Athletic programmes can be an important factor when choosing a college. For example, if you are a student athlete, the choice of college may affect your future sports career a great deal. On the other hand, if you just want to try out a sport, you may be looking for colleges with intramural and club sports. But even if you are not interested in sports at all, you may find that a college with an active athletic programme can enhance your experience both socially and emotionally.
Participating in athletic programmes at any level has many advantages. It will improve your fitness, competitiveness, stamina, drive, and discipline. Being part of a sports team will sharpen your teamwork, determination, and focus, which will help you beyond college. You will form friendships that can last a lifetime.
Match your ambition: Types of College Sports
College sports can be played at three levels, namely varsity, club sports, and intramural.
Varsity Sports
Varsity sports are the most competitive, and they represent the principal athletic teams for colleges. Varsity teams compete against other colleges and are organised into regional groups called athletic conferences. The funding for varsity sports comes from the colleges and sponsors.
Club Sports
Club teams give students an opportunity to play sports competitively without the commitment of varsity sports. They compete against other colleges on a regional and national level. Most colleges require students to contribute financially to play in club sports. This can be a small fee of $50, but it can be higher for more expensive sports. Just about all undergraduate colleges in Boston offer club sports.
Intramural Sports
College intramural sports allow students, staff, and faculty to play sports together and compete with other teams of the same college. Intramural sports are there to encourage fun and participation without barriers to entry. Participation in intramural sports requires a financial contribution from the student. Just about all undergrad colleges in Boston offer intramural sports.
More about Varsity Sports
Varsity teams are organised nationally into different groups or divisions.
The biggest and most important are the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which serves small private schools, and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), which serves 2-year and community colleges.
The NCAA is the largest and most important college athletics organization. It is responsible for organising the majority of college athletic programs. Each college belongs to one of three divisions based on the amount of resources it invests.
Division I is the highest, with mostly large colleges and universities participating. Schools in Division I invest the largest amount of resources into athletics and field the largest number of sports teams. There are five Division I schools in the Boston area, such as Boston University, Harvard University, Boston College, Northeastern University, and Merrimack College. All these schools can offer sports scholarships.
Division II teams represent mid-size schools. This division is very competitive, but these schools may offer fewer sports than Division I. There are four Division II teams in the Boston area, such as Bentley University, Emmanuel College, Gordon College, and Newbury College. All these schools can offer sports scholarships.
Division III is the largest division in the NCAA and represents smaller schools with smaller athletic budgets. Most schools in this division prioritise education above athletics and have the smallest number of practice sessions and competitions. Schools in Division III can’t award athletic scholarships and rely on education-based scholarships instead. However, Division III teams can be very competitive, and every year there are a few Division III players that make it to the pros. Over half of Boston area colleges are in Division III.
| School | Tuition | Selectivity | Size | Location | NCAA | Sports | |
| Boston Unversity |  |
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Division 1 |
Men's Sports: Basketball, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field |
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| Harvard University | |
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Division I |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Sailing, Skiing, Soccer, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Skiing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Water Polo |
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| Northeastern University | |
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Division I |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Ice Hockey, Rowing, Track and Field Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Rowing, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| University of Massachusetts |  |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Ice Hockey, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Boston College | |
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Division I |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Sailing, Skiing, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball Women's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Sailing, Skiing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Bridgewater State University | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Tufts University | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Sailing, Skiing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Sailing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| MIT | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rifle, Rowing, Sailing, Soccer, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Water Polo Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Rifle, Sailing,Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
Division ! |
| Salem State University | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis Women's Sports: Basketball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Northern Essex Community College | |
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NJCAA |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Framingham State University | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Ice Hockey, Soccer Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Lesley University |  |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Brandeis University | |
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Division IIII |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Softball, Soccer Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Simmons University | |
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Division III |
Women's Sports: Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Volleyball |
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| Bentley University | |
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Division II |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, SSwimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Emerson College | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball |
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| Wentworth Institute of Technology | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball Women's Sports: Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball |
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| Endicott College | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Sailing, Skiing, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Curry College | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball |
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| Babson College | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Skiing, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Merrimack College | |
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Division I |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Wellesley College | |
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Division III |
Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Emmanuel College | |
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Division II |
Men's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Track and Field, Volleyball Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Lasell College | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Lacrosse, Rowing, Sailing, Skiing, Soccer, Track and Field, Volleyball Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Gordon College | |
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Division II |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball |
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| Regis College | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball |
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| Fisher College | |
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NAIA |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball |
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| Amherst College | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse,Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, |
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| Eastern Nazarene College | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Water Polo |
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| Newbury College | |
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Division II |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Field Hockey, Cross Country, Softball, Lacrosse, Track and Field, Volleyball Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Fiedl Hockey, Lacrosse, Softball, Track and Field |
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| Pine Manor College | |
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Division III |
Men's Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling Women's Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball |
