Loyola University New Orleans Will Return to NCAA After 25 Years in NAIA

Loyola University New Orleans is returning to the NCAA for the 2027-2028 faculty 12 months, ending many years within the NAIA. That consists of the college’s profitable swimming and diving program.

The faculty was an NCAA establishment till 1972, when it discontinued its intercollegiate athletics program. Varsity sports activities had been reinstated in 1991 through a pupil referendum, however as an NAIA establishment.

Now the college is making the leap again to the NCAA in Division II. Division II permits colleges to supply athletic scholarships – with a most of 8.1 equivalents per crew. That is much like the utmost 8.0 equivalents allowed within the NAIA.

The faculty is predicted to clear laws and obtain full NCAA D2 membership by the 2029-2030 educational 12 months after a two 12 months provisional membership interval.

The faculty will compete primarily as a member of the Gulf South Conference, which doesn’t sponsor a swimming and diving championship. SwimSwam reached out to Loyola to ask about their convention plans.

Other present members of the GSC with swimming and diving packages, together with Delta State and outgoing West Florida (transfer to Division I) compete within the NSISC.

The Loyola girls completed ninth out of 9 groups on the Sun Conference Championships final 12 months and the lads’s crew completed seventh out of 9 groups. The Sun Conference is arguably the strongest convention in NAIA athletics.

The Loyola males completed fifteenth on the NAIA National Championships, led by senior Monty-Moore Yetter. He completed 14th within the 100 breaststroke (55.88), Thirteenth within the 200 breaststroke (2:03.27), and fifteenth within the 200 IM (1:52.82).

The Loyola girls completed twenty third, with all 4 factors scored by freshman Emma Romero through a Thirteenth-place end within the 1650 free (18:14.07).

About Loyola University New Orleans

“This is a transformative moment for Loyola University New Orleans and for Wolf Pack Athletics,” mentioned Loyola University President Dr. Xavier A. Cole. “This move reflects our institutional growth and the direction we are heading as a university. We are continuing to elevate Loyola on the national stage while deepening our commitment to our students, alumni, and community. Returning to NCAA competition aligns with our mission and our aspirations for the future. We are investing in opportunity, infrastructure, and most importantly, the student experience, ensuring that Loyola remains a destination for students seeking excellence in academics, athletics, and personal growth.”

A personal Catholic faculty, Loyola has an undergraduate enrollment of simply over 3,000 college students. The faculty, like many small personal colleges across the nation, has seen dramatic drops in enrollments. The common freshman class traditionally hovered round 800 college students, however fell to 580 in fall 2024.

Loyola University New Orleans will grow to be the one NCAA D2 college within the state of Louisiana.

Announcement Video