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NCAA Division 2 Football Teams: Great Athletics with a More Balanced Schedule

IMG football player

D2 is an interesting division, as you’ll find much of the athletic talent seen at the D1 level with a little more balance between athletics, academics and a social life. While D2 football players still must commit a significant amount of time and energy to their team, they will get more time back in their schedule than at a D1 football college.

What is Division 2 in football?

Division 2 football is an intermediate-level football division governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). While the overall athletic competitiveness is slightly less than that of NCAA Division 1 football, Division 2 football players are still formidable athletes! Division 2 football teams also have different parameters around the number and type of scholarships they can offer compared to the well-funded Division 1 level and the Division 3 level, which does not offer athletic scholarships.

Can Division 2 schools give full athletic scholarships?

D2 schools can give full athletic scholarships. However, unlike at the D1-FBS level, full-ride athletic scholarships are not guaranteed. Instead, coaches can divide up their scholarship money among athletes however they choose, awarding the most money to athletes in unique positions or athletes they believe can make the most impact on the success of the team. 

How many Division 2 football teams are there?

There are 162 Division 2 football programs and 17 conferences, which include the CIAA, G-MAC, GAC, GLIAC, GLVC, GNAC, Gulf South, Independent, LSC, MEC, MIAA, NE-10, NSIC, PSAC, RMAC, SAC and SIAC conferences. 

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D2 football rankings 

Student-athletes researching prospective schools will undoubtably want to start by checking out the institution’s athletic programs. Although, this doesn’t mean that other aspects of the institution aren’t equally as important when it comes to finding the right college fit. NCSA’s Power Rankings provide student-athletes with a more complete picture of what each school offers. NCSA ranks schools based on location, cost, size, academics and more to determine the top D2 football schools

To see how the NCAA ranks these programs, visit the NCAA website. We’ve compiled the full list of NCAA Division 2 football schools. Search for Division 2 college by state, conference and more below.

Full list of Division 2 football teams

School
City and State
Type
Conference
Division
Alamosa, Colorado
Public
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Albany, Georgia
Public
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Philippi, West Virginia
Private
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Columbia, South Carolina
Private
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Springfield, Massachusetts
Private
Northeast-10 Conference
NCAA D2
San Angelo, Texas
Public
Lone Star Conference
NCAA D2
Russellville, Arkansas
Public
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
Ashland, Ohio
Private
Great Midwest Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Worcester, Massachusetts
Private
Northeast-10 Conference
NCAA D2
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Private
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Wilson, North Carolina
Private
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Bemidji, Minnesota
Public
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Columbia, South Carolina
Private
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Waltham, Massachusetts
Private
Northeast-10 Conference
NCAA D2
Spearfish, South Dakota
Public
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Public
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Bluefield, West Virginia
Public
Independent
NCAA D2
Bowie, Maryland
Public
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2
Jefferson City, Tennessee
Private
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Salisbury, North Carolina
Private
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Wilberforce, Ohio
Public
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Ellensburg, Washington
Public
Lone Star Conference
NCAA D2
Chadron, Nebraska
Public
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Private
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2
Atlanta, Georgia
Private
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Grand Junction, Colorado
Public
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Golden, Colorado
Public
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Pueblo, Colorado
Public
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Athens, West Virginia
Public
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Private
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Private
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Cleveland, Mississippi
Public
Gulf South Conference
NCAA D2
Ada, Oklahoma
Public
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Public
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Portales, New Mexico
Public
Lone Star Conference
NCAA D2
Jacksonville, Florida
Private
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Public
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2
Emory, Virginia
Private
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Emporia, Kansas
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
Due West, South Carolina
Private
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Fairmont, West Virginia
Public
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Public
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2
Big Rapids, Michigan
Public
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Hays, Kansas
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
Durango, Colorado
Public
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Fort Valley, Georgia
Public
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Rindge, New Hampshire
Private
Northeast-10 Conference
NCAA D2
Frostburg, Maryland
Public
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Erie, Pennsylvania
Private
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Glenville, West Virginia
Public
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Allendale, Michigan
Public
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Searcy, Arkansas
Private
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Public
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
Hillsdale, Michigan
Private
Great Midwest Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Indiana, Pennsylvania
Public
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Charlotte, North Carolina
Private
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2
Frankfort, Kentucky
Public
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Owensboro, Kentucky
Private
Great Midwest Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Public
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Painesville, Ohio
Private
Great Midwest Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Jackson, Tennessee
Private
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Hickory, North Carolina
Private
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Gaffney, South Carolina
Private
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Jefferson City, Missouri
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
Lincoln University, Pennsylvania
Private
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2
St. Charles, Missouri
Private
Ohio Valley Conference
NCAA D2
Salisbury, North Carolina
Private
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
Public
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Mars Hill, North Carolina
Private
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Lebanon, Illinois
Private
Great Lakes Valley Conference
NCAA D2
Erie, Pennsylvania
Private
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Houghton, Michigan
Public
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Wichita Falls, Texas
Public
Lone Star Conference
NCAA D2
Fairfield, Alabama
Private
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Millersville, Pennsylvania
Public
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Mankato, Minnesota
Public
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Moorhead, Minnesota
Public
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Minot, North Dakota
Public
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Clinton, Mississippi
Private
Gulf South Conference
NCAA D2
Joplin, Missouri
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
Rolla, Missouri
Public
Great Lakes Valley Conference
NCAA D2
St. Joseph, Missouri
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
Atlanta, Georgia
Private
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Public
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Newberry, South Carolina
Private
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Tigerville, South Carolina
Private
Gulf South Conference
NCAA D2
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
Marquette, Michigan
Public
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Public
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Maryville, Missouri
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
Alva, Oklahoma
Public
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
Midland, Michigan
Private
Great Midwest Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Cleveland, Ohio
Private
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Columbus, Ohio
Private
Great Midwest Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Private
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Private
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
New York, New York
Private
Northeast-10 Conference
NCAA D2
Pittsburg, Kansas
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
Waterbury, Connecticut
Private
Independent
NCAA D2
Quincy, Illinois
Private
Great Lakes Valley Conference
NCAA D2
University Center, Michigan
Public
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Manchester, New Hampshire
Private
Northeast-10 Conference
NCAA D2
Raleigh, North Carolina
Private
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2
Savannah, Georgia
Public
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Private
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Raleigh, North Carolina
Private
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Public
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
Public
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Rome, Georgia
Private
Gulf South Conference
NCAA D2
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Public
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Rapid City, South Dakota
Public
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Durant, Oklahoma
Public
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
Magnolia, Arkansas
Public
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
New Haven, Connecticut
Public
Northeast-10 Conference
NCAA D2
Bethany, Oklahoma
Private
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
Bolivar, Missouri
Private
Great Lakes Valley Conference
NCAA D2
Marshall, Minnesota
Public
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Weatherford, Oklahoma
Public
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
Easton, Massachusetts
Private
Northeast Conference
NCAA D2
Stephenville, Texas
Public
Western Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Kingsville, Texas
Public
Lone Star Conference
NCAA D2
Wise, Virginia
Public
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Crestview Hills, Kentucky
Private
Great Midwest Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Tiffin, Ohio
Private
Great Midwest Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Kirksville, Missouri
Public
Great Lakes Valley Conference
NCAA D2
Greeneville, Tennessee
Private
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Tuskegee, Alabama
Private
Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf.
NCAA D2
Monticello, Arkansas
Public
Great American Conference
NCAA D2
Warrensburg, Missouri
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
Edmond, Oklahoma
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
Charleston, West Virginia
Private
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Findlay, Ohio
Private
Great Midwest Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Indianapolis, Indiana
Private
Great Lakes Valley Conference
NCAA D2
Bismarck, North Dakota
Private
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Duluth, Minnesota
Public
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Mount Olive, North Carolina
Private
Conference Carolinas
NCAA D2
Kearney, Nebraska
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
West Haven, Connecticut
Private
Northeast-10 Conference
NCAA D2
Pembroke, North Carolina
Public
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Private
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Odessa, Texas
Public
Lone Star Conference
NCAA D2
Livingston, Alabama
Public
Gulf South Conference
NCAA D2
Pensacola, Florida
Public
Gulf South Conference
NCAA D2
Carrollton, Georgia
Public
Gulf South Conference
NCAA D2
Fayette, Iowa
Private
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Valdosta, Georgia
Public
Gulf South Conference
NCAA D2
Petersburg, Virginia
Public
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2
Richmond, Virginia
Private
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2
North Canton, Ohio
Private
Great Midwest Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Topeka, Kansas
Public
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA D2
Wayne, Nebraska
Public
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Detroit, Michigan
Public
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Public
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
West Liberty, West Virginia
Public
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Canyon, Texas
Public
Lone Star Conference
NCAA D2
Institute, West Virginia
Public
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Private
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Gunnison, Colorado
Public
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
NCAA D2
Silver City, New Mexico
Public
Lone Star Conference
NCAA D2
Monmouth, Oregon
Public
Lone Star Conference
NCAA D2
Wheeling, West Virginia
Private
Mountain East Conference
NCAA D2
Liberty, Missouri
Private
Great Lakes Valley Conference
NCAA D2
Wingate, North Carolina
Private
South Atlantic Conference
NCAA D2
Winona, Minnesota
Public
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
NCAA D2
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Public
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
NCAA D2