NCAA Division III independent schools are four-year institutions that compete in college athletics at the NCAA Division III level, but do not belong to an established 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.
Departing members are highlighted in pink.
Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Football? | Future primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asbury University | Wilmore, Kentucky | 1890 | Christian | 1,054 | Eagles | 2021 | No | Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) (in 2024) |
Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown, Wisconsin | 1968 | Baptist | 1,169 | Sabercats | 2013 | No | None |
Trinity Washington University[a] | Washington, D.C. | 1897 | Catholic (SNDdeN) |
2,100 | Tigers | 2007; 2015[b] |
No | None |
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (February 2024) |
Departing members are highlighted in pink.
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference | Future conference in sport |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hilbert College | Hawks | Hamburg, New York | 1957 | Private | 1,100 | Allegheny Mountain (AMCC) | Empire 8 (2024) |
Lyon College | Scots | Batesville, Arkansas | 1872 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
700 | SLIAC | Southern (SCAC) (2024) |
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.
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 | 1916 | Public | 10,043 | WIAC |
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Christopher Newport University | Captains | Newport News, Virginia | 1961 | Public | 5,186 | Coast to Coast |
Mount Mary University† | Blue Angels | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1913 | Private | 1,209 | Coast to Coast |
University of Hartford | Hawks | West Hartford, Connecticut | 1877 | Private | 6,792 | Commonwealth Coast |
† - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albertus Magnus College[a] | Falcons | New Haven, Connecticut | 1925 | Private | 1,961 | GNAC |
Anna Maria College[b] | Amcats | Paxton, Massachusetts | 1946 | Private | 1,500 | GNAC (MASCAC in 2025) |
Rivier University[b] | Raiders | Nashua, New Hampshire | 1933 | Private | 2,520 | GNAC |
State University of New York at Canton[c] | Roos | Canton, New York | 1906 | Public | 3,205 | NAC (SUNYAC in 2024) |
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albertus Magnus College[a] | Falcons[1] | New Haven, Connecticut | 1925 | Private | 1,961 | GNAC |
Anna Maria College[b] | Amcats | Paxton, Massachusetts | 1946 | Private | 1,500 | GNAC (MASCAC in 2025) |
Hilbert College | Hawks | Hamburg, New York | 1957 | Private (Catholic) |
1,100 | AMCC |
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts[b] | Trailblazers[2] | North Adams, Massachusetts | 1894 | Public | 1,202 | MASCAC |
Rivier University[b] | Raiders | Nashua, New Hampshire | 1933 | Private | 2,520 | GNAC |
Worcester State University[b] | Lancers | Worcester, Massachusetts | 1874 | Public | 5,724 | MASCAC |
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whittier College | Poets | Whittier, California | 1887 | Private | 1,540 | SCIAC |
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gordon College | Fighting Scots | Wenham, Massachusetts | 1889 | Private | 2,109 | Commonwealth Coast |
Nazareth University | Golden Flyers | Pittsford, New York | 1924 | Private | 3,140 | Empire 8 |
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coe College[a] | Kohawks | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 1851 | Private | 1,355 | American Rivers |
Gordon College[b] | Fighting Scots | Wenham, Massachusetts | 1889 | Private | 2,109 | Commonwealth Coast |
Johns Hopkins University | Blue Jays | Baltimore, Maryland | 1876 | Private | 20,174 | Centennial |
Loras College[a] | Duhawks | Dubuque, Iowa | 1839 | Private | 1,550 | American Rivers |
Luther College[a] | Norse | Decorah, Iowa | 1861 | Lutheran | 2,573 | American Rivers |
Nebraska Wesleyan University[a] | Prairie Wolves | Lincoln, Nebraska | 1887 | Private | 1,600 | American Rivers |
Simpson College[a] | Storm | Indianola, Iowa | 1860 | Private | 1,966 | American Rivers |
Southern Virginia University | Knights | Buena Vista, Virginia | 1867 | Private | 1,106 | USA South |
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coe College[a] | Kohawks | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 1851 | Private | 1,355 | American Rivers |
Gordon College[b] | Fighting Scots | Wenham, Massachusetts | 1889 | Private | 2,109 | Commonwealth Coast |
Johns Hopkins University | Blue Jays | Baltimore, Maryland | 1876 | Private | 20,174 | Centennial |
Loras College[a] | Duhawks | Dubuque, Iowa | 1839 | Private | 1,550 | American Rivers |
Luther College[a] | Norse | Decorah, Iowa | 1861 | Lutheran | 2,573 | American Rivers |
Nebraska Wesleyan University[a] | Prairie Wolves | Lincoln, Nebraska | 1887 | Private | 1,600 | American Rivers |
Simpson College[a] | Storm | Indianola, Iowa | 1860 | Private | 1,966 | American Rivers |
Southern Virginia University | Knights | Buena Vista, Virginia | 1867 | Private | 1,106 | USA South |
† - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cairn University | Highlanders | Langhorne, Pennsylvania | 1913 | Private | 2,200 | UEC |
State University of New York at Oswego | Lakers | Oswego, New York | 1861 | Public | 8,909 | SUNYAC |
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alfred State College | Pioneers | Alfred, New York | 1908 | Private | 3,500 | AMCC |
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 | Commonwealth Coast |
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alfred State College | Pioneers | Alfred, New York | 1908 | Private | 3,500 | AMCC |
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 | Commonwealth Coast |
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wentworth Institute of Technology[a] | Leopards | Boston, Massachusetts | 1904 | Private | 3,728 | Commonwealth Coast |
Institution | Team | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of California, Santa Cruz | Banana Slugs | Santa Cruz, California | 1965 | Public | 19,700 | Coast to Coast |
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 |
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 | Commonwealth Coast |
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 |