UC Merced’s trial period is over. Bobcats become NCAA Division II members this fall
The UC Merced athletic department has completed its two-year transition from the NAIA to the NCAA and will officially become a Division II member on Sept. 1, the university announced on Friday.
The Bobcats will then be eligible for all conference, regional and national championships at the Division II level, according to a UC Merced news release.
NCAA officials notified UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz and Executive Director of Recreation & Athletics David Dunham of the news on Friday morning, the news release said.
UC Merced was first accepted into NCAA Division II in July of 2024. The Bobcats began NCAA Division II competition for the 2025-26 season, but were not eligible for conference, regional or NCAA championships.
UC Merced competes in the California Collegiate Athletic Association for most sports. The men’s volleyball team competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The men’s and women’s water polo teams compete in the Western Water Polo Association.
UC Merced, which opened in 2005, started intercollegiate athletics in 2011-12 as a member of the California Pacific Conference in the NAIA.
UC Merced is now the highest-ranked university in NCAA Division II in U.S. News and World Report’s list of Best Colleges in the Nation, the news release said.
