NCAA Division 2 field hockey colleges often have talent that can compete at the Division 1 and even international levels. The difference is the average athlete trains less hours per week at the D2 level. These extra hours of time can be spent enjoying the college experience, whether joining Greek life or participating in other social functions college has to offer. Here are some of the benefits of going to Division 2 field hockey colleges:
- The less demanding training schedule allows an athlete to truly enjoy college. In certain D1 programs, field hockey is an athlete’s entire life due to the level of competition.
- Student-athletes who learn better in smaller classroom environments should seriously consider a D2 school. Over 50 percent of D2 schools have less than 2,500 students, so freshman introduction classes are far smaller than those at D1 universities.
- If a student-athlete wants their academic, athletic and social lives to all be fulfilled, D2 is an incredible option.
Division 2 field hockey colleges offer the ability to compete at a high level while also maintaining a high quality of life in other areas. Checking out a few D2 field hockey programs can be wise, as it might provide a clear picture of what this division can offer.
How many division 2 field hockey teams are there?
Division 2 field hockey teams are numbered at 26, which is the lowest of any division. Because of this, proactive recruiting by an athlete and their parents is a necessity with the limited number of schools with a field hockey program. There are 6.3 scholarships available per team, which is a little more than half of Division 1’s allotment of 12 scholarships. Full scholarships are immensely rare at Division 2 field hockey colleges.
Division 2 field hockey rankings. Best Division 2 field hockey colleges.
A student-athlete’s overall experience at a college needs to be considered in selecting a school to find the best fit. NCSA Power Rankings take this into account, using variables that can impact student-athlete experience, like financial aid, graduation rates, and favorites on our platform. Below are the top D2 field hockey colleges:
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- Bentley University
- Adelphi University
- Maryville University
- Slippery Rock University
- Wingate University
- Mercyhurst University
- Pace University
- Assumption University
- Saint Anselm College
The NCAA rankings are only based on performance and no other factors.