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The University of Texas at Dallas student-athletes will now compete in NCAA Division II after the university officially changed its classification July 10.
After approval by the Division II Membership Committee and Management Council, UT Dallas will begin full Division II membership Sept. 1, according to a news release from the university.
Why it matters
According to the release, Division II provides a level of competition that bridges Division I and Division III.
UT Dallas has competed as a Division III university since its athletic department was established. Scholarships are not offered under Division III, so as a Division II school, UT Dallas will be able to offer athletic scholarships to its student-athletes for the first time.
With almost 300 member colleges and universities, Division II offers a balance between academics and athletics, according to the NCAA.
“This is a defining milestone for UT Dallas—one that reflects not only the steady evolution of our athletics program, but the continued strength of our university as a whole,” UT Dallas President Prabhas Moghe said in the release. “Our transition to Division II positions us to compete at a higher level while staying true to our commitment to academic excellence and the success of our student-athletes.”
How we got here
In 2023, the university accepted an invitation to join the Division II Lone Star Conference and began the process of changing its sports classification, which included a two-year provisional period.
“This process has been both a sprint and a marathon,” Director of Athletics Angela Marin said in the release. “Every day required intense work — from rewriting policies and procedures to coordinating multiple NCAA visits and navigating extensive reporting. It’s been a relentless three-year journey.”
The university began full conference competition in the LSC in 2025 with limited eligibility for postseason championships. Now that UT Dallas is officially classified as Division II, student-athletes can compete for championships in all 15 sports at the university.
