NAIA Adds Six New Members for 2026-27

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (April 13, 2026) – 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, Arkansas), United States Sports University (Daphne, Alabama), Georgia Southern University – East Georgia Campus (Swainsboro, Georgia) and Nevada State University (Henderson, Nevada) join Wesleyan (Macon, Georgia) and Andrew (Cuthbert, Georgia), 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 is moving from two-year athletics in the NJCAA to four-year NAIA competition and will join the Southern States Athletic Conference. Andrew 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.  

Champion Christian was founded in 2005 and competes in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, baseball, track & field, and cross country. It 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 formerly operated as East Georgia State College and competed 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. It 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.

Nevada State University is a four-year school that sponsors men’s indoor and outdoor track and Field and women’s flag football. In 2026-27, the school will add nen’s and women’s cross country and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field. Nevada State has also been approved to join the GSAC in 2026-27.

United States Sports University in Alabama 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. USSU offers career-focused degrees in exercise science, sports management, coaching, sports studies and business administration and will join the Continental Athletic Conference in 2026-27, with plans to enter the Southern States Athletic Conference in 2027-28.

Wesleyan College in Georgia is an all-women’s private, liberal arts college currently affiliated with NCAA Division III. The Wesleyan Wolves have women’s basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball and beach volleyball and plans to add competitive cheer, wrestling and women’s flag football in 2026. Wesleyan will join the Southern States Athletic Conference.