Collegiate Lacrosse: A Comprehensive Guide to NCAA Programs
Lacrosse is a popular and growing sport at the collegiate level, with opportunities available at a wide range of institutions. For student-athletes aspiring to play lacrosse in college, understanding the landscape of available programs is the first crucial step. This article provides a comprehensive overview of college lacrosse, focusing on NCAA programs and other options.
The Collegiate Lacrosse Landscape
Men's college lacrosse is offered at over 400 four-year institutions and 21 junior colleges, creating a diverse range of options for aspiring student-athletes. The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) governs the majority of these programs, with 397 of the 431 men's college lacrosse teams offered at four-year institutions falling under its umbrella. The NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) governs the remaining 33 men's lacrosse teams. Junior colleges offer an additional pathway, with 28 lacrosse programs available.
NCAA Division I: The Pinnacle of Competition
NCAA Division I lacrosse is highly competitive, particularly in the Northeast region and Mid-Atlantic, where the top five percent of men's lacrosse players are recruited each year. Athletes at this level are expected to excel both athletically and academically. While athletic scholarships are available, they are often limited, and full rides are rare, even at the D1 level.
Here are some of the colleges with lacrosse teams in NCAA Division I:
- Louisville, Kentucky (Private, ASUN Conference)
- Boston, Massachusetts (Private, Patriot League)
- Providence, Rhode Island (Private, Ivy League)
- Smithfield, Rhode Island (Private, American East Conference)
- Lewisburg, Pennsylvania (Private, Patriot League)
- Buffalo, New York (Private, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
- Cleveland, Ohio (Public, Horizon League)
- Hamilton, New York (Private, Patriot League)
- Worcester, Massachusetts (Private, Patriot League)
- Colorado Springs, Colorado (Private, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference)
- Ithaca, New York (Private, Ivy League)
- Hanover, New Hampshire (Private, Ivy League)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Private, Colonial Athletic Association)
- Durham, North Carolina (Private, Atlantic Coast Conference)
- Fairfield, Connecticut (Private, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
- Washington, District Of Columbia (Private, Big East Conference)
- Cambridge, Massachusetts (Private, Ivy League)
- High Point, North Carolina (Private, Big South Conference)
- Geneva, New York (Private, Atlantic 10 Conference)
- Hempstead, New York (Private, Colonial Athletic Association)
- Jacksonville, Florida (Private, Atlantic Sun Conference)
- Baltimore, Maryland (Private, Big Ten Conference)
- Easton, Pennsylvania (Private, Patriot League)
- St. Charles, Missouri (Private, Ohio Valley Conference)
- Long Island, New York (Private, Northeast Conference)
- Baltimore, Maryland (Private, Patriot League)
- Riverdale, New York (Private, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
- New Rochelle, New York (Private, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (Private, Patriot League)
NCAA Division II: A Balanced Approach
Division II lacrosse colleges have become increasingly competitive in recent years. These programs are often overlooked, but they offer a balance between academic pursuits, athletic participation, and campus engagement. D2 colleges are primarily located in the Northeast region, with a few programs west of the Mississippi River. Most have fewer than 8,000 students. The talent level in D2 is often comparable to that of D1.
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Here are some of the colleges with lacrosse teams in NCAA Division II:
- Alamosa, Colorado (Public, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference)
- Garden City, New York (Private, Northeast-10 Conference)
- Philippi, West Virginia (Private, Great Midwest Athletic Conference)
- Springfield, Massachusetts (Private, Northeast-10 Conference)
- Anderson, South Carolina (Private, South Atlantic Conference)
- Worcester, Massachusetts (Private, Northeast-10 Conference)
- Wilson, North Carolina (Private, Conference Carolinas)
- Belmont, North Carolina (Private, Conference Carolinas)
- Waltham, Massachusetts (Private, Northeast-10 Conference)
- Caldwell, New Jersey (Private, Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)
- Salisbury, North Carolina (Private, South Atlantic Conference)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Private, Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)
- Murfreesboro, North Carolina (Private, Conference Carolinas)
- Hartsville, South Carolina (Private, South Atlantic Conference)
- Grand Junction, Colorado (Public, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference)
- Pueblo, Colorado (Public, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference)
- Buffalo, New York (Private, East Coast Conference)
- Grand Rapids, Michigan (Private, Great Lakes Valley Conference)
- Elkins, West Virginia (Private, Great Midwest Athletic Conference)
- Orangeburg, New York (Private, Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)
- Daytona Beach, Florida (Private, Sunshine State Conference)
- Franklin Springs, Georgia (Private, Conference Carolinas)
- Lodi, New Jersey (Private, Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)
- Saint Augustine, Florida (Private, Peach Belt Conference)
- Lakeland, Florida (Private, Sunshine State Conference)
- Rindge, New Hampshire (Private, Northeast-10 Conference)
- Frostburg, Maryland (Public, East Coast Conference)
- Lakewood, New Jersey (Private, Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)
- Painesville, Ohio (Private, Great Midwest Athletic Conference)
- Greenwood, South Carolina (Public, Peach Belt Conference)
- Syracuse, New York (Private, Northeast-10 Conference)
- Banner Elk, North Carolina (Private, Conference Carolinas)
- Hickory, North Carolina (Private, South Atlantic Conference)
- Romeoville, Illinois (Private, Great Lakes Valley Conference)
- Gaffney, South Carolina (Private, South Atlantic Conference)
- Harrogate, Tennessee (Private, South Atlantic Conference)
- St. Charles, Missouri (Private, ASUN Conference)
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- Canton, Ohio (Private, Great Midwest Athletic Conference)
- Hickory, North Carolina (Private, South Atlantic Conference)
NCAA Division III: A Wide Range of Opportunities
Student-athletes have the widest variety of college lacrosse programs to choose from at the NCAA Division III level, particularly in the Northeast, Midwest, and southern states. While talent levels vary, the competition at top Division III lacrosse colleges is comparable to that of Division 1 colleges. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships but provide other forms of financial aid, such as academic scholarships, grants, and needs-based aid, based on GPA, test scores, and other requirements.
Here are some of the colleges with lacrosse teams in NCAA Division III:
- Adrian, Michigan (Private, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association)
- New Haven, Connecticut (Private, Division III Independents)
- Albion, Michigan (Private, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association)
- Reading, Pennsylvania (Private, Middle Atlantic Conferences)
- Alfred, New York (Private, Empire 8 Athletic Conference)
- Meadville, Pennsylvania (Private, North Coast Athletic Conference)
- Alma, Michigan (Private, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association)
- Amherst, Massachusetts (Private, New England Small College Athletic Conference)
- Anderson, Indiana (Private, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference)
- Paxton, Massachusetts (Private, Eastern Collegiate Football Conference)
- Glenside, Pennsylvania (Private, Middle Atlantic Conferences)
- Rock Island, Illinois (Private, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin)
- Aurora, Illinois (Private, Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference)
- Danville, Virginia (Private, USA South Athletic Conference)
- Wellesley, Massachusetts (Private, New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference)
- Berea, Ohio (Private, Ohio Athletic Conference)
- Lewiston, Maine (Private, New England Small College Athletic Conference)
- Beloit, Wisconsin (Private, Midwest Conference)
- Mount Berry, Georgia (Private, Southern Athletic Association)
- Bethany, West Virginia (Private, Presidents' Athletic Conference)
- Birmingham, Alabama (Private, Southern Athletic Association)
- Brunswick, Maine (Private, New England Small College Athletic Conference)
- Brevard, North Carolina (Private, South Atlantic Conference)
- Bridgewater, Virginia (Private, Old Dominion Athletic Conference)
- Radnor, Pennsylvania (Private, Colonial States Athletic Conference)
- Langhorne, Pennsylvania (Private, Division III Independents)
- Grand Rapids, Michigan (Private, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association)
- Columbus, Ohio (Private, Ohio Athletic Conference)
- Waukesha, Wisconsin (Private, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin)
- Kenosha, Wisconsin (Public, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin)
- Castleton, Vermont (Public, Eastern Collegiate Football Conference)
- Washington, District Of Columbia (Private, New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference)
- Shreveport, Louisiana (Private, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference)
- Hackettstown, New Jersey (Private, Colonial States Athletic Conference)
- Danville, Kentucky (Private, Southern Athletic Association)
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Private, Presidents' Athletic Conference)
- Newport News, Virginia (Public, Capital Athletic Conference)
- Worcester, Massachusetts (Private, New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference)
- Potsdam, New York (Private, Liberty League)
- Waterville, Maine (Private, New England Small College Athletic Conference)
- River Forest, Illinois (Private, Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference)
- Mequon, Wisconsin (Private, Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference)
- New London, Connecticut (Private, New England Small College Athletic Conference)
- Mount Vernon, Iowa (Private, Midwest Conference)
- Milton, Massachusetts (Private, Commonwealth Coast Conference)
- Franklin, Massachusetts (Private, Eastern Collegiate Football Conference)
- Doylestown, Pennsylvania (Private, Middle Atlantic Conferences)
- Granville, Ohio (Private, North Coast Athletic Conference)
- Greencastle, Indiana (Private, North Coast Athletic Conference)
- Center Valley, Pennsylvania (Private, Middle Atlantic Conferences)
- Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Private, Centennial Conference)
- Madison, New Jersey (Private, Landmark Conference)
- Richmond, Indiana (Private, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference)
- Willimantic, Connecticut (Public, Little East Conference)
- Quincy, Massachusetts (Private, Commonwealth Coast Conference)
- Saint Davids, Pennsylvania (Private, Middle Atlantic Conferences)
- Madison, Wisconsin (Private, Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference)
- Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania (Private, Landmark Conference)
- Elmhurst, Illinois (Private, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin)
- Boston, Massachusetts (Private, New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference)
- Boston, Massachusetts (Private, Great Northeast Athletic Conference)
- Beverly, Massachusetts (Private, Commonwealth Coast Football)
- Madison, New Jersey (Private, Middle Atlantic Conferences)
- Ferrum, Virginia (Private, USA South Athletic Conference)
- Steubenville, Ohio (Private, Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference)
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania (Private, Centennial Conference)
- Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Private, Centennial Conference)
- Wenham, Massachusetts (Private, Commonwealth Coast Conference)
- Baltimore, Maryland (Private, Landmark Conference)
- Greensboro, North Carolina (Private, USA South Athletic Conference)
- Grove City, Pennsylvania (Private, Presidents' Athletic Conference)
- Greensboro, North Carolina (Private, Old Dominion Athletic Conference)
- Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania (Private, Colonial States Athletic Conference)
- Clinton, New York (Private, New England Small College Athletic Conference)
- Hampden Sydney, Virginia (Private, Old Dominion Athletic Conference)
- Hanover, Indiana (Private, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference)
- Oneonta, New York (Private, Empire 8 Athletic Conference)
- Haverford, Pennsylvania (Private, Centennial Conference)
- Tiffin, Ohio (Private, Ohio Athletic Conference)
- Conway, Arkansas (Private, Southern Athletic Association)
- Hamburg, New York (Private, Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference)
- Hiram, Ohio (Private, North Coast Athletic Conference)
- Frederick, Maryland (Private, MAC Commonwealth Conference)
- Holland, Michigan (Private, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association)
- Montgomery, Alabama (Private, USA South Athletic Conference)
- Bangor, Maine (Private, Eastern Collegiate Football Conference)
- Chicago, Illinois (Private, Division III Independents)
- Bloomington, Illinois (Private, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin)
- East Whitehead, Pennsylvania (Private, Colonial States Athletic Conference)
- Ithaca, New York (Private, Liberty League)
- University Heights, Ohio (Private, Ohio Athletic Conference)
- Providence, Rhode Island (Private, Great Northeast Athletic Conference)
- Huntingdon, Pennsylvania (Private, Centennial Conference)
- Kalamazoo, Michigan (Private, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association)
- Union, New Jersey (Public, New Jersey Athletic Conference)
- Keene, New Hampshire (Public, Little East Conference)
- Gambier, Ohio (Private, North Coast Athletic Conference)
- Keuka Park, New York (Private, North Eastern Athletic Conference)
- La Plume, Pennsylvania (Private, Colonial States Athletic Conference)
- Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (Private, Division III Independents)
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Private, Division III Independents)
- LaGrange, Georgia (Private, USA South Athletic Conference)
- Lake Forest, Illinois (Private, Midwest Conference)
- Newton, Massachusetts (Private, Great Northeast Athletic Conference)
- Williamsport, Pennsylvania (Private, Middle Atlantic Conferences)
- Purchase, New York (Private, MAC Freedom Conference)
- Fond du Lac, Wisconsin (Private, Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference)
NAIA: An Alternative Pathway
The NAIA offers an alternative to the NCAA, providing opportunities to play lacrosse, particularly in the Midwest. Student-athletes seeking more college options in the Midwest can find programs in states such as Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Here are some of the colleges with lacrosse teams in NAIA:
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- Grand Rapids, Michigan (Private, Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference)
- Atchison, Kansas (Private, Heart of America Athletic Conference)
- Columbia, Missouri (Private, American Midwest Conference)
- Ann Arbor, Michigan (Private, Great Plains Athletic Conference)
- Fort Wayne, Indiana (Private, Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference)
- West Palm Beach, Florida (Public, The Sun Conference)
- Southfield, Michigan (Private, Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference)
- Sylvania, Ohio (Private, Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference)
- Livonia, Michigan (Private, Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference)
Junior Colleges: A Stepping Stone
Junior colleges offer a pathway for student-athletes who may not be ready for a four-year institution immediately after high school. This option allows athletes to improve their GPA or gain more experience before transferring to a four-year college.
Here are some of the Junior Colleges with lacrosse teams:
- Arnold, Maryland (Public, MD JUCO)
- Lincroft, New Jersey (Public, Garden State Athletic Conference)
- Glen Ellyn, Illinois (Public, Region 4)
- Dover, Delaware (Public, Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference)
- Canandaigua, New York (Public, Mid-State Athletic Conference)
- Bel Air, Maryland (Public, MD JUCO)
- Columbia, Maryland (Public, MD JUCO)
Building a List of Prospective Schools
Student-athletes should research all available options to build a list of prospective schools. Athletics is just one aspect of the college selection process; location, cost, and academics should also be considered to determine the best fit.
Read also: Comprehensive Guide to Michigan Colleges
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