The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), formerly the New Jersey State Athletic Conference, is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. All of its current full members are public universities in New Jersey and New York. Affiliate members (lacrosse-only, football-only, or track-only) are located in Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Vermont.
History
Recent events On July 2, 2024, the State University of New York at New Paltz announced that it will join the NJAC as a full member, thus becoming the NJAC's first-ever full member located outside of the state of New Jersey, beginning the 2026–27 academic year.
Chronological timeline 1957 – In 1957, the NJAC was founded as the New Jersey State Athletic Conference (NJSAC). Charter members included Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), Montclair State College (now Montclair State University), Jersey City State College (now New Jersey City University), Newark State College (now Kean University), Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) and William Paterson College (now William Paterson University), beginning the 1957–58 academic year. 1976 – Ramapo College of New Jersey joined the NJSAC in the 1976–77 academic year. 1977 – Stockton State College (now Stockton University) joined the NJSAC in the 1977–78 academic year. 1985: Women's programs became part of the NJSAC, when the Jersey Athletic Conference (a women's sports athletic conference) was merged into the NJSAC; thus being rebranded as the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), beginning the 1985–86 academic year. Rutgers University at Camden and Rutgers University at Newark joined the NJAC in the 1985–86 academic year. 2000 – The State University of New York at Cortland joined the NJAC as an affiliate member for football in the 2000 fall season (2000–01 academic year). 2004: New Jersey City left the NJAC to become an NCAA D-III Independent after the 2003–04 academic year. Western Connecticut State University joined the NJAC as an affiliate member for football in the 2004 fall season (2004–05 academic year). 2005 – New Jersey City rejoined the NJAC after spending one season as an NCAA D-III Independent school in the 2005–06 academic year. 2006 – Buffalo State College (now Buffalo State University) joined the NJAC as an affiliate member for football in the 2006 fall season (2006–07 academic year). 2008 – The State University of New York at Brockport and the State University of New York at Morrisville (a.k.a. Morrisville State College) joined the NJAC as affiliate members for football in the 2008 fall season (2008–09 academic year). 2011 – The State University of New York at Farmingdale (a.k.a. Farmingdale State College) and St. Joseph's College–Long Island (now St. Joseph's University–Long Island) joined the NJAC as affiliate members for men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field in the 2011–12 academic year). 2012 – Buffalo State left the NJAC as an affiliate member for football after the 2011 fall season (2011–12 academic year). 2013 – Western Connecticut State left the NJAC as an affiliate member for football after the 2012 fall season (2012–13 academic year). 2014: SUNY Brockport left the NJAC as an affiliate member for football after the 2013 fall season (2013–14 academic year). Southern Virginia University joined the NJAC as an affiliate member for football in the 2014 fall season (2014–15 academic year). 2015: SUNY Cortland and SUNY Morrisville left the NJAC as affiliate members for football after the 2014 fall season (2014–15 academic year). Christopher Newport University, Frostburg State University, Salisbury University and Wesley College joined the NJAC as affiliate members for football in the 2015 fall season (2015–16 academic year). 2018 – The State University of New York at Oneonta, the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater joined the NJAC as affiliate members for men's tennis in the 2019 spring season (2018–19 academic year). 2019: Frostburg State and Southern Virginia left the NJAC as affiliate members for football after the 2018 fall season (2018–19 academic year). Five institutions joined the NJAC as affiliate members, all effective in the 2019–20 academic year: Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg (a.k.a. Penn State–Harrisburg) for men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field and the State University of New York at Oneonta, the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater for men's tennis 2020 – St. Joseph's–Long Island left the NJAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field after the 2019–20 academic year; due to athletic budget cuts. 2021 – Wesley (Del.) left the NJAC as an affiliate member for football after the 2020 fall season (2020–21 academic year); after the school closed down to later be acquired by Delaware State University. 2023: Five institutions left the NJAC as affiliate members, all effective after the 2022–23 academic year: Penn State–Harrisburg for men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field and SUNY Oneonta, Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Wisconsin–La Crosse and Wisconsin–Whitewater left the NJAC as affiliate members for men's tennis The University of Mary Washington, Roger Williams University and the United States Merchant Marine Academy (a.k.a. Merchant Marine) [with Salisbury adding to its NJAC affiliate membership] joined the NJAC as affiliate members for men's and women's swimming & diving in the 2023–24 academic year. 2024 – SUNY Farmingdale left the NJAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's outdoor track & field after the 2024 spring season (2023–24 academic year). 2025 – Vermont State University–Castleton joined the NJAC as an affiliate member for football in the 2025 fall season (2025–26 academic year). 2026: New Jersey City merged with Kean and left the NJAC & the NCAA to join the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) as an independent after the 2025–26 academic year. The State University of New York at New Paltz (a.k.a. SUNY New Paltz) joined the NJAC, beginning the 2026–27 academic year; thus becoming the NJAC's first-ever full member located outside of the state of New Jersey. The NJAC began sponsoring men's lacrosse, adding Centenary College of Louisiana and Colorado College.
Member schools Current full members The NJAC currently has ten full members, all are public schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Colors Football Kean University Union, New Jersey 1855 Public 13,352 Cougars 1957 Yes Montclair State University Upper Montclair, New Jersey 1908 22,570 Red Hawks 1957 Yes Ramapo College Mahwah, New Jersey 1969 5,145 Roadrunners 1976 No Rowan University Glassboro, New Jersey 1923 22,903 Profs 1957 Yes Rutgers University–Camden Camden, New Jersey 1950 6,158 Scarlet Raptors 1985 No Rutgers University–Newark Newark, New Jersey 1945 12,321 Scarlet Raiders 1985 No State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York 1828 7,489 Hawks 2026 No Stockton University Galloway, New Jersey 1969 8,392 Ospreys 1977 No The College of New Jersey Ewing, New Jersey 1855 7,340 Lions 1957 Yes William Paterson University Wayne, New Jersey 1855 8,398 Pioneers 1957 Yes
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Affiliate members The NJAC currently has seven affiliate members, all but three are public schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined NJACsport(s) Primaryconference Centenary College of Louisiana Shreveport, Louisiana 1825 United Methodist 563 Gentlemen &Ladies 2026 men's lacrosse Southern (SCAC) Christopher Newport University Newport News, Virginia 1961 Public 5,186 Captains 2015 Football Coast to Coast (C2C) Colorado College Colorado Springs, Colorado 1874 Nonsectarian 2,266 Tigers 2026 men's lacrosse Southern (SCAC) Farmingdale State College East Farmingdale, New York 1912 Public 7,000 Rams 2011 Men's indoor track & field Skyline 2011 Women's indoor track & field Fredericksburg, Virginia 1908 Public 4,862 Eagles 2023 Men's swimming & diving Coast to Coast (C2C) 2023 Women's swimming & diving Roger Williams University Bristol, Rhode Island 1956 Nonsectarian 4,702 Hawks 2023 Men's swimming & diving C. New England (CNE) 2023 Women's swimming & diving Salisbury University Salisbury, Maryland 1925 Public 8,657 Sea Gulls 2015 Football Coast to Coast (C2C) 2023 Men's swimming & diving 2023 Women's swimming & diving United States Merchant Marine Academy(Merchant Marine) Kings Point, New York 1943 Federal 1,011 Mariners 2023 Men's swimming & diving Skyline 2023 Women's swimming & diving Castleton, Vermont 1787 Public 2,363 Spartans 2025 Football Little East (LEC)
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Former full members The NJAC had one former full member, a public school:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Currentconference New Jersey City University Jersey City, New Jersey 1929 6,800 Gothic Knights 1957;2005 2004;2026 USCAA Independent
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Former affiliate members The NJAC had 15 former affiliate members, all but two were public schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left NJACsport(s) Primaryconference Buffalo State College Buffalo,New York 1871 Public 11,000 Bengals 2006 2012 Football S.U. New York (SUNYAC) Farmingdale State College East Farmingdale,New York 1912 Public 7,000 Rams 2011 2024 Men's outdoor track & field Skyline 2011 2024 Women's outdoor track & field Frostburg State University Frostburg,Maryland 1898 Public 5,215 Bobcats 2015 2019 Football Mountain East (MEC) Penn State–Harrisburg Lower Swatara,Pennsylvania 1966 Public 5,046 Lions 2019 2023 Men's indoor track & field United East (UEC) 2019 2023 Men's outdoor track & field 2019 2023 Women's indoor track & field 2019 2023 Women's outdoor track & field Patchogue,New York 1916 Nonsectarian 3,810 GoldenEagles 2011 2020 Men's indoor track & field Skyline 2011 2020 Men's outdoor track & field 2011 2020 Women's indoor track & field 2011 2020 Women's outdoor track & field Southern Virginia University Buena Vista,Virginia 1867 LDS Church 1,106 Knights 2014 2019 Football USA South State University of New York at Brockport Brockport,New York 1867 Public 6,962 GoldenEagles 2008 2014 Football Empire 8 (E8) State University of New York at Cortland Cortland,New York 1868 Public 6,199 Red Dragons 2000 2015 Football S.U. New York (SUNYAC) State University of New York at Morrisville Morrisville,New York 1908 Public 3,356 Mustangs 2008 2015 Football United East (UEC) State University of New York at Oneonta Oneonta,New York 1889 Public 6,543 Red Dragons 2018 2023 Men's tennis S.U. New York (SUNYAC) Wesley College Dover,Delaware 1873 UnitedMethodist 2,320 Wolverines 2015 2021 Football N/A Western Connecticut State University Danbury,Connecticut 1903 Public 6,000 Colonials 2004 2013 Football Little East (LEC) Eau Claire,Wisconsin 1916 Public 10,737 Blugolds 2018 2023 Men's tennis Wisconsin (WIAC) La Crosse,Wisconsin 1909 Public 10,679 Eagles 2018 2023 Men's tennis Wisconsin (WIAC) Whitewater,Wisconsin 1868 Public 12,346 Warhawks 2018 2023 Men's tennis Wisconsin (WIAC)
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Membership timeline
Sports A divisional format was used for basketball (M / W), baseball, softball, and volleyball until after the 2011 12 school year. Montclair State New Jersey City Ramapo Rutgers–Newark William Paterson Kean Rowan Rutgers–Camden Stockton TCNJ
The NJAC sponsors championships in the following sports:
+ Conference sports Sport Men's Women's Baseball Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Football Lacrosse Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field (Indoor) Track & Field (Outdoor) Volleyball
Men's sports