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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.
Departing members are highlighted in pink.
Notes
^ This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
^ Trinity Washington left the Independent ranks after the 2011–12 school year; before re-joining, effective in the 2015–16 school year.
Institution
Location
Founded
Affiliation
Enrollment
Nickname
Joined
Left
Football?
Current primary conference
Alfred State College
Alfred, New York
1908
Public[ a]
3,500
Pioneers
2013
2017
Yes
Allegheny Mountain (AMCC)
Alverno College [ b]
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. of the 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[ a]
17,768
Bearcats
1997
1998
No
America East (AEC) [ c]
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
Cairn University [ d]
Langhorne, Pennsylvania
1913
Nondenominational
2,200
Highlanders
2001
2004
No
United East
Castleton University
Castleton, Vermont
1787
Public[ e]
2,399
Spartans
1973
2001
Yes
N/A[ f]
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) [ g]
Clarks Summit University [ h]
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
1932
Baptist
1,142
Defenders
2001
2004
No
Closed in 2024
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, Colorado
1874
Nonsectarian
2,266
Tigers
1973
2006
No
Southern Collegiate (SCAC)
University of Dallas
Irving, Texas
1956
Catholic
2,538
Crusaders
2001; 2010[ i]
2008; 2011
No
Southern Collegiate (SCAC)
Defiance College
Defiance, Ohio
1850
United Church of Christ
1,000
Yellow Jackets
1995
1997
Yes
Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC) [ j]
Farmingdale State College
East Farmingdale, New York
1912
Public[ a]
8,162
Rams
2001
2003
No
Skyline
Finlandia University
Hancock, Michigan
1896
Lutheran (ELCA )
507
Lions
2002
2017[ k]
No
Closed in 2023
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
CalPac (CPC) [ j]
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 Intercollegiate (CIAA) [ g]
Lyon College
Batesville, Arkansas
1872
Presbyterian (PCUSA)
700
Scots
2022
2023
Yes
St. Louis (SLIAC)
University of Maine at Farmington
Farmington, Maine
1863
Public[ l]
1,861
Beavers
1999
2003
No
North Atlantic (NAC)
University of Maine at Presque Isle [ m]
Presque Isle, Maine
1903
Public[ l]
1,469
Owls
2005
2017
No
North Atlantic (NAC)
Meredith College [ b]
Raleigh, North Carolina
1891
Nonsectarian
1,990
Avenging Angels
1986
2007
No
USA South
Mills College [ b]
Oakland, California
1852
Nonsectarian
1,345
Cyclones
1994; 2016[ n]
2013; 2017
No
N/A[ o]
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1903
Nonsectarian
2,122
Raiders
2006
2007
No
Northern Athletics (NACC)
Mississippi University for Women [ p]
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 [ b]
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1913
Catholic (SSND )
1,209
Blue Angels
2007; 2016[ q]
2015; 2018
No
Coast to Coast (C2C)
Mount St. Joseph University
Delhi Township, Ohio [ r]
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[ s]
2016[ s]
Yes
American Rivers (ARC)
New Jersey City University
Jersey City, New Jersey
1929
Public
7,300
Gothic Knights
2004
2005
No
New Jersey (NJAC)
College of New Rochelle [ t]
New Rochelle, New York
1904
Catholic
N/A
Blue Angels
1982
2019
No
N/A[ u]
New York University Tandon School of Engineering [ v]
Brooklyn, New York
1854
Nonsectarian
4,487
Fighting Blue Jays
1979
2004
No
N/A[ v]
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[ e]
1,803
Badgers
1973
2001
No
N/A[ w]
Northern Vermont University –Lyndon
Lyndon, Vermont
1911
Public[ e]
1,519
Hornets
2006
2008
No
N/A[ w]
Pine Manor College [ x]
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
1911
Nonsectarian
419
Gators
1983; 2016[ y]
1995; 2017
No
N/A[ z]
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
HBCUAC [ j]
Saint Elizabeth University [ aa] [ x]
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 [ b]
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 (SC) [ j]
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 [ ab] [ ac]
Brooklyn, New York
1916
Catholic(C.S.J. )
1,261
Bears
2007
2015
No
Skyline
Stephens College [ b]
Columbia, Missouri
1833
Nonsectarian
754
Stars
1994
2004
No
American Midwest (AMC) [ j]
Stevenson University [ ad]
Stevenson, Maryland
1947
Catholic
3,621
Mustangs
1994
2004
Yes
MAC Commonwealth
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York
1957
Public[ a]
26,782
Seawolves
1994
1995
Yes
Coastal (CAA) [ c]
State University of New York at Canton
Canton, New York
1906
Public[ a]
3,122
Kangaroos
2011
2017
No
North Atlantic (NAC)
State University of New York at Morrisville
Morrisville, New York
1908
Public[ a]
2,486
Mustangs
2006
2007
Yes
North Atlantic (NAC)
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) [ g]
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
1965
Public[ ae]
19,700
Banana Slugs
1980
2019[ af]
No
Coast to Coast (C2C)
University of Valley Forge
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 [ ag] [ x]
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)
Notes
^ a b c d e f Part of the State University of New York system.
^ a b c d e f This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
^ a b Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
^ Cairn was known as Philadelphia Biblical University during its stint as a member. It adopted its current name in 2012.
^ a b c Part of the Vermont State Colleges System.
^ Castleton was merged into Vermont State University in 2023, assuming the former's membership in the Little East Conference .
^ a b c Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
^ Clarks Summit was known as Baptist Bible College & Seminary during its stint as a member. The school name was changed to Summit University of Pennsylvania in 2015, and to Clarks Summit University in 2016.
^ Dallas initially left the independents after the 2007–08 school year to join the North Eastern Athletic Conference in some sports, including basketball. However, they rejoined after two years.
^ a b c d e Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
^ Finlandia participated in the Great South Athletic Conference from the 2013–14 to 2015–16 school years, but only in women's sports. Men's sports remained independent during those school years.
^ a b Part of the University of Maine System .
^ Maine–Presque Isle was also a dual member with the NAIA and the Sunrise Athletic Conference from 2005 to its folding in 2011.
^ Mills initially left the independents after the 2012–13 school year to join the Great South Athletic Conference , however, they rejoined after three years due to the GSAC folding.
^ Mills was acquired by Northeastern University in 2023, becoming part of that university's extended operations in the San Francisco Bay Area. In advance of this, Mills dropped athletics after the 2021–22 school year.
^ MUW initially discontinued its athletics program after the 2002–03 school year, however, they restored it before the 2017–18 school year.
^ Mount Mary initially left the independents after the 2014–15 school year to join the Great South Athletic Conference , however, they rejoined after one year due to the GSAC folding.
^ The campus mailing address is Cincinnati .
^ a b Nebraska Wesleyan was also a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1969–70 to 2015–16, therefore it held dual membership with the NAIA and the NCAA.
^ New Rochelle was also a dual member with the USCAA and the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) from 2005 to 2019.
^ New Rochelle merged into Mercy College after the 2018–19 school year.
^ a b The NYU engineering school was the standalone Polytechnic University while in the NEAC. Polytechnic became affiliated with New York University (NYU) in 2008 as the Polytechnic Institute of New York University (athletically known as NYU Poly), and merged completely into NYU in 2014. And as part of the final merger of NYU Poly with NYU, Poly's athletics program was merged into that of NYU .
^ a b Northern Vermont was merged into Vermont State University in 2023, assuming the former's membership in the North Atlantic Conference .
^ a b c This institution is a former women's college, which has eventually turned into a co-educational college (William Peace since 2012–13, Pine Manor since 2014–15 and Saint Elizabeth since 2016–17).
^ Pine Manor initially left the independents after the 2014–15 school year to join the Great Northeast Athletic Conference , however, they later rejoined after the 2015–16 school year.
^ Pine Manor was acquired by Boston College in 2021.
^ Saint Elizabeth (N.J.) was known as The College of Saint Elizabeth during its stint as a member.
^ St. Joseph's Brooklyn was known as St. Joseph's College during its stint as a member.
^ St. Joseph's Brooklyn was also a dual member with the USCAA and the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) from 2004 to 2015.
^ Stevenson was known as Villa Julie College during its stint as a member. It adopted its current name in 2007.
^ Part of the University of California system.
^ UC Santa Cruz participated in the Great South Athletic Conference during the 2015–16 school year, but only in women's sports. Men's sports remained independent during that school year.
^ William Peace was known as Peace College during its stint as a member. It adopted its current name in 2011.
Departing members are highlighted in pink.
† - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.
† - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.
Notes
^ Joining UCHC starting in 2025.
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
CNE
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
CNE
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.
Notes
Track & field (indoor)[ edit ]
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
CNE
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
CNE
Track & field (outdoor)[ edit ]
Notes
Volleyball (indoor)[ edit ]
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
University of California, Santa Cruz
Banana Slugs
Santa Cruz, California
1965
Public
19,700
Coast to Coast
Westminster College
Blue Jays
Fulton, Missouri
1851
Private
610
SLIAC
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Pointers
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
1894
Public
7,545
WIAC
Institution
Team
Location
Founded
Type
Enrollment
Primary conference
Keystone College
Giants
La Plume, Pennsylvania
1868
Private
1,600
CSAC
Elizabethtown College
Blue Jays
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
1899
Private
1,671
Landmark Conference
Elmira College
Soaring Eagles
Elmira, New York
1855
Private
819
Empire 8
Fontbonne University [ a]
Griffins
Clayton, Missouri
1841
Private
944
St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic 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
^ Fontbonne will close at the end of the 2024–25 school year.
Emerging sports for women [ edit ]
Acrobatics & tumbling[ edit ]