Most universities in the United States offer athletic programs for their students. Division II, or D2, is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). D2 colleges offer athletic scholarships to some of their student-athletes, but typically have fewer awards available compared to D1 colleges.
For students who are interested in continuing to play sports and have a chance at winning an athletic scholarship while focusing on their studies, D2 colleges offer unique opportunities. Below our are choices for top 25 best D2 colleges in 2024.
2025 Top 25 Best D2 Colleges
Hillsdale’s motto is “Virtus Tentamine Gaudet” or “Strength Rejoices in the Challenge.” The school has a high 96% first year retention rate and a low 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. All students who attend are required to take courses on the “Great Books,” the United States Constitution, and Science courses. 72% of students will graduate within 4 years.
Location
Hillsdale, MI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,678
Bentley University, founded in 1917, is a leader in business education. The school receives around 10,500 applications each year and about 48% of those applicants will be accepted. An impressive 79% of students will graduate within 4 years. The most popular majors for graduates of Bentley include Business Administration and Management, Finance, Business, Management, and Marketing.
Location
Waltham, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
5,165
The programs offered at Colorado School of Mines are all focused on energy and environment, so all available majors are in STEM fields. The Orediggers are led on by their mascots Marvin the Miner and Blaster the Burro. Wearing blue and silver, they compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference of the NCAA Division II.
Location
Golden, CO
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
7,403
Saint Anselm College is the third oldest Catholic college in New England, having been founded in 1889. The school has been the site of presidential policy speeches from John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon as well as several national presidential debates. 100% of students receive institutional aid from the school ($27,311 on average).
Location
Manchester, NH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,977
Rollins College was founded in 1885, making it the fourth oldest post-secondary institution in Florida. Rollins has won over 20 National Championships and more than 90 Sunshine State Conference Championships. Student athletes, known as Tars, participate in baseball, basketball, swimming, rowing, water skiing, and more. The most popular major among students is Business Administration and Management.
Location
Winter Park, FL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,029
Founded in 1937, Westmont College’s motto is Christus Primatum Tenens, which is Latin for “Christ Holding Preeminence.” The school was initially a Bible Missionary Institute but would become Westmont College only three years later. Student athletes are known as the Warriors and wear maroon, gold, and white. Westmont is part of the Golden State Athletic Conference.
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,284
Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) accepted nearly 82% of applicants during the last admissions cycle. The school was founded in 1902 as the Pacific Bible College, and underwent several name changes before arriving at its current moniker in 1998. There are currently 200 athletes and PLNU competes in the Pacific West Conference.
Location
San Diego, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
4,319
Adelphi University was founded as Adelphi College in 1896, becoming a university in 1963. Its motto is Vita Sine Litteris Mors Est, which is Latin for, “Life without learning is death.” Graduates have gone on to have careers in politics, acting, professional sports, writing, music, and more. Part of the Northeast 10 Conference, student athletes are known as the Panthers and wear brown and gold.
Location
Garden City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
7,252
The Dominican University of California is one of the oldest universities in California, having been founded in 1890. Registered Nursing is the most popular major among undergraduates, followed by Computer Programming. 91% of students receive institutional grants from the school. Student athletes are known as the Penguins (wearing black, gold, and white), and are cheered on by Chilly the Penguin.
Location
San Rafael, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,877
Union University athletes are known as the Bulldogs. They’ve won several championships while part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division I. Today, they compete in Division II in the Gulf South Conference. Union is a fairly selective school, having accepted nearly 53% of applicants in the last admissions cycle. Registered Nursing is the most sought after undergraduate major.
Location
Jackson, TN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,731
Cedarville University is a Baptist university that was first opened in 1887. One famous alumnus is Grace Norman, who won a gold medal and bronze medal for the United States in the 2016 Paralympics, for the triathlon and 400m respectively. 100% of students receive institutional grant aid from Cedarville, around $18,300 per student on average. Just under 65% of applicants are accepted.
Location
Cedarville, OH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
4,960
Molloy University was founded as the Molloy Catholic College for Women in 1955. The school would not become fully co-educational until 1982, and would be known as Molloy University in 2022. Cheered on by their mascot, Victor E. Lion, student athletes are known as the Lions. There are currently 338 athletes on campus, participating in baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, track and field, and other sports.
Location
Rockville Centre, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
4,807
Since 2017, Biola University has competed primarily in the Pacific West Conference. Athletes are known as the Eagles, and wear red, white, and black. Some popular sports include soccer, track and field, and water polo. Alumni have gone on to participate in professional baseball, basketball, and rock climbing. Other alumni have entered careers in directing, acting, writing, and politics. The school’s motto is, “Above All Give Glory to God.”
Location
La Mirada, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
5,387
More than 30% of students attending Saint Michael’s College participate in the school’s 20+ varsity teams. For students not interested in the obligations of a varsity team, but still want to participate, Saint Michael’s also offers club sports, intramurals, recreation, and ski pass programs. The most popular major for undergraduates is Business Administration and Management, followed by Biology.
Location
Colchester, VT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,399
In 2017, Thomas Jefferson University merged with nearby Philadelphia University. Today, the school has more than 160 undergraduate and graduate programs available to its students, who are known as the Rams. Thomas Jefferson University competes in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, and the 314 student athletes, wearing deep blue and bright blue, are cheered on by Phil the Ram.
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
8,286
At Augustana University, navy blue and gold are the official colors of the Vikings, who compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Registered Nursing, Biology, Business Administration, and Elementary Education are the top 4 most popular majors on campus, and the school has a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. 100% of students attending Augustana receive institutional aid to help pay for college.
Location
Sioux Falls, SD
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,086
99% of students who attend Rockhurst University receive institutional grant aid from the school ($29,558 on average). Former alumni have gone on to have careers in politics, professional sports, law, and acting. Popular sports among student athletes, known as the Hawks, include baseball, gold, lacrosse, and soccer. Rockhurt’s motto is Sapientia Aedificavit Sibi Domum', which is Latin for “Wisdom has built herself a home.”
Location
Kansas City, MO
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,405
In the last admissions cycle, Harding University accepted just over 45% of applicants – nearly 80% of accepted students decided to attend the following fall. 97% of students attending Harding receive institutional grant aid to help them afford tuition. Student athletes are known as the Bisons, and they wear black and gold. Harding University competes in the Great American Conference for football, basketball, baseball, and track.
Location
Searcy, AR
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
4,805
Seton Hill University was originally known as Seton Hill Schools when it opened in 1885 and started as a women’s college. It only became co-educational in 2002 – as a result, a majority of the student body are women (65.9%). Common majors for undergraduates include Pre-Physician Assistant, Business Administration and Management, and Biology. Student athletes are known as the Griffins and compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
Location
Greensburg, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,988
Originally known as the North Missouri Normal and Commercial School when founded in 1867, the school was renamed the Truman State University (TSU) in 1996 after U.S. President Harry Truman. Truman was a Missouri native. Athletes, wearing purple and white, are known as the Bulldogs. The women’s swimming and diving team have won seven NCAA national championships.
Location
Kirksville, MO
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
3,960
A member of the South Atlantic Conference, Anderson University announced that the school would be adding a football team for the 2024 season. Other popular sports include lacrosse, soccer, baseball, and track and field. Registered Nursing is the most popular major for students seeking an undergraduate degree, followed by Business Administration and Management and Elementary Education and Teaching.
Location
Anderson, SC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
4,121
Nearly all students attending Florida Southern College (FSC) receive institutional grant aid from the school, just under $23,000 per student on average. Student athletes can also be eligible for scholarships, and the average scholarship per athlete is just over $10,000. The FSC campus features the largest collection of architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and has been named part of the National Historic Landmarks in the United States.
Location
Lakeland, FL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,281
West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Popular undergraduate majors include Early Childhood Education, Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, Business Administration and Management, and Psychology. Many alumni have gone onto careers in professional sports, including basketball, wrestling, football, and boxing.
Location
West Chester, PA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
17,275
Westminster College became Westminster University in 2023. Over 50 Olympians have studied at Westminster – and have won 10 medals. In the 2014 Olympics, 23 Westminster students were part of Team USA – 18 in 2018. Registered Nursing is the most sought after program at the university, followed by Research and Experimental Psychology, Biology, Finance, and Neuroscience.
Location
Salt Lake City, UT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,280
Ouachita Baptist University, associated with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, first opened in 1886. Athletes are known as the Tigers, and more than 460 athletes wear purple and gold while competing in football, baseball, soccer, swimming, and other sports. 100% of students attending OBU receive institutional grant aid ($18,328 on average per student), and athletes can be eligible for athletic scholarships ($6,704 per student on average).
Location
Arkadelphia, AR
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,784
What Does D2 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, Division II or D2, and Division I or D1.
D2 colleges and universities offer some athletic scholarships for their student-athletes. This is in contrast to D3, who doesn’t offer athletic scholarships, and D1, who tends to have more money and more awards for their athletes.
But don’t underestimate the competitiveness in D2 schools! Many rivalries can be just as fierce in D2 as in D1, and athletes can be just as good as D1 athletes. Some D2 schools do have one or two Division I programs at their school.
Around 300 schools are classified as D2. They include a mix of liberal arts colleges, private schools, large universities, small colleges, and more. Some of the conferences in D2 include Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), Gulf South Conference (GSC), and Lone Star Conference (LSC).
Is a D2 College Right for You?
Division II colleges and universities offer a balanced approach to academics and sports for student-athletes. They can be a fantastic choice for students who love to play their favorite sport competitively but also want a solid education. This allows the student to have a well-rounded college experience.
In addition to athletic scholarships for some students, D2 schools can also offer merit aid and merit based scholarships, as well as need-based grants and financial aid programs for students who demonstrate financial need.
While eligibility requirements aren’t as strict at D2 colleges, student athletes still have to meet NCAA academic standards. D2 schools also tend to have smaller class sizes, smaller campuses, and less students attending overall compared to D1 colleges, but this is not a hard and fast rule. There are plenty of colleges within this division that are very large!
D2 colleges and universities are an excellent choice for students who want the best of both worlds: athletics and academics. They’re competitive on the field with solid learning experiences in the classroom. If sports are important to you in your college experience, a D2 school may be a great option for you.
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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.
