NCAA Division II independent schools are four-year institutions that compete in college athletics at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, but do not belong to an established college 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 Division II was created in 1973, at a time when the NCAA included dozens of independent members, plus members of conferences who played as independents in one or more sports. The trend toward consolidating the NCAA membership into conferences began in the late 1970s, and within a decade the number of independent programs declined dramatically. The lists below include only the small number of programs still functioning on an independent basis in recent years.
Current members Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Colors Futureconference Bayamón, Puerto Rico 1971 Public 2,967 Cowboys ? Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 1911 Public 10,716 Bulldogs ? San Juan, Puerto Rico 1903 Public 11,493 Gallitos &Jerezanas ? Salem University Salem, West Virginia 1888 Private(For-profit) 894 Tigers 2010;2016 River States
Notes
Former members
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Colors Currentconference Bluefield State University Bluefield, West Virginia 1895 Public 1,246 Big Blue 2013 2023 Central (CIAA) Denver, Colorado 1864 Nonsectarian 14,130 Pioneers 1990 1998 West Coast (WCC) Emory & Henry University Emory, Virginia 1836 Private 1,250 Wasps 2021 2022 South Atlantic (SAC) Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, Maryland 1808 Catholic 1,889 Mountaineers 1978 1983 Metro Oakland City University Oakland City, Indiana 1885 Private 2,350 Mighty Oaks 2006 2020 River States (RSC) Irvine, California 1965 Public 37,243 Anteaters 1965 1977 Big West (BWC) Riverside, California 1954 Public 26,809 Highlanders 2000 2001 Big West (BWC) Green Bay, Wisconsin 1965 Public 11,188 Phoenix 1973 1981 Horizon Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1956 Public 22,481 Panthers 1964 1973 Horizon 1987 1990 Wright State University Fairborn, Ohio 1964 Public 17,074 Raiders 1970 1987 Horizon Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio 1908 Public 15,058 Penguins 1960 1981 Horizon
Notes
Men's sponsored sports by school Departing members in pink. SchoolBaseballBasketballCrosscountrySoccerTennisTrack& fieldoutdoorVolleyballWrestlingTotalINDsportsUPR Bayamón5UPR Mayagüez5UPR Río Piedras5SalemMECMEC5
Women's sponsored sports by school Departing members in pink. SchoolBasketballCrosscountrySoccerSoftballTennisTrack& fieldoutdoorVolleyballTotalINDsportsUPR Bayamón5UPR Mayagüez5UPR Río Piedras5SalemPBC5
Other sponsored sports by school SchoolMenWomenSwimming& divingWaterpolo ‡Swimming& divingWaterpolo ‡SalemMECWWPAMECWWPA ‡ — D-I sport
Baseball independents
Does not include all-sports independent teams that sponsor the sport (Salem), since they have been listed before.
Current members InstitutionLocationNicknamePrimaryconferenceBluefield State UniversityBluefield, West VirginiaBig BlueCIAAVirginia State UniversityEttrick, VirginiaTrojansCIAA
Football independents
Does not include all-sports independent teams that sponsor the sport, since they have been listed before.
Current members InstitutionLocationNicknamePrimaryconferenceNortheastern State UniversityTahlequah, OklahomaRiverHawksMIAA
Soccer independents
Does not include all-sports independent teams that sponsor the sport (UPR Bayamón men's soccer and UPR Bayamón, UPR Río Piedras and Salem women's soccer), since they have been listed before. Both Jamestown and Shaw men's soccer programs will join new conferences as affiliate members for men's soccer beginning with the 2027 season: Jamestown to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and Shaw to Conference Carolinas.
Current members InstitutionLocationNicknamePrimaryconference(M)(W)Allen UniversityColumbia, South CarolinaYellow JacketsSIACBluefield State UniversityBluefield, West VirginiaBig BlueCIAAEdward Waters UniversityJacksonville, FloridaLady TigersSIACJamestown, North DakotaJimmiesNSICShaw UniversityRaleigh, North CarolinaBearsCIAATuskegee UniversityTuskegee, AlabamaTigersSIACVirginia State UniversityEttrick, VirginiaTrojansCIAA
Men's wrestling independents
Does not include all-sports independent teams that sponsor the sport (UPR Mayagüez), since they have been listed before. Simon Fraser will leave NCAA Division II to join the Canadian-based U Sports in 2027.
Current members InstitutionLocationNicknamePrimaryconferenceBridgeport, ConnecticutPurple KnightsCACCFelician UniversityRutherford, New JerseyGolden FalconsCACCSimon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, British ColumbiaRed LeafsGNAC
Other sports Golf Does not include all-sports independent teams that sponsor the sport, since they have been listed before.
InstitutionLocationNicknamePrimaryconference(M)(W)Bluefield State UniversityBluefield, West VirginiaBig BlueCIAADaemen UniversityAmherst, New YorkWildcatsECCPost UniversityWaterbury, ConnecticutEaglesCACCRoberts Wesleyan UniversityChili, New YorkRedhawksECCSparkill, New YorkSpartansECC
Rowing Does not include all-sports independent teams that sponsor the sport, since they have been listed before.
InstitutionLocationNicknamePrimaryconferenceAssumption UniversityWorcester, MassachusettsGreyhoundsNortheast-10Charleston, West VirginiaGolden EaglesMECFranklin Pierce UniversityRindge, New HampshireRavensNortheast-10 (Jefferson)Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaRamsCACC
Swimming & diving Does not include all-sports independent teams that sponsor the sport, since they have been listed before.
InstitutionLocationNicknamePrimaryconference(M)(W)Roberts Wesleyan UniversityNorth Chili, New YorkRedhawksECC
Tennis Does not include all-sports independent teams that sponsor the sport (all of them in men's & women's tennis), since they have been listed before.
InstitutionLocationNicknamePrimaryconference(M)(W)Bluefield State UniversityBluefield, West VirginiaBig BlueCIAAJohnson C. Smith UniversityCharlotte, North CarolinaGolden BullsCIAAShaw UniversityRaleigh, North CarolinaBearsCIAAVirginia State UniversityPetersburg, VirginiaTrojansCIAA
Sports not sponsored by D-II
InstitutionLocationNicknamePrimaryconferenceSport Bluefield State University Bluefield, West Virginia Big Blue CIAA Acrobatics & tumbling Bridgeport University Bridgeport, Connecticut Purple Knights CACC California State University, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Golden Eagles CCAA Beach volleyballChaminade University of HonoluluHonolulu, HawaiiSilverswordsPacWestBeach volleyballCoker UniversityHartsville, South CarolinaCobrasSACColorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction, ColoradoMavericksRMACBeach volleyballConcordia University–IrvineIrvine, CaliforniaEaglesPacWestBeach volleyball Buffalo, New York Saints ECC East Stroudsburg University East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania Warriors PSAC (Edinboro) Edinboro, Pennsylvania Fighting Scots PSAC Felician University Rutherford, New Jersey Golden Falcons CACC Fort Hays State University Hays, Kansas Tigers MIAA Frostburg State University Frostburg, Maryland Bobcats MEC Gannon University Erie, Pennsylvania Golden Knights PSAC Hawaii Pacific UniversityHonolulu, HawaiiSharksPacWestBeach volleyball Jamestown, North Dakota Jimmies NSIC Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, Tennessee Railsplitters SAC (Lock Haven) Lock Haven, Pennsylvania Bald Eagles PSAC McKendree University Lebanon, Illinois Bearcats GLVC Beach volleyball Minot State University Minot, North Dakota Beavers NSIC (Pitt–Johnstown) Johnstown, Pennsylvania Mountain Cats PSAC Point Park University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pioneers MEC Sioux Falls, South Dakota Cougars NSIC Southwest Baptist UniversityBolivar, MissouriBearcatsGLVCBeach volleyballSpring Hill CollegeMobile, AlabamaBadgersSIACBeach volleyballTexas A&M University–KingsvilleKingsville, TexasJavelinasLSCBeach volleyball Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio Dragons G-MAC Tusculum UniversityTusculum, TennesseePioneersSAC Vanguard UniversityCosta Mesa, CaliforniaLionsPacWestBeach volleyballWayne State CollegeWayne, NebraskaWildcatsNSICBeach volleyball West Liberty University West Liberty, West Virginia Hilltoppers MEC
See also NCAA Division I independent schools NCAA Division III independent schools NAIA independent schools NCAA independent schools (lacrosse)
References