Who We Are

Division II provides an intersection where athletically gifted students can compete at a high level while maintaining much of a traditional collegiate undergraduate experience.  This balance – in which students are recognized for their academic success, athletics contributions and campus/community involvement – is at the heart of the Division II student-athlete experience.

Division II Facts and Figures.

    Total Members—302
Candidacy Yr. One—9; Candidacy Yr. Two—7; Provisional—5; Active—281
Composition—Active Institutions
Public Institutions—(52%)Private Institutions—(48%)
Undergraduate Enrollment
Men—526,882 (43%); Women—688,784 (57%)
Student-Athletes
Men—55,443 (59%); Women—38,347 (41%)
Participation in Division II Championships
Men—49%; Women—51%

Undergraduate Enrollment

Enrollment	Division II Schools	Percent
15,000 & Above	6	2.1
7,500-14,999	37	12.8
2,500-7,499	115	39.7
2,499 & Below	129	44.5
Average Enrollment: 4,236

Number of Sports Sponsored Per Institution

Men		Women
Low	3		5
High	12		13
Average	6.8		7.7

Average Number of Student-Athletes Per Division II Institutions

With Football		Without Football
Avg. Men	248		131
Avg. Women	144		119
Avg. Total	392		246
Smallest	175		91
Largest	841		569

 

• Division II student-athletes consistently graduate at a higher rate than the overall student body at Division II schools.  This past year, Division II student-athletes on average graduated at a 9 percent higher rate than the total student population at Division II schools.
• Nearly 50 percent of all Division II student-athletes receive some amount of athletically related financial aid.
• On average, it costs an institution less than half as much to operate a Division II athletics program as it would to operate a Division I athletics program (with or without football.)
• A regionalization philosophy is used to select teams for Division II national championships.  This philosophy helps schools prioritize regional scheduling, resulting in less missed class time for student-athletes and more manageable travel expenses.
• The Division II National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has raised over $1.5 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation as part of a national partnership established in 2003.  More than 150 “wishes” have been granted from these Division II dollars.

 

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2011