NCAA Division III independent schools are four-year institutions that compete in college athletics at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III level, but do not belong to an established intercollegiate 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 III 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 Football? Futureprimaryconference Maranatha Baptist University Watertown, Wisconsin 1968 Baptist 1,169 Sabercats 2013 No None
Notes
Sports Men's sponsored sports by school + School Baseball Basketball Crosscountry Soccer Volleyball Totalsports Maranatha Baptist 5
Women's sponsored sports by school + School Basketball Crosscountry Soccer Softball Volleyball Totalsports Maranatha Baptist 5
Former members
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left FB? Currentprimaryconference Alfred State College Alfred, New York 1908 Public 3,500 Pioneers 2013 2017 Yes Allegheny Mountain (AMCC) Alverno College Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1887 Catholic 1,664 Inferno 2000 2004 No Coast to Coast (C2C) Asbury University Wilmore, Kentucky 1890 Christian 1,054 Eagles 2021 2024 No C.C. South (CCS) Bard College Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 1860 Episcopal 1,958 Raptors 1990 2004 No Liberty (LL) Berea College Berea, Kentucky 1855 Christian 1,613 Mountaineers 2014 2017 No Heartland (HCAC) Binghamton University Vestal, New York 1844 Public 17,768 Bearcats 1997 1998 No America East (AmEC) Bluffton University Bluffton, Ohio 1899 Mennonite 1,094 Beavers 1996 1998 Yes Heartland (HCAC) Bob Jones University Greenville, South Carolina 1927 Nondenominational 2,916 Bruins 2020 2023 No NCCAA independent Bryn Athyn College Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania 1877 New Church 330 Lions 2013 2014 No N/A Cairn University Langhorne, Pennsylvania 1913 Nondenominational 2,200 Highlanders 2001 2004 No United East Castleton University Castleton, Vermont 1787 Public 2,399 Spartans 1973 2001 Yes N/A Centenary University Hackettstown,New Jersey 1867 United Methodist 1,597 Cyclones 1997 2003 No Atlantic East (AEC) Chapman University Orange, California 1861 DoC & UCC 10,001 Panthers 1994 2011 Yes Southern California (SCIAC) Chowan University Murfreesboro,North Carolina 1848 Baptist 981 Hawks 2004 2007 Yes Carolinas (CC) Clarks Summit University Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania 1932 Baptist 1,142 Defenders 1996 2004 No Closed in 2024 Colorado College Colorado Springs,Colorado 1874 Nonsectarian 2,266 Tigers 1973 2006 No Southern (SCAC) Irving, Texas 1956 Catholic 2,538 Crusaders 2001;2010 2008;2011 No Southern (SCAC) Defiance College Defiance, Ohio 1850 UCC 1,000 Yellow Jackets 1995 1997 Yes Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC) Farmingdale State College East Farmingdale,New York 1912 Public 8,162 Rams 2001 2003 No Skyline Finlandia University Hancock, Michigan 1896 Lutheran 507 Lions 2002 2017 No Closed in 2023 Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, Ohio 1946 Catholic 2,716 Barons 2007 2008 No Presidents' (PAC) Green Mountain College Poultney, Vermont 1834 United Methodist N/A Eagles 2005 2008 No Closed in 2019 Husson University Bangor, Maine 1898 Nonsectarian 3,476 Eagles 2001 2003 Yes North Atlantic (NAC) Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, Illinois 1890 Nonsectarian 2,977 Scarlet Hawks 2013 2018 No Northern Athletics (NACC) La Sierra University Riverside, California 1922 Seventh-dayAdventist 2,199 Golden Eagles 2006 2010 No Great Southwest (GSAC) Lancaster Bible College Lancaster, Pennsylvania 1933 Nondenominational 954 Chargers 2006 2011 No United East Lincoln University Oxford, Pennsylvania 1854 Public 2,650 Lions 1973 2008 Yes Central (CIAA) Lyon College Batesville, Arkansas 1872 Presbyterian 700 Scots 2022 2023 Yes St. Louis (SLIAC) Farmington, Maine 1863 Public 1,861 Beavers 1999 2003 No North Atlantic (NAC) Presque Isle, Maine 1903 Public 1,469 Owls 2005 2017 No North Atlantic (NAC) Meredith College Raleigh, North Carolina 1891 Nonsectarian 1,990 AvengingAngels 1986 2007 No USA South Mills College Oakland, California 1852 Nonsectarian 1,345 Cyclones 1994;2016 2013;2017 No N/A Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1903 Nonsectarian 2,122 Raiders 2006 2007 No Northern Athletics (NACC) Mississippi University for Women Columbus, Mississippi 1884 Public 2,479 Owls 2019 2023 No St. Louis (SLIAC) Mitchell College New London, Connecticut 1938 Nonsectarian 572 Mariners 2005 2008 No Great Northeast (GNAC) Mount Mary University Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1913 Catholic 1,209 Blue Angels 2007;2016 2015;2018 No Chicagoland (CCAC) Mount St. Joseph University Delhi Township, Ohio 1920 Catholic 1,889 Lions 1996 1998 Yes Heartland (HCAC) Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, Nebraska 1887 United Methodist 1,600 Prairie Wolves 1982 2016 Yes American Rivers (ARC) New Jersey City University(NJCU) Jersey City, New Jersey 1929 Public 7,300 Gothic Knights 2004 2005 No USCAA Independent New Rochelle, New York 1904 Catholic N/A Blue Angels 1982 2019 No N/A New York University Tandon School of Engineering(NYU Poly) Brooklyn, New York 1854 Nonsectarian 4,487 FightingBlue Jays 1979 2004 No N/A Newbury College Brookline, Massachusetts 1962 Nonsectarian N/A Nighthawks 2001 2008 No Closed in 2019 North Central University Minneapolis, Minnesota 1930 Assemblies of God 1,200 Rams 2006 2013 No Upper Midwest (UMAC) Northern Vermont University-Johnson Johnson, Vermont 1881 Public 1,803 Badgers 1973 2001 No N/A Northern Vermont University-Lyndon Lyndon, Vermont 1911 Public 1,519 Hornets 2006 2008 No N/A Pine Manor College Chestnut Hill,Massachusetts 1911 Nonsectarian 419 Gators 1983;2016 1995;2017 No N/A Russell Sage College Albany and Troy, New York 1916 Nonsectarian 2,389 Gators 1993 2007 No Empire 8 (E8) Rust College Holly Springs, Mississippi 1866 United Methodist 900 Bearcats 1988 2017 No HBCU (HBCUAC) Saint Elizabeth University Morristown, New Jersey 1899 Catholic 1,200 Eagles 1988 2009 No United East Saint Joseph's College of Maine Standish, Maine 1912 Catholic 1,987 Monks 1975 2007 No Great Northeast (GNAC) Salem College Winston-Salem,North Carolina 1772 Moravian 565 Spirits 2005 2009 No USA South Sarah Lawrence College Yonkers, New York 1926 Nonsectarian 1,782 Gryphons 2013 2014 No Skyline Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, Georgia 1978 Non-profit art school 11,897 Bees 1992 2003 No The Sun (TSC) Spalding University Louisville, Kentucky 1814 Catholic 1,692 Golden Eagles 2007 2009 No St. Louis (SLIAC) St. Joseph's University, New York – Brooklyn Campus Brooklyn, New York 1916 Catholic 1,261 Bears 2007 2015 No Skyline Stephens College Columbia, Missouri 1833 Nonsectarian 754 Stars 1994 2004 No American Midwest (AMC) Stevenson University Stevenson, Maryland 1947 Catholic 3,621 Mustangs 1994 2004 Yes MAC Commonwealth Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York 1957 Public 26,782 Seawolves 1994 1995 Yes Coastal (CAA) Canton, New York 1906 Public 3,122 Kangaroos 2011 2017 No S.U. New York (SUNYAC) Morrisville, New York 1908 Public 2,486 Mustangs 2006 2007 Yes S.U. New York (SUNYAC) Thomas College Waterville, Maine 1894 Nonsectarian 1,949 Terriers 2001 2003 No North Atlantic (NAC) Thomas More University Crestview Hills, Kentucky 1921 Catholic 1,963 Saints 1996 2005 Yes Great Midwest (G-MAC) Trinity Washington University Washington, D.C. 1897 Catholic 2,100 Tigers 2007;2015 2026 No USCAA Independent University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California 1965 Public 19,700 Banana Slugs 1980 2019 No Coast to Coast (C2C) Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 1939 Assemblies of God 742 Patriots 2013 2017 No Closed in 2026 Warren Wilson College Swannanoa,North Carolina 1894 Presbyterian 650 Owls 2020 2022 No Coast to Coast (C2C) William Peace University Raleigh, North Carolina 1857 Presbyterian 950 Pacers 2001 2003 No USA South Wilmington College Wilmington, Ohio 1870 Quakers 990 Quakers 1996 1998 Yes Ohio (OAC) Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1956 Public 22,481 Panthers 1980 1985 No Horizon
Notes
Acrobatics & tumbling Elevated from the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program to full championship status in January 2026; first NCAA championship to be held in spring 2027.
InstitutionTeamLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentPrimary conferenceEast Texas Baptist UniversityTigersMarshall, Texas1912Private1,714ASCUniversity of Mary Hardin–BaylorCrusadersBelton, Texas1845Private2,713ASC
Football
InstitutionTeamLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentPrimary conference Keystone College Giants La Plume, Pennsylvania 1868 Private 1,600 United East
Field hockey InstitutionTeamLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentPrimary conferenceMeredith College†Avenging AngelsRaleigh, North Carolina1891Private1,990USA SouthSouthern Virginia UniversityKnightsBuena Vista, Virginia1867Private1,106USA South † - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.
Golf Men InstitutionTeamLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentPrimary conferenceChristopher Newport UniversityCaptainsNewport News, Virginia1961Public5,186Coast to CoastUniversity of Wisconsin–Eau ClaireBlugoldsEau Claire, Wisconsin1916Public10,043WIAC
Women
InstitutionTeamLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentPrimary conferenceChristopher Newport UniversityCaptainsNewport News, Virginia1961Public5,186Coast to Coast
Ice hockey
Men Institution Team Location Founded Type Enrollment Joined Primary conference Hiram College Terriers Hiram, Ohio 1850 Disciples of Christ 1,271 2025 Presidents'
Women Institution Team Location Founded Type Enrollment Joined Primary conference Hiram College Terriers Hiram, Ohio 1850 Disciples of Christ 1,271 2026 Presidents'
Lacrosse
Men InstitutionTeamLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentPrimary conference Whittier College Poets Whittier, California 1887 Private 1,540 SCIAC
Rowing InstitutionTeamLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentPrimary conferenceGordon CollegeFighting ScotsWenham, Massachusetts1889Private2,109 CNENazareth UniversityGolden FlyersPittsford, New York1924Private3,140Empire 8
Swimming & diving Men InstitutionTeamLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentPrimary conferenceCoe CollegeKohawksCedar Rapids, Iowa1851Private1,355American RiversGordon CollegeFighting ScotsWenham, Massachusetts1889Private2,109 CNEJohns Hopkins UniversityBlue JaysBaltimore, Maryland1876Private20,174CentennialLoras CollegeDuhawksDubuque, Iowa1839Private1,550American RiversLuther CollegeNorseDecorah, Iowa1861Lutheran2,573American RiversNebraska Wesleyan UniversityPrairie WolvesLincoln, Nebraska1887Private1,600American RiversSimpson CollegeStormIndianola, Iowa1860Private1,966American RiversSouthern Virginia UniversityKnightsBuena Vista, Virginia1867Private1,106USA South
Women