D2 Schools in Texas: Which is Best for You?
What’s Covered:
There are 292 active Division II schools across the U.S., with 14 of them located in Texas. Keep reading to explore these Texas schools, including details on enrollment, acceptance rates, campus size, and what each is best known for.
What is the NCAA Division 2?
The NCAA Division 2 refers to schools in the “intermediate” level of athletic competition according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association. These schools often receive ample funding for collegiate sports, but tend to be smaller than their Division 1 counterparts. Similar to Division 1, student-athletes are eligible to receive athletic scholarships.
Most Division 2 schools have a median enrollment of 2,500 students, with one in ten students being athletes at D2 schools.
List of D2 Schools in Texas
|
School |
Location |
Acceptance Rate |
|
San Angelo, TX |
79% |
|
|
Dallas, TX |
91% |
|
|
Lubbock, TX |
73% |
|
|
Wichita Falls, TX |
87% |
|
|
Austin, TX |
84% |
|
|
San Antonio, TX |
89% |
|
|
Alpine, TX |
96% |
|
|
Laredo, TX |
46% |
|
|
Kingsville, TX |
92% |
|
|
Denton, TX |
95% |
|
|
Tyler, TX |
92% |
|
|
Odessa, TX |
85% |
|
|
Dallas, TX |
65% |
|
|
Canyon, TX |
97% |
1. Angelo State University
Location: San Angelo, TX
Acceptance Rate: 79%
Undergrad Enrollment: 9,623
Angelo State University was founded in 1928 as “San Angelo College.” Today, it is part of the Texas Tech University System and boasts the second-largest campus among Texas Tech-affiliated universities. The university’s substantial endowment supports both financial aid and academic programs.
The University has six colleges and offers more than 100 majors, ranging from accounting to theatre.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Track & Field
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
2. Dallas Baptist University
Location: Dallas, TX
Acceptance Rate: 91%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,850
Dallas Baptist University is affiliated with the Baptist Church and has campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Hurst. The main campus spans around 370 acres and some of its buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The university offers over 75 undergraduate majors and 35 master’s programs, as well as dual enrollment and accelerated bachelor’s degrees.
The average class size is 16 students. 86% of students receive financial aid, including federal, state, and university awards.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Track & Field
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
- STUNT
3. Lubbock Christian University
Location: Lubbock, TX
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,320
Lubbock Christian University is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It’s different from many other universities as it doesn’t host fraternities and sororities, but it does have “social clubs” for both men and women. The university also has an active ROTC program and many other professional organizations on campus.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track & Field
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
4. Midwestern State University
Location: Wichita Falls, TX
Acceptance Rate: 87%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,508
Midwestern State is a public university that’s affiliated with the Texas Tech University System. Midwestern State is heavily involved in research—the university owns the Dalquest Desert Research Station at Big Bend Ranch State Park. Students and professors use the station for geology research. The university has an active Greek life and over 100 student organizations.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track
- Volleyball
5. St. Edward’s University
Location: Austin, TX
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,731
St. Edward’s University is a Catholic institution founded in 1877 by Reverend Edward Sorin, who also founded the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. The university also has a partnership with Catholic University of the West in Angers, France, and provides opportunities for both American and French students to learn from one another.
Since 2004, more than 80 Fulbright Scholarships have been awarded to St. Edward’s students.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Soccer
- Track & Field
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Soccer
- Softball
- STUNT
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
6. St. Mary’s University
Location: San Antonio, TX
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,147
Founded in 1852, St. Mary’s is the oldest Catholic university in Texas. Student life is important at St. Mary’s; the university has many active Greek life organizations and over 90 other student organizations. St. Mary’s encourages students to participate in undergraduate research in both STEM and social science. It also has a law school that was founded in 1968.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- STUNT
- Tennis
- Volleyball
7. Sul Ross State University
Location: Alpine, TX,
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,411
Sul Ross State University, or more simply, SRSU, is known for its programs in both the arts and sciences, small class sizes, and affordability. It’s also known for its adventurous students, thanks to its West Texas location in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert and proximity to Big Bend National Park, which offers an abundance of opportunities for hiking, camping, and exploration.
In addition to offering 12 D2 sports, SRSU is also home to a Rodeo team that has earned nine national championships—seven men’s and two women’s.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Soccer
- Tennis
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
8. Texas A&M International University
Location: Laredo, TX
Acceptance Rate: 46%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,004
Texas A&M International is one of the top public universities in the state, offering 70 programs of study through its four colleges and schools. The university is deeply involved in research and has many research centers, including the Small Business Development Center, The Western Hemispheric Trade Information Center, Center for Earth and Environmental Studies, and the Texas Center for Border Economics and Enterprise Development.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Volleyball
9. Texas A&M University- Kingsville
Location: Kingsville, TX
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,000
Texas A&M University-Kingsville is a public research university founded in 1925. It’s notable for its natural gas engineering program, which is the only accredited program of its kind in the U.S. It is also known for its wildlife research and special work in citrus research. It has a bilingual center and granted the first diploma in bilingual education. More than 75% of students are of Hispanic origin, and the student body comes from 40 states and 35 countries.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Track & Field
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
- STUNT
10. Texas Woman’s University | TWU
Location: Denton, TX
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,260
Despite TWU’s name, it is a co-educational public university; however, athletics are limited to women. The university has centers in Dallas, Houston, and Denton. The university’s main campus in Denton is well-known for its library, which houses the Women’s Collection, one of the largest historical collections about women’s history in the U.S. The university has active Greek chapters.
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Artistic Swimming
- Basketball
- Dance
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
- Softball
- STUNT
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
11. The University of Texas at Tyler
Location: Tyler, TX
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,287
The University of Texas at Tyler is known for its robust research program and selective honors college. In fact, the university is classified as having high research activity—it’s designated an R2 research institution and is the highest Carnegie classified college in East Texas. The university also has nearly 125 student organizations, including Greek life. Students come from 45 states and more than 60 countries.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track & Field
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Sovver
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
12. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Location: Odessa, TX
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,654
The University of Texas Permian Basin is ranked among the top five universities in Texas for employment after graduation and boasts a 70% acceptance rate into medical school. The university offers 50 undergraduate, master’s, and online programs, and generous financial aid packages are available. Psychology and Business are among the most popular majors.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Swimming & Diving
- Tennis
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming & Diving
- Tennis
- Volleyball
13. University of Texas at Dallas
Location: Dallas, TX
Acceptance Rate: 65%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 21,330
Founded in the 1960s, the University of Texas at Dallas has grown considerably over the years—today it’s home to seven schools and offers more than 160 undergraduate and graduate programs, in addition to professional certificates and fast-track programs. On campus, there are more than 400 organizations, including 26 fraternities and sororities.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track & Field
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
14. West Texas A&M University
Location: Canyon, TX
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,786
West Texas A&M University is widely recognized for its strong agricultural and environmental programs, as well as its innovative research centers—including the Beef Carcass and Feedlot Research Group and the Alternative Energy Group. The university also stands out for its robust online degree offerings. In total, West Texas A&M offers 60 undergraduate programs and 45 graduate degree programs.
Men’s D2 sports offered:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Track & Field
Women’s D2 sports offered:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Now that you have a better idea of the Division II schools in Texas, you can tailor your application to reflect what these institutions value. For instance, many are affiliated with religious denominations and seek students who share those principles. In your application materials, consider highlighting how your own values align with the mission and culture of the college.
Are you curious to find out how your GPA, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities will impact your offer of admission to these colleges? Check out CollegeVine’s free chancing calculator! This tool will help you determine which schools are a good match for you and where you have the highest chance of acceptance.