NCAA Division III independent schools
NCAA Division III independent schools are four-year institutions that compete in college athletics at the NCAA Division III level, but do not belong to an established athletic conference for a particular sport. These schools may however still compete as members of an athletic conference in other sports. A school may also be fully independent, and not belong to any athletic conference for any sport at all. The reason for independent status varies among institutions, but it is frequently because the school's primary athletic conference does not sponsor a particular sport.
Full independents
Departing members are highlighted in pink.
Current members
Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Football? | Future primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asbury University | Wilmore, Kentucky | 1890 | Christian | 1,054 | Eagles | 2021 | No | TBA |
Bob Jones University | Greenville, South Carolina | 1927 | Nondenominational | 2,916 | Bruins | 2020 | No | TBA |
Lyon College | Batesville, Arkansas | 1872 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
700 | Scots | 2022 | Yes | SLIAC |
Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown, Wisconsin | 1968 | Baptist | 1,169 | Sabercats | 2013 | No | None |
Trinity Washington University[a] | Washington, D.C. | 1897 | Catholic (SNDdeN) |
2,100 | Tigers | 2007; 2015[b] |
No | None |
- Notes
Former members
Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Football? | Current primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mississippi University for Women[a] | Columbus, Mississippi | 1884 | Public | 2,479 | Owls | 2017 | 2022 | No | St. Louis (SLIAC) |
Nebraska Wesleyan University | Lincoln, Nebraska | 1887 | United Methodist |
1,600 | Prairie Wolves | 1982[b] | 2016[b] | Yes | American Rivers (ARC) |
Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa, North Carolina | 1894 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
650 | Owls | 2020 | 2022 | No | Coast to Coast (C2C) |
- Notes
- ^ MUW discontinued its athletics program after the 2002–03 school year.
- ^ a b Nebraska Wesleyan was also a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1969–70 to 2015–16, therefore it held dual membership with the NAIA and the NCAA.
Football
Departing members are highlighted in pink.
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Future conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern University | Eagles | St. Davids, Pennsylvania | 1952 | Private | 3,300 | MAC (2023) |
Hilbert College | Hawks | Hamburg, New York | 1957 | Private | 1,100 | Empire 8 (2024) |
Field hockey
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Medaille College | Mavericks | Buffalo, New York | 1937 | Private | 3,925 | AMCC |
Meredith College† | Avenging Angels | Raleigh, North Carolina | 1891 | Private | 1,990 | USA South |
Southern Virginia University | Knights | Buena Vista, Virginia | 1867 | Private | 1,106 | USA South |
† - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.
Golf
Men
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Christopher Newport University | Captains | Newport News, Virginia | 1961 | Public | 5,186 | Coast to Coast |
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire | Blugolds | Eau Claire | 1916 | Public | 10,043 | WIAC |
Women
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Christopher Newport University | Captains | Newport News, Virginia | 1961 | Public | 5,186 | Coast to Coast |
Mount Mary University† | Blue Angels | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1913 | Private | 1,209 | Coast to Coast |
† - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.
Potential future independent
Hartford started a transition from NCAA Division I in 2021–22, and will join the D-III Commonwealth Coast Conference—which sponsors golf only for men—in July 2023.
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Future primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Hartford | Hawks | West Hartford, Connecticut | 1877 | Private | 6,792 | Commonwealth Coast (2023) |
Ice hockey
Men
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albertus Magnus College | Falcons | New Haven, Connecticut | 1925 | Private | 1,961 | GNAC |
Anna Maria College | Amcats | Paxton, Massachusetts | 1946 | Private | 1,500 | GNAC |
Rivier University | Raiders | Nashua, New Hampshire | 1933 | Private | 2,520 | GNAC |
State University of New York at Canton | Roos | Canton, New York | 1906 | Public | 3,205 | NAC |
Women
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anna Maria College | Amcats | Paxton, Massachusetts | 1946 | Private | 1,500 | GNAC |
Hilbert College | Hawks | Hamburg, New York | 1957 | Private (Catholic) |
1,100 | AMCC |
Rivier University | Raiders | Nashua, New Hampshire | 1933 | Private | 2,520 | GNAC |
Worcester State University | Lancers | Worcester, Massachusetts | 1874 | Public | 5,724 | MASCAC |
Lacrosse
Men
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whittier College | Poets | Whittier, California | 1887 | Private | 1,540 | SCIAC |
Rowing
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gordon College | Fighting Scots | Wenham, Massachusetts | 1889 | Private | 2,109 | Commonwealth Coast |
Nazareth College | Golden Flyers | Pittsford, New York | 1924 | Private | 3,140 | Empire 8 |
Swimming & diving
Men
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coe College[a] | Kohawks | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 1851 | Private | 1,355 | American Rivers |
Gordon College[b] | Fighting Scots | Wenham, Massachusetts | 1889 | Private | 2,109 | Commonwealth Coast |
Johns Hopkins University | Blue Jays | Baltimore, Maryland | 1876 | Private | 20,174 | Centennial |
Loras College[a] | Duhawks | Dubuque, Iowa | 1839 | Private | 1,550 | American Rivers |
Luther College[a] | Norse | Decorah, Iowa | 1861 | Lutheran | 2,573 | American Rivers |
Nebraska Wesleyan University[a] | Prairie Wolves | Lincoln, Nebraska | 1887 | Private | 1,600 | American Rivers |
Simpson College[a] | Storm | Indianola, Iowa | 1860 | Private | 1,966 | American Rivers |
Southern Virginia University | Knights | Buena Vista, Virginia | 1867 | Private | 1,106 | USA South |
Women
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coe College[a] | Kohawks | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 1851 | Private | 1,355 | American Rivers |
Gordon College[b] | Fighting Scots | Wenham, Massachusetts | 1889 | Private | 2,109 | Commonwealth Coast |
Johns Hopkins University | Blue Jays | Baltimore, Maryland | 1876 | Private | 20,174 | Centennial |
Loras College[a] | Duhawks | Dubuque, Iowa | 1839 | Private | 1,550 | American Rivers |
Luther College[a] | Norse | Decorah, Iowa | 1861 | Lutheran | 2,573 | American Rivers |
Mills College† [c] [d] | Cyclones | Oakland, California | 1852 | Private | 1,345 | Coast to Coast |
Nebraska Wesleyan University[a] | Prairie Wolves | Lincoln, Nebraska | 1887 | Private | 1,600 | American Rivers |
Simpson College[a] | Storm | Indianola, Iowa | 1860 | Private | 1,966 | American Rivers |
Southern Virginia University | Knights | Buena Vista, Virginia | 1867 | Private | 1,106 | USA South |
† - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.
- Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Coe College, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, and Simpson College compete in an invitational held by the American Rivers Conference but it is not an official sport sponsored by the conference so the colleges are functional independents.
- ^ a b Gordon College compete in the New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association Championship which is not recognized by the NCAA therefore these colleges are considered independents.
- ^ Mills College will merge with Northeastern University on July 1, 2023 thus the athletics department will be discontinued.
- ^ Mills College competes in the Liberal Arts Conference Championship which is not recognized by the NCAA therefore Mills is considered an independent.
Tennis
Men
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cairn University | Highlanders | Langhorne, Pennsylvania | 1913 | Private | 2,200 | CSAC |
State University of New York at Oswego | Lakers | Oswego, New York | 1861 | Public | 8,909 | SUNYAC |
Track & field (indoor)
Men
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alfred State College | Pioneers | Alfred, New York | 1908 | Private | 3,500 | AMCC |
Gwynedd Mercy University | Griffins | Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania | 1948 | Private | 2,017 | Atlantic East |
Immaculata University | Mighty Macs | Immaculata, Pennsylvania | 1940 | Private | 1,043 | Atlantic East |
Marywood University | Pacers | Scranton, Pennsylvania | 1915 | Private | 2,470 | Atlantic East |
McMurry University | War Hawks | Abilene, Texas | 1923 | Private | 1,430 | ASC |
Wentworth Institute of Technology | Leopards | Boston, Massachusetts | 1904 | Private | 3,728 | Commonwealth Coast |
Women
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alfred State College | Pioneers | Alfred, New York | 1908 | Private | 3,500 | AMCC |
Gwynedd Mercy University | Griffins | Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania | 1948 | Private | 2,017 | Atlantic East |
Immaculata University | Mighty Macs | Immaculata, Pennsylvania | 1940 | Private | 1,043 | Atlantic East |
Marywood University | Pacers | Scranton, Pennsylvania | 1915 | Private | 2,470 | Atlantic East |
McMurry University | War Hawks | Abilene, Texas | 1923 | Private | 1,430 | ASC |
Wentworth Institute of Technology | Leopards | Boston, Massachusetts | 1904 | Private | 3,728 | Commonwealth Coast |
Track & field (outdoor)
Men
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wentworth Institute of Technology[a] | Leopards | Boston, Massachusetts | 1904 | Private | 3,728 | Commonwealth Coast |
- Notes
- ^ Wentworth Institute of Technology competes in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship which is not recognized as a varsity sport by the conference thus Wentworth Tech is considered an independent.
Volleyball (indoor)
Men
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pratt Institute | Cannoneers | Brooklyn, New York | 1877 | Private | 4,829 | Coast to Coast |
University of California, Santa Cruz | Banana Slugs | Santa Cruz, California | 1965 | Public | 19,700 | Coast to Coast |
Wrestling
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hunter College | Hawks | New York, New York (Manhattan) | 1870 | Public | 21,309 | CUNYAC |
Keystone College | Giants | La Plume, Pennsylvania | 1868 | Private | 1,600 | CSAC |
Emerging sports for women
Acrobatics & tumbling
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
East Texas Baptist University | Tigers | Marshall, Texas | 1912 | Private | 1,714 | ASC |
University of Mary Hardin–Baylor | Crusaders | Belton, Texas | 1845 | Private | 2,713 | ASC |
Rugby
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colby-Sawyer College | Chargers | New London, New Hampshire | 1837 | Private | 1,043 | GNAC |
Marywood University | Pacers | Scranton, Pennsylvania | 1915 | Private | 2,470 | Atlantic East |
Norwich University | Cadets | Northfield, Vermont | 1819 | Military | 2,300 | GNAC |
University of New England | Nor'easters | Biddeford, Maine | 1831 | Private | 8,085 | Commonwealth Coast |
Triathlon
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Central College | Dutch | Pella, Iowa | 1853 | Private | 1,575 | American Rivers |
Coe College | Kohawks | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 1851 | Private | 1,355 | American Rivers |
Millikin University | Big Blue | Decatur, Illinois | 1901 | Private | 2,118 | CCIW |
North Central College | Cardinals | Naperville, Illinois | 1861 | Private | 2,490 | CCIW |