| Rank/Team | 1995 Record | 1995 Final Rank* | Comment |
| 1. North Carolina | 25-1-0 | 1 | UNC has the most talent |
| 2. Notre Dame | 21-2-2 | 4 | Defending champ’s as good as Carolina — almost |
| 3. Santa Clara | 16-4-2 | 7 | Recruiting class makes Broncos a contender |
| 4. Portland | 21-1-2 | 2 | A third straight final four’s within reach |
| 5. Connecticut | 19-3-2 | 5 | Len Tsantiris always produces quality product |
| 6. Duke | 14-7-1 | 6 | Blue Devils reload after loss of Kelly Walbert |
| 7. Stanford | 16-4-0 | 8 | The Steve Swanson era begins |
| 8. Texas A&M | 18-6-0 | 10 | Rising power debuts in Big 12 |
| 9. Virginia | 14-5-2 | 11 | Can April Heinrichs take Cavs to the next level? |
| 10. Maryland | 18-6-0 | 9 | Alan Kirkup: See above |
| 11. Clemson | 14-7-0 | 15 | More good recruits strengthen the Tigers |
| 12. William & Mary | 14-7-1 | 14 | John Daly’s team wasn’t just Natalie Neaton |
| 13. Washington | 12-8-0 | NR | Huskies have quietly become a major force |
| 14. Wisconsin | 14-6-4 | NR | Are the Badgers ready to regain Big 10 supremacy? |
| 15. Minnesota | 16-5-2 | NR | Jen McElmury, Jen Walek keep the Gophers potent |
| 16. Kentucky | 17-7-0 | 18 | Doesn’t lose much from its playoff team |
| 17. Vanderbilt | 14-7-0 | NR | SEC power will battle tough schedule |
| 18. Massachusetts | 14-4-2 | 16 | Working on sixth playoff bid in a row |
| 19. N.C. State | 19-5-0 | 9 | Loss of Thori Staples hurts |
| 20. Florida | 14-4-2 | NR | Danielle Fotopolous joins Gators from SMU |
* = ranking at the end of the regular season