 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(February 2022) |
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| Association | NCAA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Commissioner | Pamela S. Samuelson, PhD (since June 7, 2019) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division III |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Headquarters | North Providence, Rhode Island |
| Region | New England |
| Official website | www |
| Locations | |
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The Little East Conference (LEC) is an NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic conference. The member institutions are located in all six states of New England.
The Little East currently has nine full members, all are public schools:
The Little East currently has six associate members, all but two are public schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Endowment (millions) | Nickname | Joined | Colors | Primary conference | LEC sport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | 1840 | Public [lower-alpha 1] | 10,651 | $54.0 | Bears | 2004–05m.ten. 2004–05w.ten. | MASCAC | men's tennis; women's tennis | |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts | 1891 | Public [lower-alpha 1] | 1,637 | $13.05 [lower-alpha 2] | Buccaneers | 2019–20 | MASCAC | men's lacrosse | |
| University of New England | Biddeford, Maine | 1831 | Nonsectarian | 7,208 | $39.2 | Nor'easters | 2022–23 | CCC | women's swimming & diving | |
| Salem State University | Salem, Massachusetts | 1854 | Public [lower-alpha 1] | 7,242 | $25.3 | Vikings | 2000–01m.lax. 2003–04m.ten. 2004–05w.ten. | MASCAC | men's lacrosse; men's tennis; women's tennis | |
| Western New England University | Springfield, Massachusetts | 1919 | Nonsectarian | 3,702 | $55.9 | Golden Bears | 2019–20 | CCC | women's swimming & diving [3] | |
| Westfield State University | Westfield, Massachusetts | 1838 | Public [lower-alpha 1] | 5,400 | $6.2 | Owls | 2009–10 | MASCAC | women's swimming & diving |
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Primary conference | Little East sport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babson College | Wellesley, Massachusetts | 1919 | Nonsectarian | 2,350 | Beavers | 2025–26 | NEWMAC | men's ice hockey |
| New England College | Henniker, New Hampshire | 1946 | Nonsectarian | 4,327 | Pilgrims | 2025–26 | GNAC | men's ice hockey; women's ice hockey |
| Norwich University | Northfield, Vermont | 1819 | Private | 2,300 | Cadets | 2025–26 | GNAC | men's ice hockey |
The Little East had six former associate members, all of which were also public schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Endowment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Colors | Primary conference | LEC sport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | 1840 | Public [lower-alpha 1] | 10,651 | $54.0 | Bears | 2000–01f.h. 2009–10w.s.d. | 2022–23f.h. 2014–15w.s.d. | MASCAC | field hockey; women's swimming & diving | |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg, Massachusetts | 1894 | Public [lower-alpha 1] | 4,659 | $19.9 | Falcons | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey | |
| Framingham State University | Framingham, Massachusetts | 1839 | Public [lower-alpha 1] | 4,111 | $35.4 [lower-alpha 2] | Rams | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey | |
| Salem State University | Salem, Massachusetts | 1854 | Public [lower-alpha 1] | 7,242 | $25.3 | Vikings | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey | |
| Westfield State University | Westfield, Massachusetts | 1838 | Public [lower-alpha 1] | 5,400 | $6.2 | Owls | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey | |
| Worcester State University | Worcester, Massachusetts | 1874 | Public [lower-alpha 1] | 6,434 | $34.5 | Lancers | 2000–01f.h. 2009–10w.ten. | 2022–23f.h. 2020–21w.ten. | MASCAC | field hockey; women's tennis |
The LEC sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, women's field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and women's volleyball.
In 2023, the Little East announced the addition of men's and women's ice hockey to begin play in 2025. [4]
| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country | Golf | Ice Hockey [lower-alpha 1] | Lacrosse | Soccer | Swimming & Diving | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castleton |  | | | | | | |  | | | | 10 |
| Eastern Connecticut | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 |
| Keene State | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 |
| Plymouth State | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 |
| Rhode Island College | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 |
| Southern Maine | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 |
| UMass–Boston | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 |
| UMass–Darthmouth | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 |
| Western Connecticut | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 |
| Totals | 9 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 6+3 | 8+2 | 9 | 4+1 | 5+2 | 8 | 8 | 79+8 |
| Associate Members | ||||||||||||
| Babson | | 1 | ||||||||||
| Bridgewater State | | | 2 | |||||||||
| Massachusetts Maritime | | 1 | ||||||||||
| New England College | | 1 | ||||||||||
| Norwich | | 1 | ||||||||||
| Salem State | | | 2 | |||||||||
| School | Basketball | Cross Country | Field Hockey | Ice Hockey [lower-alpha 1] | Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Swimming & Diving | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Volleyball | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castleton | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| Eastern Connecticut | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 |
| Keene State | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| Plymouth State | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 |
| Rhode Island College | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 |
| Southern Maine | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| UMass–Boston | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 |
| UMass–Darthmouth | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| Western Connecticut | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 |
| Totals | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5+1 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6+3 | 7+2 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 94+6 |
| Associate Members | |||||||||||||
| Bridgewater State | | 1 | |||||||||||
| New England College | | 1 | |||||||||||
| U. of New England | | 1 | |||||||||||
| Salem State | | 1 | |||||||||||
| Western New England | | 1 | |||||||||||
| Westfield State | | 1 | |||||||||||
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