Most colleges and universities in the US offer some sort of athletic program. Division III, or D3 is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). These schools represent a great opportunity for student-athletes who want a combined athletic and academic college experience.
There are currently 438 Division III colleges, but for our list, we want to highlight 25 “hidden gem” schools that you may not have heard of but definitely should know about. To be included on 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 3 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Top 25 D3 Hidden Gem Colleges 2024
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
Mount Holyoke College is the oldest member of the Seven Sisters colleges. Their motto is Psalms 144:12 – “That our daughters may be as cornerstones, polished after the similitude of a palace.” The campus features a botanic garden, an art museum, and John Payson Williston Observatory. Experimental Psychology, Biology, and Econometrics and Quantitative Economics are commonly chosen majors.
Location
South Hadley, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,392
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.
Location
New York City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
6,056
Centre College’s motto is “Doctrina Lux Mentis,” or “Learning is the Light of the Mind.” The college accepts 63% of applicants and 85% will graduate within 4 years. The highest degree offered is the bachelor’s, so you’ll only find undergraduate students on campus. Centre College does not charge an application fee for any students interested in attending.
Location
Danville, KY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,357
Grove City College is a non-denominational college that has a high acceptance rate of 71% and they receive around 2,100 applications annually. Over half the students that attend are from Pennsylvania, and another majority come from surrounding states. With an 88% first year retention rate, 76% of students will graduate in 4 years.
Location
Grove City, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,289
Muhlenberg College is a midsize private, liberal arts college about an hour and half north of Philidelphia. Over 70% of students who attend this Lutheran college come from three states - Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. 77% of students will graduate in four years, has a 8:1 student to faculty ratio, and a 91% first year retention rate.
Location
Allentown, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,959
Located on a peninsula in the Bagaduce River and Penobscot Bay, the Maine Maritime Academy is a non-federal maritime training school, however students are not required to join the military after graduation. The most popular major is Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. The school admits just over 50% of applicants, has a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a first-year retention rate of 81%.
Location
Castine, ME
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
888
Wabash College is a small undergraduate men’s school. They accept 62% of applicants and have a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio. 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
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 79.4% of students who apply, has an 81% first year retention rate, and has a 11:1 student to faculty ratio. All students who attend receive institutional grant aid.
Location
Norton, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,667
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 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, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, and Psychology. 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
The second oldest state maritime academy in the country, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy was founded in 1891. Their motto is “Discipline, Knowledge, Leadership.” The training ship used by students is known as the USTS Kennedy. There are only 7 undergraduate programs available, with many choosing Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
Location
Buzzards Bay, MA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
1,425
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 74% four-year graduation rate.
Location
Saint Joseph, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,443
A liberal arts college, Lake Forest College is located just a half mile from Lake Michigan and just 30 miles north of Chicago. The school offers 32 majors of which Business, Research Psychology, and Finance are the most popular. Lake Forest College offers a $0 application fee for undergraduate students and around 60% of applicants will be accepted.
Location
Lake Forest, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,753
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 Speech Communication and Rhetoric, 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
Founded in 1840, St. Mary’s College of Maryland was originally known as St. Mary’s Female Seminary. It actually shares its campus with Historic St. Mary’s City, which is the state’s first colony and capital. A majority of students attending today are female, but the school is co-educational and has been since 1949.
Location
St. Mary’s City, MD
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
1,520
Although they offer 75 majors, popular majors at Gustavus Adolphus College include Psychology, Biology, Business, Registered Nursing, and Political Science and Government. The school does not charge students for applications. 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
Known as the Titans, athletes attending Illinois Wesleyan University wear green and white. The university has a 11:1 student to faculty ratio and a 75% four year graduation rate. The liberal arts college’s motto is “Scientia et Sapientia” or “Knowledge and Wisdom.” Illinois Wesleyan does not charge students an application fee.
Location
Bloomington, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,527
Messiah University has a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an 86% first year retention rate today. 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
A liberal arts college, UMW offers students over 150 clubs and organizations. There are over 400 student athletes on campus who compete in baseball, lacrosse, track and field among other sports. The school has an 86% acceptance rate and about 19% of those accepted will attend UMW. Popular majors include Business Administration, Psychology, and Biology/Biology Sciences.
Location
Fredericksburg, VA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
3,757
Set on a 170-acre campus, Ursinus College offers 60 different majors to its students. Over a third of the student population are also athletes competing in 25 varsity sports. Students enjoy a small 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 82% first year retention rate. Exercise Physiology, Applied Economics, and Biology are the most sought-after majors.
Location
Collegeville, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,527
Calvin University was founded in 1876 but known as Calvin College for most of its existence. It only became a university in 2019. The chapel on campus holds daily services and the spire is higher than all of the school’s academic buildings. The college has a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an 86% first year retention rate.
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,231
Elizabeth College, or eTown, is set on a 204-acre campus and offers students 81 clubs and organizations. Around 30% of the student population are athletes participating in varsity sports. Of over 150 majors offered, Health Professionals and Related Clinical Sciences, Business Administration, and Engineering are the most popular.
Location
Elizabethtown, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,021
Also known simply as Prin, Principia College is liberal arts school that offers up to a bachelor’s degree. Its campus is located on the Mississippi River along the border of Illinois and Missouri. Students of Principia have gone on to win prestigious awards, such as Academy Awards and Pulitzer Prizes. Actor Robert Duvall is one notable alumni.
Location
Elsah, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
323
Is D3 Right for You?
If you love the field, attending a school with a strong athletic program may be a priority and a D3 school might be perfect for you.
While Division III colleges don’t offer athletic scholarships to their student-athletes, they do offer merit and need-based financial aid. So, if you want to play sports while you earn your degree, it’s a feasible option.
The major benefit of attending a D3 school is the flexibility it brings to your education. 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.
Interested in any of these D3 Hidden Gem colleges? Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if they’re a good fit for you!
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.
