The NCAA, the major governing body for intercollegiate sports, separates its member institutions by divisions. Division II colleges are generally smaller and have fewer athletic department resources than Division I schools, but they're larger and more well funded than Division III institutions.
While Division II schools may not have the money or get the publicity of Division I institutions, many Division II colleges have passionate fan bases that show enthusiastic support for their sports teams, especially for those teams that regularly compete for championships.
In this article, I'll give you a basic understanding of Division II and a complete list of current Division II schools by state.
UPDATE: NCAA Changes Due to COVID-19
As a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, NCAA has made changes to player eligibility. First, prospective Division I and Division II players are no longer required to submit ACT or SAT scores (although submitting them is still highly recommended). Their academic eligibility will only be based on GPA and core course requirements. Additionally, the NCAA granted spring and fall 2020 athletes an additional year of eligibility and season of competition. You can find more COVID-19 NCAA updates here.
Why Are There NCAA Divisions?
The NCAA created divisions in order to have competitive balance and level the playing field in NCAA sports. The idea behind divisions is for schools to be competing against other schools of a similar size and with similar resources.
What Makes Division II Unique?
Typically, the level of competition and caliber of athlete is lower than in Division I but higher than in Division III.
There are about 300 schools and thousands of students who participate in Division II sports. Division II schools offer athletic scholarships, but there is less athletic aid available in Division II than in Division I. The majority of athletes at Division II institutions are on partial athletic scholarships.
There are 23 athletic conferences in Division II in 47 states, one territory, and two countries.
Division II Fun Facts
- Division II student-athletes consistently graduate at a higher rate than other students at Division II institutions.
- Division II is the only division that has member institutions in Puerto Rico. It also has one Canadian institution.
- Division II schools have between 2,500 and 25,000 students, but 90% of member colleges have fewer than 8,000 students
2015 NCAA Division II Football Champions
How Should You Use This List?
If there's a college you're considering, you can determine if it's a Division II institution. If you're interested in a particular sport, check to see which colleges are Division II in that sport. Some Division II schools will compete in Division I for one or two sports.
Alabama
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Auburn University at Montgomery
Miles College
University of Montevallo
Spring Hill College
Tuskegee University
University of West Alabama
Alaska
University of Alaska Anchorage
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Arkansas
Arkansas Tech University
University of Arkansas, Fort Smith
University of Arkansas, Monticello
Harding University
Henderson State University
Ouachita Baptist University
Southern Arkansas University
British Columbia
Simon Fraser University
California
Academy of Art University
Azusa Pacific University
Biola University
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Chico
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, East Bay
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, San Bernardino
California State University, Stanislaus
California State University, San Marcos
Concordia University Irvine
Dominican University of California
Fresno Pacific University
Holy Names University
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Francisco State University
Sonoma State University
University of California, San Diego
Westmont College
Colorado
Adams State University
Colorado Christian University
Colorado Mesa University
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University-Pueblo
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Fort Lewis College
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Regis University
Western Colorado University
Connecticut
University of Bridgeport
University of New Haven
Post University
Southern Connecticut State University
Delaware
Goldey-Beacom College
Wilmington University
District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
Florida
Barry University
Eckerd College
Edward Waters University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Flagler College
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Southern College
Lynn University
Nova Southeastern University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Rollins College
Saint Leo University
University of Tampa
University of West Florida
Georgia
Albany State University
Augusta University
Clark Atlanta University
Clayton State University
Columbus State University
Emmanuel College
Fort Valley State University
Georgia College & State University
Georgia Southwestern State University
Morehouse College
University of North Georgia
Paine College
Shorter University
Valdosta State University
University of West Georgia
Young Harris College
Hawaii
Chaminade University
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Hawaii Pacific University
Idaho
Northwest Nazarene University
Illinois
University of Illinois at Springfield
Lewis University
McKendree University
Quincy University
Indiana
Purdue University Northwest
University of Indianapolis
University of Southern Indiana
Iowa
Upper Iowa University
Kansas
Emporia State University
Fort Hays State University
Newman University
Pittsburg State University
Washburn University
Kentucky
Bellarmine University
Kentucky State University
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Thomas More University
Maryland
Bowie State University
Frostburg State University
Massachusetts
American International College
Assumption College
Bentley University
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Stonehill College
Michigan
Davenport University
Ferris State University
Grand Valley State University
Hillsdale College
Lake Superior State University
Michigan Technological University
Northern Michigan University
Northwood University
Saginaw Valley State University
Wayne State University
Minnesota
Bemidji State University
Concordia University, St. Paul
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Moorhead
University of Minnesota, Crookston
University of Minnesota Duluth
Southwest Minnesota State University
St. Cloud State University
Winona State University
Mississippi
Delta State University
Mississippi College
Missouri
University of Central Missouri
Drury University
Lincoln University (Missouri)
Lindenwood University
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Missouri Southern State University
Missouri Western State University
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Northwest Missouri State University
Rockhurst University
Southwest Baptist University
Truman State University
William Jewell College
Montana
Montana State University Billings
Nebraska
Chadron State College
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Wayne State College
New Hampshire
Franklin Pierce University
Southern New Hampshire University
Saint Anselm College
New Jersey
Bloomfield College
Caldwell University
Felician College
Georgian Court University
New Mexico
Eastern New Mexico University
New Mexico Highlands University
Western New Mexico University
New York
Adelphi University
Alliance University
College of Staten Island
D'Youville College
Daemen College
Dominican College (New York)
Le Moyne CollegeMercy College
Molloy College
Pace University
Queens College (New York)
Roberts Wesleyan College
St. Thomas Aquinas College
The College of Saint Rose
North Carolina
Barton College
Belmont Abbey College
Catawba College
Chowan University
Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
Johnson C. Smith University
Lees-McRae College
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Livingstone College
Mars Hill University
Queens University of Charlotte
Saint Augustine's University
Shaw University
University of Mount Olive
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Wingate University
Winston-Salem State University
North Dakota
University of Mary
Minot State University
Ohio
Ashland University
Cedarville University
Central State University
Lake Erie College
Malone University
Notre Dame College (Ohio)
Ohio Dominican University
Tiffin University
University of Findlay
Ursuline College
Walsh University
Oklahoma
Cameron University
East Central University
Northeastern State University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Christian University
Rogers State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southern Nazarene University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
University of Central Oklahoma
Oregon
Western Oregon University
Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Chestnut Hill College
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Gannon University
Holy Family University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Mercyhurst University
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Western University, California
Pennsylvania Western University, Clarion
Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro
Seton Hill University
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
South Carolina
Anderson University
Benedict College
Claflin University
Coker College
Converse College
Erskine College
Francis Marion University
Lander University
Limestone College
Newberry College
North Greenville University
University of South Carolina Aiken
Southern Wesleyan University
South Dakota
Augustana University
Black Hills State University
Northern State University
University of Sioux Falls
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Tennessee
Carson-Newman University
Christian Brothers University
King University
Lane College
Lee University
LeMoyne-Owen College
Lincoln Memorial University
Trevecca Nazarene University
Tusculum College
Union University
Texas
Angelo State University
Dallas Baptist University
Lubbock Christian University
Midwestern State University
St. Edward's University
St. Mary's University (Texas)
Tarleton State University
Texas A&M International University
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Texas Woman's University
The University of Texas at Tyler
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
West Texas A&M University
Utah
Utah Tech University
Westminster College
Vermont
Saint Michael's College
Virginia
The University of Virginia's College at Wise
Virginia State University
Virginia Union University
Saint Michael's College
Washington
Central Washington University
Seattle Pacific University
Saint Martin's University
Western Washington University
West Virginia
Alderson Broaddus University
Bluefield State College
Concord University
Davis and Elkins College
Fairmont State University
Glenville State College
Salem University
Shepherd University
University of Charleston (West Virginia)
West Liberty University
West Virginia State University
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Wheeling Jesuit University
Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
What's Next?
Learn more about the differences between NCAA divisions. Also, check out the complete lists of Division I and Division III schools.
If you're a prospective student-athlete, find out the SAT and ACT scores you need to be eligible to compete in the NCAA and what the NCAA letter of intent is.
