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NCAA Division III independent schools

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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

Departing members are highlighted in pink.

Current members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Football?	Future
primary
conference
Maranatha Baptist University	Watertown, Wisconsin	1968	Baptist	1,169	Sabercats	2013	No	None
Trinity Washington University	Washington, D.C.	1897	Catholic
(SNDdeN)	2,100	Tigers	2007;
2015	No	None

;Notes:

Future members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joining	Football?	Future
primary
conference

Sports

Men's sponsored sports by school

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross
country	Soccer	Volleyball	Total
sports	Maranatha Baptist
				5

Women's sponsored sports by school

School	Basketball	Cross
country	Lacrosse	Soccer	Softball	Tennis	Volleyball	Total
sports	Maranatha Baptist	Trinity Washington
							5
							5

Former members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	FB?	Current
primary
conference
Alfred State College	Alfred, New York	1908	Public	3,500	Pioneers	2013	2017	Yes	Allegheny Mountain (AMCC)
Alverno College	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	1887	Catholic
(S.S.S.F.)	1,664	Inferno	2000	2004	No	Northern Athletics (NACC)
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
(Unaffiliated)	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
(ELCA)	507	Lions	2002	2017	No	Closed in 2023
Franciscan University of Steubenville	Steubenville, Ohio	1946	Catholic
(Franciscan Friars)	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-day
Adventist	2,199	Golden Eagles	2006	2010	No	California Pacific (CalPac)
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
(PCUSA)	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	Avenging
Angels	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
(SSND)	1,209	Blue Angels	2007;
2016	2015;
2018	No	Chicagoland (CCAC)
Mount St. Joseph University	Delhi Township, Ohio	1920	Catholic
(S.C.C.)	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	New Jersey (NJAC)
(C.U. New York
(CUNYAC) in 2026)
	New Rochelle, New York	1904	Catholic
(Archdiocese
of New York)	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	Fighting
Blue 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
(Sisters of Charity)	1,200	Eagles	1988	2009	No	United East
Saint Joseph's College of Maine	Standish, Maine	1912	Catholic
(R.S.M.)	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
(S.C.N.)	1,692	Golden Eagles	2007	2009	No	St. Louis (SLIAC)
St. Joseph's University, New York – Brooklyn Campus	Brooklyn, New York	1916	Catholic
(C.S.J.)	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
(Diocese of Covington/
Benedictines)	1,963	Saints	1996	2005	Yes	Great Midwest (G-MAC)
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	United East
Warren Wilson College	Swannanoa,
North Carolina	1894	Presbyterian
(PCUSA)	650	Owls	2020	2022	No	Coast to Coast (C2C)
William Peace University	Raleigh, North Carolina	1857	Presbyterian
(PCUSA)	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:

Football

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Keystone College	Giants	La Plume, Pennsylvania	1868	Private	1,600	United East
Gallaudet University	Bison	Washington, D.C.	1864	Quasigovernmental	1,740	United East

Field hockey

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Meredith College†	Avenging Angels	Raleigh, North Carolina	1891	Private	1,990	USA South
Southern Virginia University	Knights	Buena Vista, Virginia	1867	Private	1,106	USA South

† - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.

Golf

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Christopher Newport University	Captains	Newport News, Virginia	1961	Public	5,186	Coast to Coast
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire	Blugolds	Eau Claire, Wisconsin	1916	Public	10,043	WIAC

Women

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Christopher Newport University	Captains	Newport News, Virginia	1961	Public	5,186	Coast 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'
Salve Regina University	Seahawks	Newport, Rhode Island	1934	Roman Catholic
(R.S.M.)	2,872	2025	NEWMAC

Women

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Joined	Primary conference
Salve Regina University	Seahawks	Newport, Rhode Island	1934	Roman Catholic
(R.S.M.)	2,872	2025	NEWMAC

Lacrosse

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Whittier College	Poets	Whittier, California	1887	Private	1,540	SCIAC

Rowing

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Gordon College	Fighting Scots	Wenham, Massachusetts	1889	Private	2,109	CNE
Nazareth University	Golden Flyers	Pittsford, New York	1924	Private	3,140	Empire 8

Soccer

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference

Swimming & diving

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Coe College	Kohawks	Cedar Rapids, Iowa	1851	Private	1,355	American Rivers
Gordon College	Fighting Scots	Wenham, Massachusetts	1889	Private	2,109	CNE
Johns Hopkins University	Blue Jays	Baltimore, Maryland	1876	Private	20,174	Centennial
Loras College	Duhawks	Dubuque, Iowa	1839	Private	1,550	American Rivers
Luther College	Norse	Decorah, Iowa	1861	Lutheran	2,573	American Rivers
Nebraska Wesleyan University	Prairie Wolves	Lincoln, Nebraska	1887	Private	1,600	American Rivers
Simpson College	Storm	Indianola, Iowa	1860	Private	1,966	American Rivers
Southern Virginia University	Knights	Buena Vista, Virginia	1867	Private	1,106	USA South

Women

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Coe College	Kohawks	Cedar Rapids, Iowa	1851	Private	1,355	American Rivers
Gordon College	Fighting Scots	Wenham, Massachusetts	1889	Private	2,109	CNE
Johns Hopkins University	Blue Jays	Baltimore, Maryland	1876	Private	20,174	Centennial
Loras College	Duhawks	Dubuque, Iowa	1839	Private	1,550	American Rivers
Luther College	Norse	Decorah, Iowa	1861	Lutheran	2,573	American Rivers
Nebraska Wesleyan University	Prairie Wolves	Lincoln, Nebraska	1887	Private	1,600	American Rivers
Simpson College	Storm	Indianola, Iowa	1860	Private	1,966	American Rivers
Southern Virginia University	Knights	Buena Vista, Virginia	1867	Private	1,106	USA South

;Notes

Tennis

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
State University of New York at Oswego	Lakers	Oswego, New York	1861	Public	8,909	SUNYAC

Track & field (indoor)

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Gwynedd Mercy University	Griffins	Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania	1948	Private	2,017	Atlantic East
Immaculata University	Mighty Macs	Immaculata, Pennsylvania	1940	Private	1,043	Atlantic East
Marywood University	Pacers	Scranton, Pennsylvania	1915	Private	2,470	Atlantic East
McMurry University	War Hawks	Abilene, Texas	1923	Private	1,430	ASC
Wentworth Institute of Technology	Leopards	Boston, Massachusetts	1904	Private	3,728	CNE

Women

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Gwynedd Mercy University	Griffins	Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania	1948	Private	2,017	Atlantic East
Immaculata University	Mighty Macs	Immaculata, Pennsylvania	1940	Private	1,043	Atlantic East
Marywood University	Pacers	Scranton, Pennsylvania	1915	Private	2,470	Atlantic East
McMurry University	War Hawks	Abilene, Texas	1923	Private	1,430	ASC
Wentworth Institute of Technology	Leopards	Boston, Massachusetts	1904	Private	3,728	CNE

Track & field (outdoor)

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Wentworth Institute of Technology	Leopards	Boston, Massachusetts	1904	Private	3,728	CNE

;Notes

Volleyball (indoor)

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
California Lutheran University	Kingsmen	Thousand Oaks, California	1959	Private	3,298	SCIAC
Neumann University	Knights	Aston, Pennsylvania	1965	Private	3,000	Atlantic East
Simpson College	Storm	Indianola, Iowa	1965	Private	1,151	American Rivers
Springfield College	Pride	Springfield, Massachusetts	1885	Private	2,228	NEWMAC
	Banana Slugs	Santa Cruz, California	1965	Public	19,700	Coast to Coast
Westminster College	Blue Jays	Fulton, Missouri	1851	Private	610	SLIAC
	Pointers	Stevens Point, Wisconsin	1894	Public	7,545	WIAC

Wrestling

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Keystone College	Giants	La Plume, Pennsylvania	1868	Private	1,600	United East Conference
Elizabethtown College	Blue Jays	Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania	1899	Private	1,671	Landmark Conference
Huntingdon College	Hawks	Montgomery, Alabama	1854	Private	1,107	Collegiate Conference of the South
Marymount University	Saints	Arlington, Virginia	1950	Private	4,257	Atlantic East Conference
New Jersey City University	Gothic Knights	Jersey City, New Jersey	1927	Public	6,800	New Jersey Athletic Conference
Ohio Wesleyan University	Battling Bishops	Delaware, Ohio	1842	Private	1,600	North Coast Athletic Conference
Saint John's University (Minnesota)	Johnnies	Collegeville, Minnesota	1913	Private	3,640	Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Schreiner University	Mountaineers	Kerrville, Texas	1923	Private	1,308	Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
The College of New Jersey	Lions	Ewing, New Jersey	1855	Public	7,340	New Jersey Athletic Conference
University of Scranton	Royals	Scranton, Pennsylvania	1888	Private	5,422	Landmark Conference
University of the Ozarks	Eagles	Clarksville, Arkansas	1834	Private	872	American Southwest Conference
Wabash College	Little Giants	Crawfordsville, Indiana	1832	Private	867	North Coast Athletic Conference
Westminster College	Blue Jays	Fulton, Missouri	1851	Private	609	St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Emerging sports for women

Acrobatics & tumbling

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
East Texas Baptist University	Tigers	Marshall, Texas	1912	Private	1,714	ASC
University of Mary Hardin–Baylor	Crusaders	Belton, Texas	1845	Private	2,713	ASC

Rugby

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Colby-Sawyer College	Chargers	New London, New Hampshire	1837	Private	1,043	GNAC
Marywood University	Pacers	Scranton, Pennsylvania	1915	Private	2,470	Atlantic East
Norwich University	Cadets	Northfield, Vermont	1819	Military	2,300	GNAC
University of New England	Nor'easters	Biddeford, Maine	1831	Private	8,085	CNE

Triathlon

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Central College	Dutch	Pella, Iowa	1853	Private	1,575	American Rivers
Coe College	Kohawks	Cedar Rapids, Iowa	1851	Private	1,355	American Rivers
Millikin University	Big Blue	Decatur, Illinois	1901	Private	2,118	CCIW
North Central College	Cardinals	Naperville, Illinois	1861	Private	2,490	CCIW

References

Info: Wikipedia Source

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