CLEVELAND - The Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) announced the 2025-26 recipients of the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards. The Academic Achievement Awards, in its 19^th year, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level in NCAA championship sponsored sports.

Overall, a total of 21,000-plus student-athletes were recognized from 179 institutions for the 2025-26 Academic Achievement Awards.
 
Historically, 211,256 total student-athletes have been recognized since the inception of the awards program.

This year, nine conferences have more than 1,000 student-athletes recognized with the Pennsylvania State Atlantic Conference (PSAC) taking home the top spot with the largest number of student-athlete honorees with 1,969 total. The following conferences have more than 1,000 student athletes being recognized:

• Conference Carolinas – 1396
• Great Midwest Athletic Conference – 1210
• Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – 1254
• Northeast 10 Conference – 1060
• Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – 1428
• Pacific West Conference - 1186
• South Atlantic Conference - 1594
• Sunshine State Conference - 1119

"In year 19, this program continues its dedication to celebrating the exceptional student-athletes who define excellence across our Division II landscape," said Jenn Bell, associate VP and director of athletics at Converse University and current D2 ADA President. "We're proud to recognize more than 21,000 deserving student-athletes from 179 institutions, reflecting the tremendous dedication within our division — not only in athletics, but in the classroom as well. This year's submissions, from both individuals and schools, serve as a testament to the Division II way. Thanks to the administrators who nominated these outstanding individuals, and much-deserved congratulations to all this year's recipients."

In addition to the conferences, 16 institutions will recognize more than 200-plus student-athletes with this recognition on their individual campus:

• Bentley University (NE-10) - 219
• Catawba College (SAC) - 206
• Colorado Mesa University (RMAC) - 276
• Delta State University (GSC) - 219
• East Stroudsburg University (PSAC) - 264
• Emmanuel University (CC) – 365
• Florida Southern College (SSC) – 219
• Gannon University (PSAC) - 207
• Lynn University (SSC) - 249
• Newberry College (SAC) - 214
• Rockhurst University (GLVC) – 266
• Slippery Rock University (PSAC) - 257
• Tiffin University (GMAC) - 297
• Truman State University (GLVC) – 222
• University of Indianapolis (GLVC) - 208
• University of Mount Olive (CC) - 322

To qualify for this honor, the following must occur:

• The AD MUST BE a CURRENT dues-paying member of the D2 ADA.
• Student-athlete must have …
  • a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
  • have attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work 
  • have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year

The following 2025-26 PAID D2 ADA institutions submitted student-athletes (#) for the Academic Achievement Award. To view the complete breakdown by schools, click here.
 

Institution	Number of Total Nominees
California Collegiate Athletic Association	570
Cal State Dominguez Hills	67
Cal Poly Pomona	84
Cal State LA	56
Cal State Monterey Bay	84
Cal State San Marcos	99
San Francisco State	65
Stanislaus State	63
UC Merced	52
Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference	930
Caldwell University	87
Chestnut Hill College	87
Dominican University New York	31
Felician University	89
Georgian Court University	116
Goldey-Beacom College	39
Holy Family University	94
Post University	133
University of Bridgeport	124
Wilmington University	130
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association	489
Bluefield State University	60
Bowie State University	41
Claflin University	39
Elizabeth City State University	22
Fayetteville State University	66
Johnson C. Smith University	48
Livingstone College	58
Virginia State University	103
Winston Salem State University	52
Conference Carolinas	1396
Converse University	95
Emmanuel University	365
Erskine College	121
Ferrum College	92
Francis Marion University	98
North Greenville University	97
UNC Pembroke	78
University of Mount Olive	322
Young Harris College	128
East Coast Conference	587
College of Staten Island	37
Daemen University	70
D'Youville University	115
Mercy University	127
Molloy University	116
St. Thomas Aquinas College	81
University of the District of Columbia	41
Great American Conference	728
Arkansas Tech University	82
Harding University	153
Northwestern Oklahoma State University	108
Southeastern Oklahoma State	50
Southern Arkansas University	121
Southern Nazarene University	145
Southwestern Oklahoma State University	69
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference	767
Davenport University	171
Grand Valley State University	181
Michigan Technological University	162
Purdue University Northwest	92
Wayne State University	161
Great Lakes Valley Conference	966
Rockhurst University	266
Truman State University	222
University of Illinois Springfield	161
University of Indianapolis	208
University of Missouri-St. Louis	109
Great Midwest Athletic Conference	1210
Ashland University	197
Cedarville University	126
Hillsdale College	98
Kentucky Wesleyan College	71
Lake Erie College	131
Ohio Dominican University	75
Thomas More University	142
Tiffin University	297
Ursuline College	73
Great Northwest Athletic Conference	366
Central Washington University	108
Montana State University Billings	74
Seattle Pacific University	53
University of Alaska Anchorage	52
Western Oregon University	79
Gulf South Conference	722
Delta State University	219
Lee University	131
Mississippi Christian University	100
The University of Alabama in Huntsville	105
Union University	58
University of West Alabama	25
Valdosta State University	84
Lone Star Conference	459
Oklahoma Christian University	100
St. Edward's University	143
St. Mary's University	95
Texas Woman's University	55
University of Texas Permian Basin	66
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association	1254
Fort Hays State University	150
Missouri Southern State University	99
Missouri Western State University	105
Northeastern State University	88
Northwest Missouri State University	186
Pittsburg State University	177
Rogers State University	83
University Nebraska Kearney	163
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith	49
University of Central Missouri	120
University of Central Oklahoma	34
Mountain East Conference	735
Fairmont State University	124
Frostburg State University	148
Point Park University	117
University of Charleston	180
West Liberty University	106
West Virginia State University	60
Northeast 10 Conference	1060
Adelphi University	149
Assumption University	149
Bentley University	219
Pace University	105
Saint Anselm College	73
Saint Michael's College	141
Southern Connecticut State	102
Southern New Hampshire University	122
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference	1428
Augustana University	169
Bemidji State University	103
Concordia University, St Paul	156
Minnesota State University Moorhead	123
Minnesota State University, Mankato	189
Northern State University	147
Southwest Minnesota State University	124
St. Cloud State University	116
University of Minnesota Crookston	90
Wayne State (Neb.) College	76
Winona State University	135
Pacific West Conference	1186
Azusa Pacific University	122
Biola University	175
Chaminade University of Honolulu	79
Concordia University Irvine	139
Dominican	103
Fresno Pacific University	101
Hawaii Pacific University	71
Menlo College	119
Point Loma Nazarene University	96
University of Hawaii at Hilo	75
Westmont College	106
Peach Belt Conference	702
Clayton State University	22
Columbus State University	82
Flagler College	137
Georgia College & State University	60
Lander University	189
University of North Georgia	57
University of South Carolina at Aiken	71
University of South Carolina Beaufort	84
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference	1969
Bloomsburg University	195
Commonwealth University - Lock Haven	111
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania	264
Gannon University	207
Kutztown University	132
Mansfield University	43
PennWest - Clarion University	94
PennWest California	125
PennWest Edinboro	90
Pitt Johnstown	55
Shepherd University	65
Shippensburg University	146
Slippery Rock University	257
West Chester University (Pa.)	185
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference	778
Metropolitan State University of Denver	99
CSU Pueblo	137
Westminster University (UT)	156
Adams State University	110
Colorado Mesa University	276
South Atlantic Conference	1594
Anderson University (SC)	142
Carson-Newman	131
Catawba College	206
Coker University	128
Lincoln Memorial University	174
Mars Hill University	147
Newberry College	214
Tusculum University	138
University of Virginia-Wise	143
Wingate University	171
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference	134
Albany State University	45
Spring Hill College	89
Sunshine State Conference	1119
Eckerd	111
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University	170
Florida Southern College	219
Florida Tech	148
Lynn University	249
Palm Beach Atlantic University	86
Rollins College	136

About D2 ADA: The D2 ADA is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities; enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics; and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of Division II athletics directors. For more information about the D2 ADA, please visit www.div2ada.com. The D2 ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 62^nd year. For more information on NACDA and the 19 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.