List of schools reclassifying their athletic programs to NCAA Division I
The following is a list of United States colleges and universities that are either in the process of reclassifying their athletic programs to NCAA Division I, or have announced future plans to do the same.[1]
Currently reclassifying
This is limited to schools that have begun the formal Division I reclassification process.
| Institution | Athletics | Previous Division II conference | Current Division I conference | Start Year | Active (Full member) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Baptist University | Lancers | Pacific West Conference | Western Athletic Conference | 2018–19 | 2022–23 | [2] |
| University of North Alabama | Lions | Gulf South Conference | ASUN Conference Football: Big South Conference |
2018–19 | 2022–23 | [3] |
| Merrimack College | Warriors | Northeast-10 Conference | Northeast Conference | 2019–20 | 2023–24 | [4] |
Future reclassifications
This is limited to schools that have officially announced plans to reclassify to Division I, but have not yet begun their transitions. Note that the standard transition period for schools moving from NCAA Division I to Division II is two years, as opposed to the four years required for the reverse move.
| Institution | Athletics | Current Division II conference | Future Division I conference | Start Year | Active (Full member) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellarmine University | Knights | Great Lakes Valley Conference | ASUN Conference | 2020–21 | 2024–25 | [5][6] |
| Dixie State University | Trailblazers | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | WAC Football: FCS independent |
2020–21 | 2024–25 | [7] |
| Tarleton State University | Texans | Lone Star Conference | WAC Football: FCS independent |
2020-21 | 2024-25 | |
| University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) | Tritons | California Collegiate Athletic Association | Big West Conference | 2020–21 | 2024–25 | [8] |
| Institution | Athletics | Current Division III Conference | Future Division I Conference | Start Year | Active (Full member) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of St. Thomas | Tommies | Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Summit League Football: TBD Ice hockey: TBD |
2021-22 | TBA | Pending a waiver from the NCAA to move directly from Division III to Division I[9][10][11] |
References
- ^ "Multidivision and Reclassifying for 2014–15" (PDF). NCAA. August 7, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
- ^ "CBU announces D-1, WAC move" (Press release). California Baptist Lancers. January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- ^ "UNA Accepts ASUN Division I Invitation" (Press release). North Alabama Lions. December 6, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
- ^ "Merrimack College Accepts Invitation to Join the Northeast Conference" (Press release). Northeast Conference. September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ^ "ASUN Conference Announces Addition of Bellarmine University" (Press release). ASUN Conference. June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "Bellarmine University athletics announces move to NCAA Division I" (Press release). Deseret News. June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "Dixie State to move up to Division 1,join Western Athletic Conference in 2020-21" (Press release). Deseret News. January 11, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
- ^ "A New Era: UC San Diego to Join Big West Conference" (Press release). University of California, San Diego. November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ "Oct 4 2019 Announcement". www.stthomas.edu. Minnesota: University of St. Thomas. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "University of St. Thomas invited to join Division I Summit League". FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul. October 4, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "St. Thomas announces intentions to go Division I after getting removed from MIAC". Star Tribune. October 5, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.