Division 2 colleges are ideal for students who want to mix their academic life with “intermediate”-level athletics. Usually, D2 schools are mid-sized (frequently between 5,000 to 15,000 undergraduates) and have a smaller athletic budget than D1 schools. D2 schools’ biggest advantage over D3 schools is that, unlike students in D3 schools, those at D2 schools can receive athletics scholarships.
Today, we’ll be talking about D2 colleges in the state of Texas. There are over 300 NCAA-certified D2 schools across the country, thirteen of which are in Texas.
1. Angelo State University
Angelo State University is located in San Angelo. This D2 school is well known for its diverse academic programs, as well as its stellar D2 athletics. Students attending ASU have over a hundred majors to choose from and can participate in a range of sports, including track and field, football, baseball, basketball, and volleyball.
2. Dallas Baptist University
Top-ranked Dallas Baptist University combines athletics and faith-based education. This smaller school has an undergraduate enrollment of 2,874 students and an average classroom size of thirteen students per class.
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DBU is perfect for students who want a quality university education integrated with Christian teachings. The Athletics Department also has a lot to offer: with fourteen D2 teams and one D1-level team, students can find a nice balance between athletics and campus life.
3. Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock Christian University is another faith-based school known for its D2 athletics. This private institution offers a bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and theology degrees to students, with many majors to choose from. The Athletics department at LCU is comprised of thirteen D2 athletic teams.
Keep in mind that Lubbock is a spiritually-grounded school, so don’t expect to find Greek life on campus.
4. Midwestern State University
Midwestern State University is a liberal arts school based in Wichita Falls. MSU is known for its thriving Greek life, abundance of student-based organizations, and quality liberal arts education. With close to 5,100 undergraduate enrollments, Midwestern is a little larger than some of the other schools on this list. Still, class sizes are on average under twenty students at this student-oriented university. MSU currently has thirteen D2-level teams, with a larger-than-average focus on women’s athletics.
5. St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University was founded by Edward Sorin, the same reverend who founded Notre Dame. This Austin-based private school is a Catholic institution with strong French ties, which results in many visiting French students.
St. Edwards is also top-ranked in academics, and its students have won over 75 Fulbright scholarships since 2008. If you are interested in strong academics and sports, this could be another great option for you. There are currently ten D2-level athletic teams at St. Edwards.
6. St. Mary’s University
St. Mary’s was founded in 1852 by the Society of Mary. This private Catholic school is the oldest Catholic University in Texas and has twelve D2 athletic teams. St. Mary’s is dedicated to providing its 2,300 undergraduate students with a quality education. Students are encouraged to pursue academic research and cultivate leadership skills that will better their communities.
7. Texas A&M University-Commerce
With over 12,000 enrolled students, Texas A&M University’s Commerce campus is one of the largest D2 schools on our list. Though situated in a rural area, the quality and diversity of TAMUC’s academics are comparable to those at larger universities. TAMUC has over 100 programs for undergraduates to choose from and thirteen D2 teams.
8. Texas A&M International University
Texas A&M International University is a public institution with over 8,500 students. Seventy bachelor’s programs are available, along with a good selection of graduate programs. Minority students and international students will also find a welcoming community full of educational opportunities. TAMIU, whose programs are created with the global community in mind, prides itself on being culturally diverse and globally-minded.
9. Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Texas A&M University-Kingsville, also part of the Texas A&M University system, has over 6,300 students. Offering a unique blend of educational programs, TAMUK has a well-known natural gas engineering program, produces prolific in wildlife research, and is home to the country’s first bilingual educational program. Students can also participate in up to thirteen D2 teams.
10. The University of Texas at Tyler
Founded in 1971, The University of Texas at Tyler is known for its strong research and stunning campus. Built along a large lake, and surrounded by a lush oak forest, students at UT Tyler can enjoy the natural beauty of Texas while preparing for exams and coursework. UT Tyler also has sixteen D2 teams and over eighty student organizations.
11. The University of Texas Permian Basin
The University of Texas Permian Basin is a top-ranked school known for its affordable tuition prices and high post-graduation employment rate. With 50 different majors to choose from, students can pursue their career goals online or in person. Best of all, financial aid packages at this institution can help you stay debt-free.
12. Texas Woman’s University
Texas Woman’s University is a co-ed institution located in Denton, Texas. While this is a D2-level school, the Athletics Department is only made up of women’s teams. Still, students interested in nursing, business, the arts, STEM, education, and other healthcare careers will have plenty of academic opportunities.
In addition, the library at TWU’s main campus in Denton contains the largest collection of women’s history in the United States.
13. West Texas A&M University
Finally, West Texas A&M is another option students should consider if they want to join a Division 2 school. This public university is well known for its environmental and agricultural research and offers sixty different undergraduate programs. There are fourteen Division 2 teams at WT, as well, with seven women’s teams and seven men’s teams.
West Texas A&M’s online degree programs are top-ranked, too. Students can choose to complete school completely online or through a hybrid in-class/online model.
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