UC Merced officially becomes an active National Collegiate Athletics Association Division II member on Sept. 1, after receiving confirmation that the athletics department successfully completed its expedited two-year transition process from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to the NCAA.
Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz and Executive Director of Recreation and Athletics David Dunham were notified this morning during a phone call with NCAA officials. The Bobcats are now eligible for all conference, regional and national championships.
"We are excited to be full members of NCAA Division II. This would not have been possible without the support of Chancellor Muñoz and the entire UC Merced leadership and the hard work and dedication of our coaches and staff," Dunham said.
UC Merced was first accepted into NCAA Division II on July 11, 2024. The university played its final year as an NAIA member in the 2024-25 academic year and began NCAA Division II competition with the 2025-26 season.
"Achieving full NCAA Division II membership is a significant milestone that reflects the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches and staff. We are committed to cultivating scholar-athletes who excel both in competition and in the classroom, preparing them for success long after their playing days. This achievement reinforces our mission of providing an exceptional educational experience where academic excellence and athletic achievement go hand in hand," Muñoz said.
UC Merced had many highlights in its first year of NCAA Division II competition.
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Men's track athlete Sharvin Manjrekar won the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Steeplechase Championship.
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Women's soccer appeared in two United Soccer Coaches West Region Top 10 Polls.
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Men's soccer beat 22nd-ranked Western Oregon in the season opener.
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Women's volleyball beat 2024 CCAA Tournament Champion California State University, Stanislaus.
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Women's basketball swept 2024-25 CCAA Regular Season and Tournament Champion Cal State Dominguez Hills.
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Men's basketball athlete Elijah Charles earned D2CAA All-West Region honors.
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Men's track athlete Martel Fields hit the NCAA 200m qualifying time.
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Men's volleyball hosted NCAA Division I nationally ranked opponents, No. 1 UCLA and No. 6 Bringham Young University.
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Six Bobcats earned all-conference honors with nine more student-athletes earning honorable mention.
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85 student-athletes earned an academic distinction.
Other milestones throughout the NCAA Division II process include being accepted into the CCAA in November 2023. UC Merced men's and women's basketball, cross country, soccer, track and women's volleyball compete as a CCAA member. UC Merced water polo was admitted into the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) in January 2024. The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation accepted UC Merced men's volleyball in June of 2025.
UC Merced is now the highest-ranked university in U.S. News and World Report's Best Colleges in the Nation to be an active member in NCAA Division II.
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