Enrollment and the number of athletic programs offered determine a school's NCAA division.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is organized in three divisions. Most Division III schools are smaller than those in Divisions I and II. Unlike the other divisions, Division III athletic departments are prohibited from offering scholarships to their athletes. As of 2010, 12 schools in California offered Division III athletics.
Chapman University
Chapman University has 18 varsity teams, including men's and woman's basketball, soccer and cross country. In 1985, Chapman's men's tennis team won the NCAA Division III championship. Some Chapman alumni have gone on to play professional sports, including Jeff Blitstein, who was drafted by baseball's Houston Astros in 1999. Chapman's mascot is the Panther. The school is a private university in Orange County and was established in 1861.
Chapman University
1 University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
714-997-6821
chapmanathletics.com
University of California, Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz is one of 10 campuses of the University of California. Of the 10, it is the only campus that has a Division III athletic department. The school fields 12 varsity sports teams, including men's and women's tennis, volleyball and swimming. UC Santa Cruz was established in 1965. Its mascot is Sammy the Slug.
University of California, Santa Cruz
1156 High St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
831-459-0111
goslugs.com
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private school with 21 varsity teams. In 2008 and 2006, Occidental's football team won the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championship. In 2008, both the men's and women's basketball team also won SCIAC championships. Occidental's mascot is the Tiger. The school was established in 1887.
Occidental College Athletics
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041
323-259-2608
oxyathletics.com
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