Division III Colleges in California

Colleges whose sports teams participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division III are typically smaller schools and/or schools with a solid emphasis on academics. Because of the focus on academics, schools in Division III do not offer athletic scholarships. Ten California schools participate in the NCAA's Division III, with an additional five schools (Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd and Scripps Colleges as well as Pomona and Pitzer Colleges) who participate by merging their respective institution's athletic programs.

  1. Colleges A-F

    • The California Institute of Technology, California Lutheran University, Chapman University and the combined athletic programs of Claremont McKenna-Harvey Mudd-Scripps all have Division III athletic programs. Claremont and Mudd united their athletic programs in 1958-59 and added the Scripps College Athletic Program in 1976-77.

    Colleges G-N

    • Three additional California schools that compete in NCAA Division III athletics are La Sierra University, Menlo College and Mills College. La Sierra University is currently a provisional member of Division III (meaning that they are in the midst of joining Division III and their teams play according to Division III rules and standards). Assuming La Sierra continues their compliance with NCAA Division III rules and is approved for membership, the program will be a fully active Division III member during the 2013-14 season.

    Colleges O-Z

    • Six additional California colleges compete in NCAA Division III: Occidental College, Pomona-Pitzer, University of California-Santa Cruz, University of Redlands, and Whittier College. Pomona and Pitzer Colleges have had a joint athletic program since 1970, seven years after Pitzer's founding. The Pomona athletic program previously competed independently or as part of a partnership with Claremont Men's College (an earlier incarnation of Claremont McKenna).