NAIA Approved Four New Member Institutions

The Council of Presidents has cleared four schools to join the athletic association beginning in 2027.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Higher Education

NAIA Approved Four New Member Institutions

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The NAIA Council of Presidents has officially approved four new member institutions to join the league. These schools will transition their athletic programs to the NAIA for the 2027-28 academic year.

Why it matters

These institutions chose to join the NAIA to better align their athletic strategies with the association's education-based model. The addition expands the reach of the organization, which supports thousands of student-athletes nationwide.

The NAIA supports approximately 87,000 student-athletes annually and awards $1.3 billion in financial aid. The organization oversees 30 national championship events across its member base.

The players

NAIA

Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the organization manages college athletics and national championship events.

Christian Brothers University

Currently an NCAA Division II institution, this university is transitioning to the NAIA.

Manchester University

This institution is moving from NCAA Division III competition to the NAIA model.

Salem University

The university is shifting its athletic programs from NCAA Division II to the NAIA.

Yavapai College

Previously competing in the NJCAA, this college is joining the NAIA starting in 2027.

The details

Christian Brothers University and Salem University will transition from NCAA Division II, while Manchester University moves from NCAA Division III and Yavapai College from the NJCAA. Each school underwent an evaluation process to ensure their institutional missions were supported by the NAIA framework.

September 28, 2026: The NAIA Council of Presidents approved the new memberships.
2027-28 academic year: The four institutions officially join the NAIA.

Culture Shift

The addition of these four schools follows the strategic expansion pattern of the NAIA education-based athletic model. This growth highlights the ongoing realignment of collegiate athletics as institutions prioritize missions over legacy conference affiliations.

Students and faculty at the four incoming institutions will see shifts in their athletic scheduling and travel requirements for competitions. The change necessitates updates to the sports budgets and recruiting strategies at each school as they prepare for the 2027 entry.

The takeaway

Institutions often re-evaluate their athletic affiliations to find a better balance between sports performance and academic mission. Prospective student-athletes should track these transitions as they impact competitive opportunities and financial aid eligibility for future years.