List of schools reclassifying their athletic programs to NCAA Division I

The following is a list of United States colleges and universities that are either in the process of reclassifying their athletic programs to NCAA Division I, or have announced future plans to do the same.[1]

Currently reclassifying

This is limited to schools that have begun the formal Division I reclassification process.

InstitutionAthleticsPrevious Division II conferenceCurrent Division I conferenceStart YearActive
(Full member)		Notes
California Baptist UniversityLancersPacific West ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference2018–192022–23[2]
University of North AlabamaLionsGulf South ConferenceASUN Conference
Football: Big South Conference		2018–192022–23[3]
Merrimack CollegeWarriorsNortheast-10 ConferenceNortheast Conference2019–202023–24[4]
Bellarmine UniversityKnightsGreat Lakes Valley ConferenceASUN Conference2020–212024–25[5][6]
Dixie State UniversityTrailblazersRocky Mountain Athletic ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
Football: FCS independent through 2021, WAC from 2022		2020–212024–25[7]
Tarleton State UniversityTexansLone Star ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
Football: FCS independent through 2021, WAC from 2022		2020-212024-25
University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego)TritonsCalifornia Collegiate Athletic AssociationBig West Conference2020–212024–25[8]

Future reclassifications

This is limited to schools that have officially announced plans to reclassify to Division I, but have not yet begun their transitions. Note that the standard transition period for schools moving from NCAA Division I to Division II is two years, as opposed to the four years required for the reverse move.

InstitutionAthleticsCurrent Division III ConferenceFuture Division I ConferenceStart YearActive
(Full member)		Notes
University of St. Thomas Tommies Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Summit League
Football: Pioneer Football League
Ice hockey: CCHA (men), WCHA (women)		 2021-22 TBA On July 15, 2020, St. Thomas received approval from the NCAA to move directly from Division III to Division I.[9][10][11]

References
  1. "Multidivision and Reclassifying for 2014–15" (PDF). NCAA. August 7, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  2. "CBU announces D-1, WAC move" (Press release). California Baptist Lancers. January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  3. "UNA Accepts ASUN Division I Invitation" (Press release). North Alabama Lions. December 6, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  4. "Merrimack College Accepts Invitation to Join the Northeast Conference" (Press release). Northeast Conference. September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  5. "ASUN Conference Announces Addition of Bellarmine University" (Press release). ASUN Conference. June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  6. "Bellarmine University athletics announces move to NCAA Division I" (Press release). Deseret News. June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  7. "Dixie State to move up to Division 1,join Western Athletic Conference in 2020-21" (Press release). Deseret News. January 11, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  8. "A New Era: UC San Diego to Join Big West Conference" (Press release). University of California, San Diego. November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  9. "Oct 4 2019 Announcement". www.stthomas.edu. Minnesota: University of St. Thomas. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  10. "University of St. Thomas invited to join Division I Summit League". FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul. October 4, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  11. "St. Thomas announces intentions to go Division I after getting removed from MIAC". Star Tribune. October 5, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
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