List of NAIA institutions
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has 233 member colleges and universities for athletic competition in the 2026–27 season.[1]
NAIA institutions
- Note: Non-basketball playing institutions are denoted by *.
- Departing members are highlighted in red.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Women's only institution in undergraduate programs, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
- 1 2 3 UBC, Trinity Western, and Victoria hold concurrent membership in Canada's governing body for university athletics, U Sports, where their basketball teams compete.
- ↑ UHSP will merge with Washington University in St. Louis and drop its athletic programs after the 2026–27 academic year.[3]
- ↑ Loyola New Orleans will start a transition to NCAA Division II no later than July 2027, joining the Gulf South Conference, pending NCAA approval.[4]
- 1 2 Combined enrollment of both campuses.
- ↑ Texas A&M-Texarkana will start a transition to NCAA Division II no later than July 2027, joining the Lone Star Conference.
- ↑ Texas Wesleyan will start a transition to NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference no later than July 2028, before starting full NCAA competition by that time, pending NCAA approval.[7]
- ↑ The women's basketball team uses the nickname Flying Queens.
Pending
The following programs have announced their intention to pursue NAIA membership, but have not yet been approved for full membership by the NAIA. Schools wishing to join the NAIA may apply by April 15 to receive a decision in October, or by October 15 to receive a decision in April.[8]
| School | Nickname | City | State/ province |
Enrollment (Fall 2024) |
Current affiliation | Conference | Applying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharishi International University | Pioneers | Fairfield | Iowa | 1,368 | Independent (USCAA) | Heart of America Athletic Conference | 2027[9][10] |
| Manchester University | Spartans | North Manchester | Indiana | 1,175 | HCAC (NCAA Division III) | Crossroads League | 2027[11] |
| University of Michigan–Flint | Wolverines | Flint | Michigan | 7,124 | None (launching athletics) | Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference | 2028[12] |
| Florida Polytechnic University (Florida Poly) | Phoenix | Lakeland | Florida | 1,700 | None (launching athletics) | Sun Conference | TBA[13] |
See also
- List of NCAA Division I institutions
- List of NCAA Division II institutions
- List of NCAA Division III institutions
- List of USCAA institutions
- List of NCCAA institutions
- List of NJCAA Division I schools
- List of NJCAA Division II schools
- List of NJCAA Division III schools
- List of NAIA football programs
- NAIA lacrosse
- List of NAIA conferences
References
- ↑ "2026-27 NAIA Member Institutions" (PDF). naia.org. NAIA.
- ↑ "[Member institutions]". Continental Athletic Conference. Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- ↑ "University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy and Washington University in St. Louis Announce Agreement to Acquire UHSP's Campus and St. Louis College of Pharmacy" (Press release). University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Loyola New Orleans set to join GSC, NCAA Division II for the 2027-28 academic year" (Press release). Gulf South Conference. June 9, 2026. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
- ↑ "Baptist Bible College is Now Mission University". Baptist Bible Tribune. January 26, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ↑ "Members". Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- ↑ "Texas Wesleyan Board Approves Application Process to Transition to NCAA Division II". Texas Wesleyan University. February 24, 2026. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Become a Member". naia.org. National Association of International Athletics.
- ↑ Pearson, Craig (April 17, 2025). "MIU moves into intercollegiate athletics, launches Consciousness-Based Sports". Maharishi International University. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
MIU hopes to join the Heartland [recte Heart] of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) — 'the Heart,' as it's called...
- ↑ "MIU Athletics Announces Official Nike Partnership". Maharishi International University. May 15, 2026. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Manchester University to Join Crossroads League in Fall of 2027". Crossroads League. August 27, 2026. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
- ↑ King, Robb (August 21, 2026). "UM-Flint launches athletics program with $5M grant from Mott Foundation". University of Michigan–Flint. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
- ↑ "Game changer: Florida Poly kicks off new collegiate athletics program". Florida Polytechnic University. March 10, 2026.
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