laura Wilkinson
    7. Garrett Weber-Gale
    8. Karlee Bispo
    9. Jimmy Feigen
    10. Will Licon
    11. David Walters
    12. Jack Conger
    13. Janet Evans
    14. Gary Hall Jr.
    15. Townley Haas
    16. Nate Dusing
    17. Michael Klueh
    18. Jill Sterkel
    19. Madisyn Cox
    20. Rick Carey
    21. Adolph Kiefer
    22. Scott Goldblatt
    23. Michael McBroom
    24. Josh Davis
    25. Erin Phenix
    26. Tommy Hannan
    27. Scott Spann
    28. Joscelin Yeo
    29. Hayley McGregory
    30. Whitney Hedgepeth
    More Influential Swimmers and Divers
    1. Alexi Spann
    2. Felipe Muñoz
    3. Kathleen Hersey
    4. Doug Gjertsen
    5. Tiffany Cohen
    6. Matt Scoggin
    7. Colleen Lanne
    8. Betsy Mitchell
    9. Leigh Ann Fetter
    10. Susana Escobar
    11. Brennan Morris
    12. Samantha Bromberg
    13. Beth Barr
    14. Tracey McFarlane
    15. Elizabeth Tinnon
    16. John Shebat
    17. Remedy Rule
    18. Ricardo Marmolejo
    19. Anna Elendt
    20. Kris Kirchner
    21. Susan Johnson
    22. Kim Linehan
    23. Tori Trees
    24. Shaun Jordan
    25. William Paulus
    26. Chris Jacobs
    27. Brad Bridgewater
    28. Edwin Gilbert
    29. Chang Hee-jin
    30. Tate Jackson
    31. Joanna Evans
    32. Annabelle Cripps
    33. Jordan Windle
    34. Samuel Pomajevich
  3. freestyle swimmer in competition
  4. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $14K

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    48K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Berkeley

    Cost of Degree: $14,395
    Expenses: $28,648
    Starting Salary: $79,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The California men’s and women’s college swimming and diving teams are known as the Golden Bears. Both teams compete in the Pac-12 Conference and in the NCAA Division I, and are considered among the best programs with multiple team wins over the years.

    The men’s swimming and diving teams have won eight NCAA championship titles in 1979, 1980, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2022, and 2023. The women’s swimming team has won four NCAA championship titles in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2015.

    Both men’s and women’s teams have also made numerous NCAA tournament appearances. The men’s swimming and diving teams have made 56 appearances while the women’s teams have made 37. Both teams are known for their ability to make NCAA tournament appearances for consecutive seasons, too, proof of their pool excellence.

    The Golden Bears practice and swim at the Spieker Aquatics Complex and the Legends Aquatics Center.

    University of California Berkeley’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Natalie Coughlin
    2. Nathan Adrian
    3. Milorad Čavić
    4. Anthony Ervin
    5. Jessica Hardy
    6. Dana Vollmer
    7. Josh Prenot
    8. Missy Franklin
    9. Matt Biondi
    10. Reece Whitley
    11. Ryan Murphy
    12. Emily Silver
    13. Jacob Pebley
    14. Haley Cope
    15. Caitlin Leverenz
    16. Lauren Boyle
    17. Dominik Meichtry
    18. Amy Bilquist
    19. Kathleen Baker
    20. Dan Millman
    21. Elizabeth Pelton
    22. Cierra Runge
    23. Staciana Stitts
    24. Mark Henderson
    25. Katie McLaughlin
    26. Sara Isaković
    27. Rachel Bootsma
    28. Ann Curtis
    29. Mary T. Meagher
    30. Bartosz Kizierowski
    More Influential Swimmers and Divers
    1. Quah Zheng Wen
    2. Jack Mackenroth
    3. Hanna Jaltner
    4. Hannah Wilson
    5. Peter Rocca
    6. Nicholas Folker
    7. Damir Dugonjič
    8. Kim Chambers
    9. Paul Kingsman
    10. Akiko Thomson
    11. Ratapong Sirisanont
    12. Li Khai-kam
    13. Marylyn Chiang
    14. Jernej Godec
    15. Martin Liivamägi
    16. Marcin Tarczyński
    17. Trina Radke
    18. Praphalsai Minpraphal
    19. Noemie Thomas
    20. John Mykkanen
    21. Dave Wilson
    22. Graham Smith
    23. Hiroko Nagasaki
    24. Ron Karnaugh
    25. Camille Cheng
    26. Stephanie Au
    27. Pär Arvidsson
    28. Ashley Whitney
    29. Tommy Werner
    30. Thomas Lejdström
    31. Björn Seeliger
    32. Seth Stubblefield
    33. Sean Killion
    34. Dean Kondziolka
    35. Gunnar Gundersen
    36. Stefan Persson
    37. Sue Gossick
  5. #4

    University of Florida

    Gainesville , FL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    23%

    Graduation

    90%

    Student body

    63K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1395/30

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Florida

    Cost of Degree: $6,381
    Expenses: $15,430
    Starting Salary: $65,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Florida Gators have separate men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs. Both teams, however, compete in the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA Division I. Home meets are hosted at the on-campus O’Connell Center Natatorium. Anthony Nesty is the current swimming and diving head coach for both teams while Bryan Gillooly is the diving coach.

    Established in 1930, the Gators men’s teams have won two NCAA championships titles (1983 and 1984) and 40 conference team championships. Since women’s swimming was sanctioned in 1981, the Lady Gators women’s teams have won two NCAA championship titles (1982 and 2010), 14 conference championships, and one AIAW title.

    Since 1968, the Florida Gators have also fielded alumni athletes in every Summer Olympic Games. In the All-time category, the program has 143 awardees, the sixth-ranked among Division I programs.

    University of Florida’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Ryan Lochte
    2. Eddie Reese
    3. Dara Torres
    4. Dana Vollmer
    5. Conor Dwyer
    6. Anthony Nesty
    7. Elizabeth Beisel
    8. Tracy Caulkins
    9. Gemma Spofforth
    10. Nicole Haislett
    11. Mary Wayte
    12. Jemma Lowe
    13. Omar Pinzón
    14. Carlos Jayme
    15. Marco Loughran
    16. Duncan Armstrong
    17. Theresa Michalak
    18. Megan Neyer
    19. Bradley Ally
    20. David Larson
    21. Darian Townsend
    22. Brett Fraser
    23. Whitney Hedgepeth
    24. Caroline Burckle
    25. Allison Wagner
    26. Mike Heath
    27. Ricardo Monasterio
    28. Shaune Fraser
    29. Tim McKee
    30. Matt Cetlinski
    More Influential Swimmers and Divers
    1. Theresa Andrews
    2. Craig Beardsley
    3. Greg Burgess
    4. Catie Ball
    5. Gabriel Mangabeira
    6. Jane Kerr
    7. Jan Świtkowski
    8. Frédéric Delcourt
    9. Geoff Gaberino
    10. Rafael Vidal
    11. Pholien Systermans
    12. Anna-Liisa Põld
    13. Janelle Atkinson
    14. Ashley Tappin
    15. David López-Zubero
    16. Jon Sakovich
    17. Sandy Goss
    18. Emmanuel Crescimbeni
    19. Janie Wagstaff
    20. Mark Stockwell
    21. Paige Zemina
    22. Troy Dalbey
    23. Chris Snode
    24. Stephen Clarke
    25. Clark Burckle
    26. Kathy Treible
    27. Whitney Metzler
    28. Robert Finke
    29. Roland Rudolf
    30. Sebastien Rousseau
    31. James Walsh
    32. Leah Martindale
    33. Nuno Laurentino
    34. Tami Bruce
    35. Carlton Bruner
    36. Adam Sioui
    37. José Luis Ballester
    38. Rodion Davelaar
    39. Claudia Franco
    40. Sinéad Russell
    41. Beth Hazel
    42. Martín López-Zubero
    43. Jill Horstead
    44. Bruce C. Kone
    45. Debbie Fuller
    46. Corey Main
    47. Patrick Kennedy
    48. Nikki Dryden
    49. Wendy Quirk
    50. Bárbara Franco
    51. Renee Laravie
    52. Bill Sawchuk
    53. Arsenio López
    54. Dan Wallace
    55. Enrico Linscheer
    56. Vipa Bernhardt
    57. Balázs Gercsák
    58. Kim Bang-hyun
    59. Renate du Plessis
    60. Ashley Whitney
    61. Georgia Marris
    62. Sarra Lajnef
    63. Sarah Bateman
    64. Ashley Schappert
  6. swimmer competing
  7. #5

    Auburn University

    Auburn , AL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    44%

    Graduation

    81%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1300/27

    Career Outlook for degree at Auburn University

    Cost of Degree: $12,176
    Expenses: $22,226
    Starting Salary: $56,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Auburn Tigers swimming and diving program fields its student-athletes for competitions in the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA Division I. Established in 1932, the first team practiced in a pool in the gym’s basement, a small pool that forced program administrators to transmit their timed results during competitions.

    In 1978, Scott Spann Sr. won the team’s first national championship in the 200m Individual Medley. But it was when David Marsh became head coach in 1990 that the Tigers swimming and diving program became a national powerhouse. Today, the men’s and women’s swimming teams have won a combined total of 23 conference championship titles and 13 NCAA championships.

    The Auburn Tigers swimming and diving program ranks third in terms of the total number of NCAA championships won. Only the University of Texas (17 titles) and Stanford University (16 titles) have more NCAA championship titles.

    Also, many of its alumni have competed in international competitions, such as the Olympic Games, FINA World Championships, and Goodwill Games. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, former Tigers competed and won 13 medals in swimming, the most for any single university.

    Auburn University’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Kirsty Coventry
    2. Mark Gangloff
    3. César Cielo
    4. David Marsh
    5. Mike Bottom
    6. Eric Shanteau
    7. Frédérick Bousquet
    8. Brett Hawke
    9. Margaret Hoelzer
    10. George Bovell
    11. Bryan Lundquist
    12. Tyler McGill
    13. Yoav Bruck
    14. Ryan Wochomurka
    15. Bill Pilczuk
    16. Kara Denby
    17. Hayley Peirsol
    18. John Hargis
    19. Marcelo Chierighini
    20. Micah Lawrence
    21. Romain Barnier
    22. Rowdy Gaines
    23. Zach Apple
    24. Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace
    25. Matt Targett
    26. Adam Brown
    27. Rada Owen
    28. Zane Grothe
    29. Bryce Hunt
    30. Pat Calhoun
    31.  
    More Influential Swimmers and Divers
    1. Emily Kukors
    2. Matthew Busbee
    3. Annie Lazor
    4. José Luis Rocha
    5. Alana Dillette
    6. Pascal Wollach
    7. Eithan Urbach
    8. Oswaldo Quevedo
    9. Scott Tucker
    10. Gisela Morales
    11. Scott Talbot
    12. Jeremy Knowles
    13. Genaro Prono
    14. Renzo Tjon-A-Joe
    15. Stephanie Horner
    16. Erin Volcán
    17. Ava Ohlgren
    18. Julie Meynen
    19. Jakob Andkjær
    20. Adam Klein
    21. David McCagg
    22. Christina Swindle
    23. Bill Forrester
    24. Alexei Puninski

    Auburn University’s Online Degrees

    BSBA in Accountancy
    Degree Concentrations
    • Second Degree
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSBA in None
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  8. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $65K

    Acceptance

    12%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    54K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/33

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern California

    Cost of Degree: $64,726
    Expenses: $20,338
    Starting Salary: $88,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Since its creation in 1929, the USC Trojans swimming and diving program has won 10 NCAA championship titles, most of which were won under head coach Peter Daland. The men’s team is known as the Trojans while the women’s swimming team is known as the Women of Troy. Both teams are in the Pac-12 Conference and NCAA Division I.

    As individual student-athletes, the Trojans have won 110 NCAA individual and relay titles. Of these student-athletes, Erik Vendt is among the most notable because of his five individual titles and 562 All-American honors.

    The Trojans from the men’s teams have also made the Olympics more than 120 times with 38 gold medals, such as Lenny Krayzelburg, Bruce Furniss, and John Naber. Undoubtedly, the best Olympics performance from Trojans was in the 1976 Olympic Games when their total medal tally and total gold medals won for the United States were more than any other country!

    The women’s swimming team are just as accomplished with a 1997 NCAA title, four conference championships, and 230+ All-Americans. Kristine Quance (9 NCAA titles), Katinka Hosszú (3 NCAA titles) and Lindsay Benko (5 NCAA titles) are among their most notable student-athletes.

    University of Southern California’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Klete Keller
    2. Katinka Hosszú
    3. Mike Bottom
    4. Erik Vendt
    5. Kaitlin Sandeno
    6. Oussama Mellouli
    7. Janet Evans
    8. Ray Looze
    9. Vladimir Morozov
    10. Murray Rose
    11. Lenny Krayzelburg
    12. Clément Lefert
    13. John Naber
    14. Larsen Jensen
    15. John Konrads
    16. Amanda Weir
    17. Haley Anderson
    18. Lindsay Benko
    19. Lance Larson
    20. Reed Malone
    21.  
    More Influential Swimmers and Divers
    1. Sammy Lee
    2. Hayley McGregory
    3. Christel Simms
    4. Gabe Woodward
    5. Susan Habernigg
    6. Ian Jaryd Silverman
    7. Kristine Quance
    8. Kendyl Stewart
    9. Jon Henricks
    10. Cynthia Woodhead
    11. Jeff Float
    12. Joe Bottom
    13. Chelsea Chenault
    14. Chris Cavanaugh
    15. Rhi Jeffrey
    16. Mark Warkentin
    17. Frank Heckl
    18. C. Rob Orr
    19. Mihály Flaskay
    20. Desmond Koh
    21. Kalyn Keller
    22. Viktor Bodrogi
    23. Mark Kerry
    24. John Davies
    25. Lynette Lim
    26. Kim Black
    27. Steve Furniss
    28. Anne Ottenbrite
    29. Jeff Lee
    30. Iris Cummings
    31. Tauna Vandeweghe
    32. Bill Craig
    33. Rod Strachan
    34. Joanna Fargus
    35. Tom McBreen
    36. Michael Miao
    37. Robin Corsiglia
    38. Mark Kwok
    39. Keena Rothhammer
    40. Robert Hughes
    41. Johnny Weissmuller Jr.
    42. Robert Glință
    43. Joshua Ilika Brenner
    44. Li Hongping
    45. William Johnson
    46. Roy Saari
    47. David Wharton
    48. Ahmed Al-Kudmani
    49. Brad Bridgewater
    50. Mike O'Brien
    51. Thomas Fahrner
    52. Bob Bennett
    53. Richard Connor
    54. Dan Jorgensen
    55. Dylan Carter
    56. Lyndsay DePaul
    57. Andrea Kropp
    58. Chuck Bittick
  9. diver diving into the water
  10. #7

    Stanford University

    Stanford , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    20K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1540/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Stanford University

    Cost of Degree: $58,416
    Expenses: $23,746
    Starting Salary: $141,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Stanford Cardinals men’s and women’s teams are part of the most winningest programs in college swimming, thanks to 134—and counting NCAA team championships, the highest among colleges and universities. In the past 47 years, the Cardinals have won at least one NCAA team title and its student-athletes have won 544 NCAA individual titles.

    In swimming and diving, the men’s teams have won eight NCAA team championship titles (1967, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1998). The women’s swimming teams bested the men’s team with 11 NCAA team championship titles (1983, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2017, 2018, and 2019) and a single AIAW championship title.

    At present, the Stanford Cardinals are a member of the Pac-12 Conference but will join the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 2024-2025 academic year. The swimming and diving teams practice at the Avery Aquatic Center.

    Stanford University’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Katie Ledecky
    2. Simone Manuel
    3. Misty Hyman
    4. Jenny Thompson
    5. Lia Neal
    6. Janet Evans
    7. Tara Kirk
    8. Jeff Rouse
    9. Maya DiRado
    10. Julia Smit
    11. Randall Bal
    12. Ella Eastin
    13. Sabir Muhammad
    14. Markus Rogan
    15. Kristian Ipsen
    16. Peter Marshall
    17. Eugene Godsoe
    18. Katie Drabot
    19. Jason Dunford
    20. Ben Wildman-Tobriner
    21. Abrahm DeVine
    22. Chad La Tourette
    23. Pablo Morales
    24. Geoffrey Cheah
    25. Brian Retterer
    26. Chris von Saltza
    27. Elaine Breeden
    28. B. J. Johnson
    29. Taylor Ruck
    30. Summer Sanders
    31.  
    More Influential Swimmers and Divers
    1. Mariya Koroleva
    2. George Harrison
    3. Gabrielle Rose
    4. Jenna Johnson
    5. Felicia Lee
    6. Dana Kirk
    7. Kristen Caverly
    8. Andrea Murez
    9. Brian Job
    10. Lea Maurer
    11. Paul Hait
    12. Catherine Fox
    13. David Dunford
    14. John Moffet
    15. Brent Berk
    16. Linda Jezek
    17. Jeff Kostoff
    18. Anthony Mosse
    19. Sharon Stouder
    20. Brenda Helser
    21. Annette Salmeen
    22. Janel Jorgensen
    23. John Hencken
    24. Craig Klass
    25. Joe Hudepohl
    26. Mitch Ivey
    27. Stephanie Elkins
    28. Dick Roth
    29. David Nolan
    30. John Ferris
    31. Siobhan Cropper
    32. Claudia Franco
    33. Lisa Jacob
    34. Caroline Bruce
    35. Nancy Simons
    36. Sylvia Ruuska
    37. Jay Mortenson
    38. Laura Davis
    39. Mike Bruner
    40. Nancy Ramey
    41. Tom Wilkens
    42. Morgan Hentzen
    43. Jason Plummer
    44. Susan von der Lippe
  11. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    43%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    44K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1320/29

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Georgia

    Cost of Degree: $11,180
    Expenses: $16,362
    Starting Salary: $59,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Georgia Bulldogs college swimming and diving team are known as the Swim Dawgs. In 1926, C.W. Jones created the swim program and subsequently became instrumental in its expansion. In 1974, the women’s team was added to the men’s team.

    By the 1990s, the swimming and diving program was considered a powerhouse in the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA. Since 1996, the men’s teams have been ranked among the top 15 teams in the country while the women’s teams have placed in the top five.

    Since 1999, the women’s team have won seven NCAA team championships (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2013, 2014, and 2016) as well as placed second in the other seasons. The men’s team have won three conference championships and the women’s team have won 12 conference championships.

    The swimming and diving program has its home at the Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Georgia.

    University of Georgia’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Allison Schmitt
    2. Jack Bauerle
    3. Robert Margalis
    4. Kara Lynn Joyce
    5. Missy Franklin
    6. Melanie Margalis
    7. Shannon Vreeland
    8. Sheila Taormina
    9. Julie Hardt
    10. Chase Kalisz
    11. Kristy Kowal
    12. Laura Ryan
    13. Maritza Correia
    14. Sarah Poewe
    15. Andrew Gemmell
    16. Mary Mohler
    17. Amanda Weir
    18. Olivia Smoliga
    19. Hali Flickinger
    20. Nic Fink
    21. Jay Litherland
    22. Chantal Van Landeghem
    23. Jordan Mattern
    24. Brittany MacLean
    25. Chris Colwill
    26. Elizabeth Hill
    27. Morgan Scroggy
    28. Courtney Shealy
    29. Gil Stovall
    30. Yoav Gath
    More Influential Swimmers and Divers
    1. Kim Black
    2. Reid Patterson
    3. Neil Versfeld
    4. Troyden Prinsloo
    5. Allan Murray
    6. Sébastien Rouault
    7. Javier Acevedo
    8. Damian Alleyne
    9. Yoram Kochavy
    10. Josh Laban
    11. Helena Åberg
    12. Wendy Trott
    13. Matias Koski
    14. Ashley Whitney
    15. Gretchen Gotay
    16. Michelle McKeehan
    17. Mike Fung-A-Wing
    18. Amanda Adkins
    19. Samantha Arsenault
    20. Wan Azlan
    21. Kyle Salyards

    University of Georgia’s Online Degrees

    BS in Education
    Degree Concentrations
    • Special Education
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  12. swimmer getting ready for a competition

  13. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    82%

    Graduation

    81%

    Student body

    59K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1290/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University Bloomington

    Cost of Degree: $11,447
    Expenses: $16,010
    Starting Salary: $57,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Indiana Hoosiers swimming and diving team at Indiana University participates in the NCAA Division I and the Big Ten Conference. Their cream-and- crimson colors have flown high and proud with six straight (1968-1973) NCAA national championships for the men’s swimming and diving team (under the legendary Mark Spitz) while the women’s team has six Big Ten team championships (2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2019). The men’s team members have also won 24 Big Ten team championships, 20 titles of which were won in consecutive years.

    Indeed, such is the impressive success of the Indiana Hoosiers swimming and diving program that it has been ranked among the top five in the Big Conference! The Hoosiers success extends beyond collegiate sport, too, with Hoosier divers winning eight consecutive U.S. National Diving Championships.

    The Indiana Hoosiers swimming and diving program calls the Counsilman-Billingsley Center its home. Student-athletes at Indiana University practice and compete in the eight-lane Olympic-sized pool and at the Billingsley Diving Center.

    Indiana University’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Mark Spitz
    2. Leila Vaziri
    3. Lilly King
    4. Mike Troy
    5. Blake Pieroni
    6. Christina Loukas
    7. Gary Hall Sr.
    8. Sergio López Miró
    9. Jim Montgomery
    10. Mike Stamm
    11. Zach Apple
    12. Fred Tyler
    13. Edward Stickles
    14. Cynthia Potter
    15. Bob Windle
    16. Jessica Parratto
    17. Djan Madruga
    18. John Kinsella
    19. Chet Jastremski
    20. John Murphy
    21. Charlie Hickcox
    22. Kennedy Goss
    23. Larry Barbiere
    24. Ben Hesen
    25. Don McKenzie
    26. Mark Kerry
    27. Ron Jacks
    28. Patsy Willard
    29. Fred Schmidt
    30. Melvin Nash
    More Influential Swimmers and Divers
    1. Edwin Young
    2. Bill Woolsey
    3. Serhiy Fesenko
    4. Dorina Szekeres
    5. Andrew Capobianco
    6. Charles Keating III
    7. Lary Schulhof
    8. Jack Horsley
    9. Ali Khalafalla
    10. Eleni Avlonitou
    11. Gary Conelly
    12. Alan Somers
    13. Sonny Tanabe
  14. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $15K

    Acceptance

    26%

    Graduation

    86%

    Student body

    28K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Santa Barbara

    Cost of Degree: $14,617
    Expenses: $23,285
    Starting Salary: $62,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos swimming and diving program are members of the Big West Conference and NCAA Division I. The men’s and women’s teams have won numerous conference titles and produced Olympic and professional athletes, as well as made appearances in several NCAA championship events.

    Under the guidance of Gregg Wilson, head coach for both men’s and women’s swimming teams for 40 seasons, the teams have won a dual meet record and 36 Big West Conference championship titles. Furthermore, the men’s swimming team was the previous record holder for the most consecutive conference championship crowns (1979-2001) before their counterparts at the Texas Longhorns men’s swimming program broke it.

    The team is now led by Coach Matt Macedo, who took over the position in August 2016 (was an assistant coach for two years prior). The men’s team earned back-to-back championship titles at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) championship in 2017 and 2018. Macedo earned the coach of the year award in his first year.

    Richard Schroeder, Sandy Neilson, and Jason Lezak, all of whom are Olympic gold medalists, are notable alumni.

    UC Santa Barbara’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Jason Lezak
    2. Sandy Neilson
    3. Richard Schroeder
    4. Yusuf Tibazi
  15. diver getting ready to dive
  16. #11

    University of Arizona

    Tucson , AZ
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    87%

    Graduation

    68%

    Student body

    54K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1255/25

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Arizona

    Cost of Degree: $12,937
    Expenses: $18,350
    Starting Salary: $56,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Arizona Wildcats women’s and men’s swimming and diving teams compete at the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA Division I. Their main rivals are the Arizona State Sun Devils. Note that the Arizona Wildcats have accepted the Big 12 Conference invitation and, thus, will join it effective August 2, 2024.

    The first national championship won by the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams was in 2008. The program is more successful in synchronized swimming with three national championships (1980, 1981, and 1984) and an AIAW championship. In 2023, four of its swimmers and one diver were awarded the CSCAA All-American honors.

    University of Arizona’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Amanda Beard
    2. Nick Thoman
    3. Amy Van Dyken
    4. Chad Carvin
    5. Whitney Myers
    6. Margo Geer
    7. Darian Townsend
    8. Kevin Steel
    9. Albert Subirats
    10. Alyssa Anderson
    11. Annie Chandler
    12. Cynthia Potter
    13. Michele Mitchell
    14. Ashley Tappin
    15. Crissy Ahmann-Leighton
    16. Jake Tapp
    17. Beth Botsford
    18. Clark Burckle
    19. Trina Jackson
    20. Jenna Gresdal
    21. Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or
    22. Joel Greenshields
    23. Lindsay Seemann
    24. Michelle Engelsman
    25. Artemis Dafni
    26. Juan Veloz
    27. Mariusz Podkościelny
    28. Jean Basson
    29. Lara Jackson
    30. Patty Kempner
    31.  
    More Influential Swimmers and Divers
    1. Lum Zhaveli
    2. Dana Shrader
    3. Delaney Schnell
    4. Bob Jackson
    5. George DiCarlo

    University of Arizona’s Online Degrees

    BA in Africana Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Administration of Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Care, Health and Society
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Emergency Medical Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Cyber Operations
    Degree Concentrations
    • Engineering
    • Defense & Forensics
    • and Cyber Law & Policy
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Communication
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Early Childhood
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Economy and Industry
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Environmental Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies, in Arts, Media and Entertainment
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Global and Intercultural Understanding
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Global Media
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Government and Public Service
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Human Rights Practice
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Required Credits: 128
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Geographic Information Systems Technology (GIST)
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Literacy, Learning and Leadership
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Information Science and ESociety
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Organizational Leadership
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Law
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Political Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Regional Commerce
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Intelligence and Information Operations
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in History
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Philosophy: Ethics
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Biology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Nutritional Sciences
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Spanish
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Sports and Society
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Public Health
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Sustainable Built Environments
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Social Behavior and Human Understanding
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  17. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    47%

    Graduation

    85%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1370/30

    Career Outlook for degree at North Carolina State University

    Cost of Degree: $9,128
    Expenses: $16,624
    Starting Salary: $59,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The NC State Wolfpack swimming and diving teams have been members of the Atlantic Coast Conference since their inception, and also compete in the NCAA Division I. Both team members and fans recognize their school’s big-time rivalry with the North Carolina Tar Heels.

    The current head coach is Braden Holloway. The swimming and diving program has its home and competes with rivals at the Willis R. Casey Aquatics Center.

    Through the years, the teams and their members have won several individual and team championships. There are 26 Individual national championship titles won, as well as 32 ACC conference championship crowns for the men’s team and four conference championships for the women’s team. The latest of these wins are in the 2015-2020 and 2022 and 2023 seasons for the men’s team.

    Many of its former student-athletes have also become Olympians. Sophie Hannson, who was an ACC and NCAA champion in the 2019-2021 seasons, is among the most notable.

    NC State University’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Cullen Jones
    2. Duncan Goodhew
    3. Ryan Held
    4. Simonas Bilis
    5. Sophie Hansson
    6. David Fox
    7. Carlos Santander
    8. Sirena Rowe
    9. Alexia Zevnik
    10. Daniel Velez

    North Carolina State University’s Online Degrees

    BA in Leadership In The Public Sector
    • Required Credits: 12
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  18. swimmer in the water during a competition
  19. #13

    University of Tennessee

    Knoxville , TN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    68%

    Graduation

    73%

    Student body

    35K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1250/28

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Tennessee

    Cost of Degree: $13,244
    Expenses: $19,414
    Starting Salary: $56,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Tennessee Volunteers men’s swimming and diving program calls the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center its home. Matt Kredich has been its head coach since January 2012. In its 75-year existence, the program has produced 24 Olympians and numerous All-Americans.

    The Volunteers have also won numerous national and conference championship titles that attest to their excellence in the pool. The men’s swimming and diving team was declared NCAA Champions in 1978 and runner-up in 1973 and 1976. Their conference championship titles now number 10 with the 1970s (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978) being their most prolific period.

    Their competitive streak and winning approach have also resulted in their numerous NCAA Championship appearances, the latest of which were in the consecutive 2021-2023 seasons. The number of All-American student-athletes for swimming and diving now stands at more than 500 and counting. Among their Olympians are Jeremy Linn, Christine Magnuson, and Tripp Schwenk.

    University of Tennessee’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Jeremy Linn
    2. Christine Magnuson
    3. Ray Bussard
    4. Molly Hannis
    5. Andy Coan
    6. Melvin Stewart
    7. Peter John Stevens
    8. Ricardo Busquets
    9. José Carlos Souza
    10. Kira Toussaint
    11. Jonas Persson
    12. Tessa Cieplucha
    13. Lars Jorgensen
    14. Graham Windeatt
    15. Barry Murphy
    16. Matt Vogel
    17. Tripp Schwenk
    18. Octavio Alesi
  20. #14

    University of Miami

    Coral Gables , FL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    19%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    22K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1395/31

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Miami

    Cost of Degree: $57,194
    Expenses: $21,826
    Starting Salary: $72,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Miami Hurricanes, which compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference, are members of the NCAA Division I. Note that there’s no varsity men’s swimming team but it has a men’s diving team.

    Instead, the Hurricanes women’s swimming and diving team takes up the mantle and does it well with its top-ranked position in both the conference and national levels. The women’s swimming team won the 1975 and 1976 AIAW national championship titles.

    In the 2022-2023 swimming and diving season, Randy Ableman, its head coach, and Max Flory, a Hurricanes men’s diver, were recognized for their achievements in the annual ACC awards. Ableman was awarded the ACC Men’s Diving Coach of the Year—it was his sixth. Flory was cited as the ACC Men’s Most Valuable Diver; he is the back-to-back winner of the award after winning all three diving events in the conference championships.

    University of Miami’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Sam Dorman
    2. Greg Louganis
    3. David Wilkie
    4. Jack Nelson
    5. Jesse Vassallo
    6. Matt Gribble
    7. Manon van Rooijen
    8. Brittany Viola
    9. David Dinsmore
    10. Wendy Williams
    11. Kyle Prandi
    12. Gary Abraham
    13. Nelson Mora
    14. Rhiannon Leier
    15. Daphne Jongejans
    16. Joanne Atkinson
    17. Nancy Kemp-Arendt
  21. swimmer doing a freestyle during a competition
  22. #15

    Purdue University

    West Lafayette , IN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    53%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    55K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1335/30

    Career Outlook for degree at Purdue University

    Cost of Degree: $9,992
    Expenses: $12,930
    Starting Salary: $62,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Purdue Boilermakers men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are notable for their achievements in the pool. Note that Purdue, a public land-grant research university, has a self-sustaining athletics department and related collegiate sports programs.

    This means no taxpayer dollars, university general funds, or student fees are used in their operations. Instead, most of its annual athletic revenues come from its affiliations with the Big Ten and NCAA. These revenues are sourced from direct participation and sharing agreements, such as from conference television agreements.

    Through the years, the men’s swimming and diving teams have won individual titles, as is the case for David Boudia, Brandon Loschiavo, Steele Johnson, and Tyler Downs. The men’s and women’s categories of the swimming and diving teams compete at home games at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center, which their long-time coach Dan Ross helped in designing.

    Purdue University’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. David Boudia
    2. Trischa Zorn
    3. Chet Jastremski
    4. Beth Whittall
    5. Keith Carter
    6. Steven LoBue
    7. Penny Pence
    8. Javier Díaz
    9. Alan Somers
    10. Joan Rosazza
  23. #16

    Northwestern University

    Evanston , IL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $63K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1530/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Northwestern University

    Cost of Degree: $63,468
    Expenses: $25,926
    Starting Salary: $93,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Northwestern Wildcats men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are members of the Big Ten Conference. They compete in the NCAA Division I on the national level.

    Northwestern University, a private research university, is both a Big Ten Conference founder and charter member, as well as its only private university and with the smallest undergraduate enrollment.

    In the 1924-1936 NCAA men’s swimming and diving championship seasons, when official team points weren’t awarded, the Northwestern Wildcats won four unofficial national team championships (1924, 1929, 1930 and 1933). This is only second to the University of Michigan’s seven unofficial national team championships.

    Among individual student-athletes, the Wildcats have achieved respectable success, too. Olivia Rosendahl, a three-time All-American, won the 2017 and 2018 NCAA Women’s Platform Diving championship title. Jordan Wilimovsky became the 10-kilometer water race world champion in 2015, as well as the first American Olympian to compete in both the indoor and outdoor events in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

    Northwestern University’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Matt Grevers
    2. Jordan Wilimovsky
    3. Mihail Alexandrov
    4. Lea Maurer
    5. Steve Lundquist
    6. Orhan Aytür
    7. Dominique Diezi
    8. Adriana Marmolejo
    9. Krystal Lara
    10. Dan Zehr
    11. Bill Heusner
  24. swimmer getting ready to dive into the water
  25. #17

    Harvard University

    Cambridge , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    3%

    Graduation

    98%

    Student body

    39K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1535/35

    Career Outlook for degree at Harvard University

    Cost of Degree: $57,261
    Expenses: $26,277
    Starting Salary: $139,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Harvard Crimson men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams compete in the NCAA Division I and the Ivy League conference. Note that student-athletes in all collegiate sports in Harvard don’t receive athletic scholarships but the Ivy League private research university meets 100% of its students’ demonstrated financial need.

    Interestingly, the Harvard swimming and diving program has its roots when in 1882, the Harvard College Athletic Committee required applicants to the rowing team to learn swimming and engage in swimming races. While a Harvard swimming team was already in existence in 1900, it didn’t send a contingent to the Sportsmen’s Exhibition where Yale, Columbia, Princeton, and Penn participated.

    In 1993, Harvard’s team won the first Harvard-Yale-Princeton tri-meet. In 2014, the Crimsons captured the Ivy League championship title, a victory followed in 2017 when Harvard won the Ivy League Championships and remained undefeated in dual meets. In 2018, the team was declared Ivy League Champions again .

    Harvard University’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Tony Fingleton
    2. Peter Daland
    3. David Berkoff
    4. Schuyler Bailar
    5. Steve Clark
    6. Noelle Bassi
    7. Thum Ping Tjin
    8. Jaclyn Pangilinan
    9. Neville Hayes
    10. Alex Meyer
    11. Bobby Hackett
    12. Albert Wiggins
    13. Bill Mulliken
    14. Michael Murphy
    15. Paola Duguet
    16. Francisco Canales
    17. David Hawkins
  26. #18

    Texas A&M University

    College Station , TX
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    63%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    77K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1270/28

    Career Outlook for degree at Texas A&M University

    Cost of Degree: $12,605
    Expenses: $19,014
    Starting Salary: $67,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Texas A&M Aggies men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams proudly wear the maroon and white colors of their university. First a member of the Southwest Conference until its dissolution, the A&M Aggies subsequently became a Big 12 Conference member upon its formation in 1996. By July 1, 2012, TAMU and its collegiate sports teams became members of the Southeastern Conference.

    Home games for both men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are held at the Student Rec Center Natatorium. Current coaches are Jay Holmes (head coach, men’s swimming), Steve Bultman (head coach, women’s swimming), and Jay Lerew (head coach, diving).

    The women’s swimming program is a successful one with several Olympians, such as Olympic champion Breeja Larson (gold medal). Other notable former student-athletes are Christine Marshall (US, 2008 Summer Olympics), Alia Atkinson (Jamaica), and Triin Aljand (Estonia).

    The women’s program members are also Big 12 Swimming and Diving Champions with four titles.

    Texas A&M’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Cammile Adams
    2. Alia Atkinson
    3. Breeja Larson
    4. Sydney Pickrem
    5. Amini Fonua
    6. Julia Wilkinson
    7. Triin Aljand
    8. Tetsuo Okamoto
    9. Robbie Taylor
    10. Bethany Galat
    11. Christine Marshall
    12. Jaele Patrick
    13. Marie-Ève Marleau
    14. Lisa Bratton
    15. Béryl Gastaldello
    16. Riley Janes
    17. Alexandre Yokochi
    18. Matthew Rose
    19. Adriana Marmolejo
    20. Alfredo Jacobo
    21. Francisco Picasso
    22. Rita Medrano

    Texas A&M University’s Online Degrees

    BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 32
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  27. #19

    Emory University

    Atlanta , GA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    90%

    Student body

    16K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1490/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Emory University

    Cost of Degree: $57,948
    Expenses: $20,866
    Starting Salary: $84,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Emory Eagles men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are NCAA Division III members, specifically in the eight-member University Athletic Association (UAA). Being in Division II means that student-athletes don’t receive athletic financial aid including scholarships. The varsity sports teams are recognized as among the best all-around athletics programs in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (Directors’ Cup), too.

    Starting in the 1987-1988 season all the way into the 2022-2023, the private research university has achieved 218 UAA team championship titles including in men’s and women’s swimming and diving. Indeed, the women’s swimming and diving teams have won 12 national titles (2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, and 2012 to 2019)—the most number of national titles in Emory’s varsity sports. The men’s swimming and diving teams have won three national titles (2017, 2022, and 2023).

    Emory’s student-athletes are also known for academic excellence! Proof: There are 125 NCAA Postgraduate Scholars, a record bested only by Stanford University.

    Emory University’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Diana Nyad
    2. Andrew Wilson
    3. Wendy Weinberg
  28. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    49K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Los Angeles

    Cost of Degree: $13,401
    Expenses: $23,579
    Starting Salary: $73,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The UCLA Bruins women’s swimming and diving team compete in the Pac-12 Conference and NCAA Division I. Note that UCLA doesn’t have a men’s swimming and diving program—it was eliminated in 1994.

    Of note, too, is the scheduled transfer of UCLA from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten Conference in 2024, a move that the University of Southern California, its crosstown rival, will also make. There are speculations that the men’s swimming and diving programs may be reinstated soon after the move, perhaps because the Big Ten Conference features strong men’s teams.

    These speculations may have basis, too, considering that the men’s swimming and diving team had achieved 41 individual national championship titles. The Bruins have also one NCAA championship title (1982) and a runner-up finish, as well as 16 Olympians in its alumni roster.

    The Bruins women’s swimming and diving team members hold home games and train at Spieker Aquatics Center. Jordan Wolfrum, who is on her fifth season, is their current head coach.

    UCLA’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Tom Jager
    2. Kim Vandenberg
    3. Debbie Meyer
    4. Shirley Babashoff
    5. Doug Shaffer
    6. Brian Goodell
    7. Karen Moe
    8. Donna de Varona
    9. Monte Nitzkowski
    10. Nicolette Teo
    11. Bruce Hayes
    12. Annette Salmeen
    13. Steve Genter
    14. Tom Bruce
    15. John Davies
    16. Suzy Jones
    17. Tauna Vandeweghe
    18. Elvira Fischer
    19. Daniel O'Keeffe
    20. Rafael Escalas
    21. Lillian Watson
    22. Clay Evans
    23. Zac Zorn
    24. Mike Burton
    25. Robin Leamy
    26. Jason Plummer
    27. Dana Schoenfield
    28. Craig Oppel
    29. Chris Woo
  29. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    65%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1225/25

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Nebraska–Lincoln

    Cost of Degree: $9,620
    Expenses: $17,210
    Starting Salary: $52,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Nebraska Cornhuskers swimming and diving teams compete both in the 8NCAA Division I and the Big Ten Conference. Karen Jennings and Adam Pine are members of the University of Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame. The first men’s swimming program was created in 1922.

    In the 1980s, the swimming and diving teams dominated the Big 8 Conference with its first championship title win in 1980 under Cal Bentz (head coach) and Jeff Huber (diving coach). Peter Williams was among the great student-athletes who made the Cornhuskers name a buzzword in the swimming and diving collegiate world. The men’s team continued their Big 8 domination until 1996 when Nebraska entered the Big 12 Conference.

    Note, however, that Nebraska doesn’t have a men’s swimming and diving team since it was disbanded in 2001.

    University’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Therese Alshammar
    2. Penelope Heyns
    3. Adam Pine
    4. Peter Williams
    5. Julia Russell

    University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Online Degrees

    BGS in Fine Arts
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Marketing/Management
    • Accounting
    • Logistics And Supply Chain Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business Administration Comprehensive
    Degree Concentrations
    • Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in General Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in Nonprofit Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Organizational And Relational Communication
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in Information Technology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in Management Information Systems
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Management Information Systems
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in Criminology And Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminology And Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in Cybersecurity
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in Emergency Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Emergency Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Early Childhood & Family Advocacy
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Early Childhood Education In A Mobile Society
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAEd in Early Childhood Inclusive
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BGS in General Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in History
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in History
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BGS in Humanities
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSEd in Library Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in Library Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in Multidisciplinary Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in Political Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BGS in Professional Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSG in Social Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Social Work
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Women'S And Gender Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Medical Imaging & Therapeutic Sciences
    • Required Credits: 20
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSN in Nursing
    Degree Concentrations
    • Rn To Bsn
    • Required Credits: 20
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Medical Laboratory Science
    • Required Credits: 35
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Applied Health Sciences
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Gerontology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BMS in Gerontology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Applied Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  30. #22

    Columbia University

    New York , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $66K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    37K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1535/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Columbia University

    Cost of Degree: $65,508
    Expenses: $19,958
    Starting Salary: $115,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Columbia University Lions men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams compete in the eight-member Ivy League Conference along with their fellow Ivy League student-athletes. Despite its small size, the Ivy League Conference provides more intercollegiate athletic opportunities than the other intercollegiate sports conferences. Columbia University, along with its Ivy League counterparts, are among the top 20 schools in NCAA Division I that offer the highest number of sports for men and women.

    Jim Bolster is the current head coach for the men’s swimming and diving program. Scott Donie is the current head coach for the men’s and women’s diving program. The Lions have won eight individual championship titles in the NCAA.

    Columbia University’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Jenny Thompson
    2. Katie Meili
    3. Cristina Teuscher
    4. Sammy Lee
    5. Eugene Rogers
    6. Jane Katz
    7. Manon Aubry
    8. Mark Weldon
    9. Dominik Koll
  31. #23

    Ohio State University

    Columbus , OH
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    53%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    67K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1395/30

    Career Outlook for degree at Ohio State University

    Cost of Degree: $12,485
    Expenses: $17,700
    Starting Salary: $53,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Ohio State Buckeyes are members of the Big Ten Conference and NCAA Division I. The men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams benefit from Ohio State’s sports endowment—the largest in North America.

    In 1927, the women’s swimming team was established. By 1939, the men’s swimming team was created as a result of four student-athletes breaking the 800-yard breaststroke during the Amateur Athletic Union event.

    The men’s team have won 11 NCAA team championships in the 1940s-1960s seasons. The women’s synchronized swimming teams have won an impressive 34 national team championships, often in consecutive years (e.g., 1977-1980, 1985-1997, 2000-2004, 2009-2011, and 2017-2023). The men’s swimming team have also won 13 Big ten regular-season championships.

    Ohio State University’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. James Counsilman
    2. Ron O'Brien
    3. Ford Konno
    4. Mary Ellen Clark
    5. Bob Clotworthy
    6. Yoshi Oyakawa
    7. Patrick Jeffrey
    8. Bill Smith
    9. Samantha Cheverton
    10. Marko Strahija
    11. Dick Cleveland
    12. Mark Bradshaw
    13. Nikša Roki
    14. Miloš Cerović
    15. Nicholas Rees
    16. Albert Wiggins
    17. Sam Hall
    18. John Higgins
    19. Jerry Holan
    20. Gülşah Günenç
    21. Kelly McCormick
  32. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $53K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    79%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1270/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Loyola University Maryland

    Cost of Degree: $53,430
    Expenses: $19,170
    Starting Salary: $78,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Loyola Greyhounds men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams compete at NCAA Division I and are members of the Patriot league since July 1, 2013. Many of its student-athletes have made their mark in the sport, too,

    Philip Scholz, a blind Paralympian, holds several records in Paralympic swimming. Katie Hoff, an Olympian, was a former student-athlete and swimming coach.

    Loyola University – Maryland’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Katie Hoff
    2. McKenzie Coan
    3. Philip Scholz
  33. #25

    University of Louisville

    Louisville , KY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    82%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    26K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1170/23

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Louisville

    Cost of Degree: $12,520
    Expenses: $19,160
    Starting Salary: $48,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The Louisville Cardinals swimming and diving teams previously competed in the Big East Conference (2005-2013) before moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014. Denis Petrashov and Denis Loktev, both Olympians, are former Cardinals on the team. Nowadays, the teams call Ralph Wright Natatorium their second home.

    University of Louisville’s Most Influential Swimmers and Divers

    1. Mallory Comerford
    2. Kelsi Dahlia
    3. Zach Harting
    4. Grigoriy Tarasevich
    5. Susan Shields
    6. Carlos Almeida
    7. Pedro Oliveira

    University of Louisville’s Online Degrees

    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accountancy
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA/BS in Communication
    • Required Credits: 121
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 121
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Organizational Leadership & Learning
    Degree Concentrations
    • Counseling and Human Relations Track
    • Early Childhood Education
    • Healthcare Leadership Track
    • Career & Technical Education
    • Counseling & Human Relations
    • Early Childhood Education
    • Healthcare Leadership (term or flex option)
    • Leadership
    • Training & Organization Development
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Nursing
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA/BS in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 121
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Sport Administration
    • Required Credits: 123
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
Looking for other influential colleges? Check out our rankings of the most influential colleges for golf and football!

And for even more colleges with strong athletics programs, take a look at the Most Influential Colleges in Sports Today.

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