For students who love playing sports and want to continue doing so in college, there are several options. Intramural sports teams are a great option if you want to play for fun without the pressure. If you are looking to play more competitively but still want student-athletes who want a combined athletic and academic college experience, an NCAA Division III (D3) college may be the perfect fit for you.
There are over 430 colleges with D3 athletic classifications. In this list, we highlight the top 25 “Hidden Gem” D3 colleges! To make this list, schools must meet the following criteria:
- Receive fewer than 5,000 applications per year.
- Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students.
- Offer 5 or more unique majors.
- Have a 10% acceptance rate or higher.
- Be classified as Division III (D3) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
2025 Top 25 Hidden Gem D3 Colleges
Harvey Mudd College offers programs only related to Science and Engineering. It has a low 13% acceptance rate, 97% first year retention rate, and 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Part of the Claremont Colleges, their colors are black and gold. The men’s teams are known as the Stags and the women are known as the Athenas.
Location
Claremont, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
922
A member of the Claremont Colleges, Scripps College is a private liberal arts women’s school. It’s known for its historic campus as well as its extensive curriculum. The campus is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places and often gets mentioned for its beautiful grounds. Political Science and Government, Research and Experimental Psychology, and Biology are top majors.
Location
Claremont, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,099
Bryn Mawr is a highly selective school, with an acceptance rate of about 31%. A distinguished women’s college, Bryn Mawr is part of the Seven Sisters College consortium, expanding students’ academic opportunities. With an 90% first year retention rate, Bryn Mawr also has a 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Location
Bryn Mawr, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,742
Yeshiva University, a research university in Manhattan, has four schools that make up the undergraduate program: Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women, Katz School of Science and Health, and Syms School of Business. Campuses, buildings, and facilities can also be found in other NYC boroughs and in Israel. Yeshiva has a 64% acceptance rate and 92% first year retention rate.
Location
New York City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
6,056
Wheaton College was founded by evangelical abolitionists in 1860 and would become a stop on the Underground Railroad. Business is by far the most popular major at the school. Athletic teams are known as The Thunder. They wear blue and orange and compete in the NCAA Division III in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Location
Wheaton, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,885
Grove City College is a non-denominational college that has a high acceptance rate of 73% and they receive around 2,000 applications annually. Almost half the students that attend are from Pennsylvania, and another majority come from surrounding states. With an 88% first year retention rate, 75% of students will graduate in 4 years.
Location
Grove City, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,316
Centre College’s motto is “Doctrina Lux Mentis,” or “Learning is the Light of the Mind.” The college accepts 54% of applicants and there is a $0 application fee. The school's top majors are Economics, Psychology, Biology, Physiological Psychology, and International/Global Studies.
Location
Danville, KY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,357
Muhlenberg College is a small private, liberal arts college about an hour and half north of Philadelphia. Over 70% of students who attend this Lutheran college come from three states - Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The school has a 64% acceptance rate and about 99% of students who decide to attend will receive institutional grant aid.
Location
Allentown, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,959
Partnered with Saint John’s University for men, the College of Saint Benedict is exclusively for women. The school got its start in 1913 with only six students. Today, resources are shared between the two campuses, a partnership that began in 1955. They have an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 89% first year retention rate, and 79% four-year graduation rate.
Location
Saint Joseph, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,470
Wabash College is a small undergraduate men’s school. They accept 63% of applicants and it is free to apply. The student paper, The Bachelor, has been in publication since the early 1900’s. Rhetoric and Composition, Economics, and Political Science and Government are among the popular majors.
Location
Crawfordsville, IN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
835
Also known as K College, Kalamazoo College is the leading producer of Peace Corps members out of small liberal arts colleges. Their motto is “Lux Esto,” which is Latin for “Be Light.” The most popular major is Biology, followed by Business, Psychology, and Chemistry. Kalamazoo College has an 86% first year retention rate.
Location
Kalamazoo, MI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,210
Lawrence University was the second coeducation institution (founded in 1847) in the US. The three most popular majors are Music Performance, Biology, and Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. Offering only bachelor’s degrees to students, many alumni have gone into careers in politics, music, and sports. The campus sits along the winding Fox River.
Location
Appleton, WI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,426
Messiah University has a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a first year retention rate of 86%. Originally the Messiah Bible School and Missionary Training House in 1909, the school would become a college in 1951 and a university in 2020. Students have to sign a Community Covenant if they decide to attend the school.
Location
Mechanicsburg, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,231
The Florham Campus of the Fairleigh Dickinson University opened in spring of 2013, and the university itself has campuses in New Jersey, Canada, and the UK. Classes are also available online. With a 80% first year retention rate, students often major in Psychology, Biology, and Registered Nursing, and Business Administration and Management.
Location
Madison, NJ
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,823
Drew University goes by the nickname “University of the Forest” due to the fact it is on an 186 acre wooded campus. The school’s motto is “δωρεὰν ἐλάβετε, δωρεὰν δότε”, which is Greek for "Freely ye have received, freely give” from Matthew 10:8. Blue and green are the school colors and the sports teams are known as the Rangers.
Location
Madison, NJ
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,092
John Carroll University has over 70 majors available to undergraduates, with Finance, Biology/Biological Sciences, and Marketing/Marketing Management being popular choices. The school was founded in 1886 and became coeducational in 1968. Alumni include Brian P. Cleary, Wade Manning, and Jack Kahl.
Location
University Heights, OH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,922
100% of students who attend Ursinus College receive grant aid from the school ($41,089 per student on average). Sitting on a 170-acre campus, the college has several programs that promote STEM including the Supporting Inclusive Excellence program and Science in Motion. The most popular majors among students are currently Applied Economics and Biology/Biology Sciences.
Location
Collegeville, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,527
Founded as a female seminary in 1834, Wheaton College only started accepting men in 1988. Today, women still outnumber men making up 63% of the student body. The school accepts 71% of students who apply, has an 81% first year retention rate, and has a 11:1 student to faculty ratio. About 96% of students who attend receive institutional grant aid.
Location
Norton, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,667
Saint Mary’s College was founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross and is an all women’s school. Competing in the NCAA Division III, the students are known as the Belles. Popular majors include Registered Nursing, Business Administration and Management, and Psychology.
Location
Notre Dame, IN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,519
Elizabeth College, also called Etown, sits on a 204-acre campus and its mott is "Educate for Service." The school has a 77% acceptance rate and it is free to apply. Over 440 student-athletes compete in 24 NCAA D3 sports in the Landmark Conference and their mascot is the Blue Jay.
Location
Elizabethtown, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,021
Lebanon Valley College has a 75% acceptance rate and a $0 undergraduate application fee. LVC has an 89% first year retention rate, 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and 73% six year graduation rate. There are more than 640 student-athletes on campus that compete in the Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation. They are known as the Flying Dutchmen.
Location
Annville, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,080
Saint John’s University is a men’s school, and the brother college of St. Benedict - an all women’s school. Their partnership began in 1955 and the two joined 1961. Over 90% of faculty possess a doctorate or terminal degree. Business Administration and Management, Accounting, and Economics are popular majors at SJU.
Location
Collegeville, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,645
The Washington College dates back to 1723 when it began as the Kent County Free School. It would become Washington College in 1782. Today, it is the 10th oldest college in the United States and was the first college chartered after the American Revolution. George Washington was heavily involved in the founding.
Location
Chestertown, MD
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
955
Simmons University is a women’s school with an impressive 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio 81% first year retention rate. With more than 60 majors programs, the most popular major by far is Registered Nursing followed by Family Practice Nursing. This year Simmons earned the Carnegie designation for "Leadership for Public Purpose."
Location
Boston, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
5,710
Popular majors at Gustavus Adolphus College include Psychology, Biology, Business, Registered Nursing, and Speech Communication. The school does not charge students for applications and accept about 62% of applicants. Gus the Lion is the mascot for the school’s sports teams - the Golden Gusties. Black and gold are the official school colors.
Location
St. Peter, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,072
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What Does D3 Mean?
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is an organization that regulates student athletics throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. There are several divisions under the NCAA, including Division III or D3.
D3 in particular refers to colleges and universities who do not offer their student-athletes athletic scholarships if they attend. These schools are required to have at least three team sports for each gender, cannot delay a first year’s participation in order to lengthen eligibility periods, and don’t receive revenue from their athletic programs. D3 schools also can’t ask students for a National Letter of Intent.
Some D3 schools do have one or two Division I programs at their school, however. In these cases, athletic scholarships can be offered to students participating in those specific programs.
Around 430 schools are considered D3 today, including liberal arts colleges, private schools, large universities, small colleges, and more.
Why Choose a D3 Hidden Gem College?
For many students, especially those who don’t play sports, athletics programs at colleges and universities may seem like an afterthought. However, if you love the field, attending a school with a strong athletic program may be a priority. Here are more benefits of attending a D3 hidden gem college.:
- While Division III schools can’t offer athletic scholarships, many of these schools offer other scholarships that can be granted for your leadership skills, grades, and demonstrated financial need, and other merit-based scholarships.
- You’ll still be playing your favorite sport at a high level. While many students who go on to play professionally come from Division I, some do graduate from D3 schools, too.
- You can continue playing your sport of choice at a high level while being able to dedicate ample time to your degree and any other extracurriculars that are important to you.
- D3 schools also tend to have smaller class sizes, smaller campuses, and fewer students attending overall compared to D1 colleges.
- The Schools on this list tend to have higher acceptance rates making them easier to get into. In fact, 18 out of the 25 schools on this list have a 70% acceptance rate or higher.
- They tend to be more affordable, especially when you add up scholarships you may be able to win, plus merit and other get grant aid that you may be eligible for. Bonus: over half the schools on this list have $0 application fees for undergraduate students!
RELATED: What’s the Difference Between NCAA Divisions (D1 vs D3)?
Methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
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