This is a list of U.S. universities and colleges that have won the most team sport national championships (more than 15) that have been bestowed for the highest level of collegiate athletic competition, be that at either the varsity or club level, as determined by the governing organization of each sport.
While many collegiate sports championships in the United States are now sponsored by the NCAA, historically this was not the case, and many championships were organized for decades without NCAA sponsorship. This list includes both (i) NCAA championships and (ii) titles won in competitions organized by bodies other than the NCAA.
The column in the list below that sets forth NCAA championships includes (but is not limited to) all non-football titles won at the highest level organized by the NCAA (Division I/Collegiate), as of July 1, 2023, for sports years through that date [2] and with updated results for subsequent sports year(s). (In accordance with the NCAA's own records, this column includes certain "unofficial" NCAA championships won during years the NCAA did not calculate winning team scores – boxing from 1932 through 1947, track and field from 1925 to 1927, and wrestling in 1928 and 1931–1933.) [3] [4] [5] It also includes the short-lived trampoline titles in 1969–1970. Other championships are set forth in other columns. For example, women's sports were solely organized by the AIAW rather than the NCAA prior to the 1981–1982 year of dual championships, and these titles are included in their own separate column. [6] Notably, the championship in the highest level of NCAA football (FBS) to date is still not sponsored by the NCAA, nor has the oldest organized intercollegiate competition, men's rowing, ever been subject to NCAA control (included in the "Other Team Titles" column). [7]
The "Other team titles" column includes championships won by schools in one of the 27 sports that are (or were) sponsored by the NCAA or AIAW, during years competitive championships were organized by other bodies. These 27 sports are: women's badminton; baseball; basketball; women's bowling; boxing; cross country; fencing; field hockey; golf; gymnastics; ice hockey; lacrosse; indoor rifle; outdoor rifle; women's rowing; skiing; soccer; softball; swimming; women's synchronized swimming; tennis; indoor track; outdoor track; men's trampoline; volleyball; women's beach volleyball, water polo; and wrestling. Finally, the "Other team titles" column also includes championships won in three other sports: men's rowing (1871–present), which has voluntarily remained outside NCAA sponsorship, and two NCAA "emerging sports" that organize championships, women's equestrian (2002–present) and women's rugby (1991–present). [8] [9]
As more specifically detailed on the table of sports, below, the "Other team titles" column includes: (i) historic non-NCAA tournament titles compiled here, (ii) non-AIAW women's championships listed here, (iii) overall women's equestrian championships, (iv) gold medal lacrosse teams listed here and Wingate lacrosse championships, (v) pre-NCAA golf championships (NCAA started sponsoring the golf championship in 1939; the previous 41 championships conferred by the National Intercollegiate Golf Association are in the "Other" column [10] [11] ); (vi) pre-NCAA swimming championships; (vii) ISFA soccer championships; and (viii) USA Rugby Women’s Divisions 1 / 1 Elite championships.
It does not include Helms Athletic Foundation or Premo-Porretta Power Poll selections for men's basketball, which were awarded retroactively. [12] [13]
Sport | Current NCAA DI championship sport | Years sponsored by NCAA | Years sponsored by AIAW | Titles included in "Other" column |
---|---|---|---|---|
Badminton (W) | ![]() | — | 1973–82 | 1970–72, 1983–93 |
Baseball | ![]() | 1947–present | — | 1893 |
Basketball (M) | ![]() | 1939–present | — | 1904–38 (various tourney winners) 1939–50 NIT champs |
Basketball (W) | ![]() | 1982–present | 1972–82 | 1969–71 |
Bowling (W) | ![]() | 2004–present | — | 1975–2003 |
Boxing | ![]() | 1932–1960 [a] | — | 1924–31 |
Cross country (M) | ![]() | 1938–present | — | 1899–1937 |
Cross country (W) | ![]() | 1982–present | 1975–81 | — |
Equestrian (W) | ![]() | — | — | 2002–present |
Fencing (M) | ![]() co-ed since 1990 | 1941–42, 1947–present | — | 1894–1943 |
Fencing (W) | 1982–present | 1980–82 | 1929–79 | |
Field hockey | ![]() | 1981–present | 1975–81 | — |
Football, FBS | ![]() | — | — | N/A: football has its own separate column |
Golf (M) | ![]() | 1939–present | — | 1897–1938 |
Golf (W) | ![]() | 1982–present | 1972–82 | 1970–71 |
Gymnastics (M) | ![]() | 1938–present | — | 1900–02, 1917, 1925, 1944 (AAU) |
Gymnastics (W) | ![]() | 1982–present | 1973–82 | 1969–72 |
Ice hockey (M) | ![]() | 1948–present | — | 1940, 1942 (AAU) |
Ice hockey (W) | ![]() | 2001–present | — | 1998–2000 |
Lacrosse (M) | ![]() | 1971–present | — | 1881, 1912, 1921, 1926–31, 1936–70 |
Lacrosse (W) | ![]() | 1982–present | 1981–82 | 1978–80 |
Rifle (co-ed) | ![]() | 1980–present | — | 1905–79 |
Rowing (M) | ![]() | — | — | 1871–present (overall points since 1952) |
Rowing (W) | ![]() | 1997–present | 1982 | 1973, 1975, 1980–81, 1983–96 |
Rugby (W) | ![]() | — | — | 1991–present |
Skiing (M) | ![]() co-ed since 1983 | 1954–present | — | 1921–53 (various) |
Skiing (W) | 1983–present | 1977–82 | — | |
Soccer (M) | ![]() | 1959–present | — | 1909–35, 1946–48, 1952–58 (ISFA champs); 1949–51 Soccer Bowl champs |
Soccer (W) | ![]() | 1982–present | 1981 | 1980 |
Softball | ![]() | 1982–present | 1973–82 (also slowpitch 1981–82) | 1969–72 |
Swimming (M) | ![]() | 1924–present [b] | — | — |
Swimming (W) | ![]() | 1982–present | 1973–82 | 1968–72 |
Synchronized swimming (W) | ![]() | — | 1977–82 | 1983–present |
Tennis (M) | ![]() | 1946–present | — | 1929–31 indoor |
Tennis (W) | ![]() | 1982–present | 1977–82 | 1968–76 |
Track, indoor (M) | ![]() | 1965–present | — | 1918, 1923–64 |
Track, indoor (W) | ![]() | 1983–present | 1980–82 | 1941–79 (AAU) |
Track, outdoor (M) | ![]() | 1921–present | — | 1876–1920 |
Track, outdoor (W) | ![]() | 1982–present | 1972–82 | 1923–26, [115] 1937–67 (AAU), 1969–71 (DGWS) |
Trampoline (M) | ![]() | 1969–70 | — | — |
Volleyball (M) | ![]() | 1970–present | — | 1949–1969 |
Volleyball (W) | ![]() | 1981–present | 1972–81 | 1969–71 |
Volleyball, beach (W) | ![]() | 2016–present | — | 2007–10, 2012–15 |
Water polo (M) | ![]() | 1969–present | — | 1913, 1968 |
Water polo (W) | ![]() | 2001–present | — | 1984–2000 |
Wrestling | ![]() | 1928–present | — | 1921 |
The intercollegiate championship is rising in importance in golf with each passing year. ... The N.C.A.A. has taken over the administration of the college fray and their delegate in charge on the field is none other than Chick Evans, the old champion and one of the greatest shot-makers the game ever knew, amateur or professional.
No wonder "mythical" is the word that often precedes national title. "There is no official standard because there is no official national champion," said Kent Stephens, historian at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend. "It all depends on the standard the school wishes to utilize. The national champion is in the eye of the beholder."
National Championships – 1926, 1940
The 1926 team was declared national champions by the Dickinson System, Helms Athletic Foundation, National Championship Foundation and Sagarin Ratings. Although Minnesota was declared national champions in the final 1940 Associated Press Poll, which was the best-known and most widely circulated poll of sportswriters and broadcasters in determining the national champion, Stanford was recognized as national champions by the Billingsley Report, Helms Athletic Foundation and Poling System.
This was the case when Navy earned its lone national championship in 1926
Intercollegiate Champions — Men's Team: U.S. Naval Academy, 1360 x 1500 — Women's Team: University of Washington, 2972 x 3000
A recheck of the points made in the National Rifle association shows the men's varsity rifle team of the University of Washington to be the national champions. Their score was 2,968 points out of a possible 3,000.
University of Washington captured first place in the senior national intercollegiate rifle team matches, Ninth Corps Area Headquarters announced here today. The winning score was 7811. Washington State College won second place with 7732.
The women's intercollegiate championship was won by the University of Washington for the second year in succession.
Women's Intercollegiate Team Championship under auspices of the National Rifle Association [...] Vermont, with a team score of 2970 out of a possible 3000 was six points behind the champion University of Washington five.
Columbia has claimed two mythical national championships: in 1875 and 1933. The 1875 team went 4-1-1 and was named national champions, while the 1933 squad defeated Stanford and was referred to as a national champ.
Iowa Quick Facts – National Champions: 1921, 1922, 1956, 1958, 1960 | the Hawkeyes were named national champions by the Football Writers Association in 1958, and by various rating services in 1921, 1922, 1956, and 1960. | Mythical National Champions – Iowa football has been voted mythical national champions by different media services on five occasions. 1921, 1922, 1956, 1958, 1960
National Championships – 18 – 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020