Saint Francis (Pa.) Announces Move from Division I to Division III Athletics

The university cites shifting college athletics dynamics and a focus on student-athlete experience as key reasons for the 2026 transition.

Saint Francis (Pa.) will transition all athletic programs from NCAA Division I to Division III starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
The school will join the Presidents' Athletic Conference, which features a more geographically compact footprint compared to the Northeast Conference.
University leaders attributed the decision to challenges like NIL demands, pay-for-play models, and extensive travel impacting student-athlete time and community engagement.
The announcement follows the men's basketball team's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1991, where they lost to Alabama State in the First Four.
Saint Francis (Pa.), a private Catholic institution with 3,000 students, aims to align its athletic programs with its mission to prioritize education and campus life.