Six New Members to Join National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in 2026-27

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) will welcome six new members for the 2026-27 academic year.

The NAIA Council of Presidents approved four new members at the NAIA National Convention this week. Champion Christian College (Hot Springs, Ark.), United States Sports University (Daphne, Ala.), Georgia Southern University – East Georgia Campus (Swainsboro, Ga.), and Nevada State University, in Henderson, Nevada, join Wesleyan (Ga.) and Andrew (Ga.), both voted in during NAIA Fall Meetings in September 2025.

“The addition of these four institutions, along with Wesleyan, who comes from NCAA Division III, and Andrew approved last fall, gives us a strong group of new members for 2026-27,” said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. “Welcoming these new members is a highlight for our association, as we continue to recruit and retain institutions that embrace and embody the NAIA’s core values of education-based athletics.”

To become NAIA members, institutions must meet membership criteria that include financial stability, sports sponsorship, accreditation, and a commitment to character-driven athletics. Athletics facilities, enrollment numbers, retention rates, and overall financial commitment to athletics are also considered. The NAIA has added 27 new members since 2020, including seven institutions from the NCAA.

The NAIA reviews member applications in two cycles. Institutions can apply by April 15 to receive a decision in October or by October 15 to receive a decision in April.

Andrew College (Ga.) – approved in September 2025

Andrew College is a private, liberal arts college located in Cuthbert, Ga., and its athletic programs are known as the Fighting Tigers. Andrew is moving from two-year athletics in the NJCAA to four-year competition and will become an active NAIA member in Fall 2026.

Andrew will join the Southern States Athletic Conference, and sponsors baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, cheer and dance, football, women’s flag football, men’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s wrestling.  

“Andrew College is honored to be approved as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. This is more than a change in athletic affiliation. It is a strategic step that supports our broader goals of growth, excellence, and mission-driven education,” said Dr. William “Rusty” Kennedy, President of Andrew College. “NAIA membership positions Andrew to thrive competitively, academically, and spiritually, while offering a framework that strengthens both institutional and student success. The values and vision of the NAIA align with who we are and where we are going, and we are proud to bring our own vitality and commitment to character-driven athletics to the association. As a former NAIA student-athlete, I am especially excited that our students will now share in the same opportunities for growth and purpose that shaped my own journey.”

Champion Christian (Ark.)

Champion Christian College is a private, Christ-centered institution located in Hot Springs, Ark. Founded in 2005, CCC is fully accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) and offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees grounded in academic excellence, spiritual formation, and servant leadership. The Champion Tigers compete in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, baseball, track & field, and cross country.

“Champion Christian College is honored and delighted to be joining the NAIA,” said Dr. Eric Capaci, President of Champion Christian. “The membership process was engaging, transparent, and marked by the same quality and professionalism that characterizes this organization. From our facility and financial presentations to the opportunity to ask questions and learn from NAIA leadership, every step reflected a shared commitment to excellence. We are eager to participate in a regional conference that fits both the growth of our athletic programs and our geographic needs, and we look forward to making a meaningful contribution to the NAIA — above all through the quality of our student-athletes, the character of our programs, and the values of our institution.”

Champion Christian will join the Continental Athletic Conference in 2026-27 and intends to join the American Midwest Conference after year one.

Georgia Southern University – East Georgia Campus

The Georgia Southern University – East Georgia Campus was established through the consolidation of Georgia Southern University and East Georgia State College, with the campus formerly operating as East Georgia State College and competing in the NJCAA. Georgia Southern University – East Georgia Campus sponsors baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and softball, currently, with plans to add men’s & women’s cross country in the fall.

Georgia Southern University – East Georgia Campus will join the Continental Athletic Conference for the 2026-27 academic year and intends to become a member of the Southern States Athletic Conference for 2027-28.

“Acceptance into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics marks an exciting new chapter and a defining moment for athletics on the Georgia Southern University – East Georgia Campus,” said Georgia Southern President, Dr. Kyle Marrero. “As we proudly launch our new identity on the East Georgia Campus in Swainsboro as the Golden Eagles, this milestone reflects both where we are and where we are going. At the heart of this milestone are our student-athletes, and this opportunity expands their ability to compete, grow, and represent our campus with pride. This milestone strengthens our ties to institutions committed to excellence, integrity, and community, and positions the East Georgia Campus within a vibrant and competitive collegiate athletic community.”

Nevada State University

Nevada State University is a public, four-year institution in Henderson, Nevada. Currently, Nevada State sponsors Men’s Indoor Track and Field, Men’s Outdoor Track and Field, and Women’s Flag Football.

In 2026-27, Nevada State will add Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, and Women’s Track and Field, both indoor and outdoor.

“Today marks an exceptionally significant moment for Nevada State University as we are officially welcomed into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics,” said Acting President Dr. Amber Lopez Lasater. “This milestone reflects our commitment to expanding access and opportunity for student-athletes while building a program grounded in academic excellence, competitive integrity, and community engagement. As Nevada State continues to grow, athletics will play a critical role in shaping a vibrant campus experience and enhancing pathways to student success, leadership development, and long-term economic mobility. We are proud to join an association whose mission and student-centered focus closely align with our own, and we look forward to contributing to the NAIA while creating meaningful opportunities for our students to thrive both on the field and in the classroom.”

Nevada State has also been approved to join the GSAC in 2026-27.

United States Sports University (Ala.)

United States Sports University sponsors nine sports – baseball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s track and field, and women’s volleyball.

Located in Daphne, Ala., USSU offers career-focused degrees in exercise science, sports management, coaching, sports studies, and business administration, with mentorship from experts and a close-knit community. USSU will join the Continental Athletic Conference in 2026-27, with plans to enter the Southern States Athletic Conference in 2027-28.

“As a university dedicated to educating sports professionals for more than five decades, we launched our intercollegiate athletics program with a clear and abiding purpose — to graduate student-athletes who are service-oriented, driven by strong character, and representative of the very best this institution has to offer,” said Dr. Steve Condon, USSU President. “The NAIA is an exceptional fit for our university, providing outstanding competitive and educational opportunities across all of our programs. I am pleased to stand alongside our coaches and athletic director in enthusiastic support of our NAIA membership, and I look forward with great confidence to everything it will mean for the future of athletics at this institution."

Wesleyan College (Ga.) – approved in September 2025

Wesleyan College is an all-women’s private, liberal arts college, located in Macon, Ga. Currently affiliated with NCAA Division III, Wesleyan’s athletics programs are known as the Wolves, women’s basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball and beach volleyball. Wesleyan plans to add competitive cheer, wrestling, and women’s flag football in 2026.

Wesleyan will join the Southern States Athletic Conference.

“Wesleyan opened doors for women in 1836 - and we’re still opening them,” said Meaghan Blight, president of Wesleyan College. “NAIA and SSAC membership expands access to a world-class college education for talented student-athletes right here in Middle Georgia. It means more opportunities to compete - and, true to Wesleyan’s focus on nurturing each student’s individual gifts, personalized mentorship and care from coaches and professors, on the court and in the classroom - all within a college experience rooted in leadership,  character, and academic excellence.”

ABOUT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (NAIA) The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. NAIA members provide more than 87,000 student-athletes with opportunities to play college sports, earn $1.3 billion in scholarships and compete in 29 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA