MERCED — UC Merced will officially join the NCAA Division II ranks on Sept. 1 after completing an expedited two‑year transition from the NAIA, the university announced Thursday.

Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz and Executive Director of Recreation & Athletics David Dunham received confirmation during a morning call with NCAA officials, clearing the Bobcats to compete for all conference, regional and national championships beginning this fall.

“We are excited to be full members of NCAA Division II. This would not have been possible without the support of Chancellor Muñoz and the entire UC Merced leadership and the hard work and dedication of our coaches and staff,” Dunham said.

UC Merced was first accepted into the NCAA Division II membership process on July 11, 2024. The Bobcats played their final NAIA season in 2024‑25 and began competing as provisional NCAA Division II members during the 2025‑26 academic year.

Chancellor Muñoz called the announcement a defining moment for the campus.

“Achieving full NCAA Division II membership is a significant milestone that reflects the dedication of our student‑athletes, coaches and staff,” Muñoz said. “We are committed to cultivating scholar‑athletes who excel both in competition and in the classroom, preparing them for success long after their playing days.”

UC Merced’s first year competing at the Division II level included several standout achievements. Men’s track athlete Sharvin Manjrekar won the California Collegiate Athletic Association steeplechase title, while women’s soccer appeared twice in the United Soccer Coaches West Region Top 10 poll. Men’s soccer opened the season with a win over 22nd‑ranked Western Oregon, and women’s volleyball defeated 2024 CCAA Tournament champion Stanislaus State.

Women’s basketball swept Cal State Dominguez Hills, the 2024‑25 CCAA regular‑season and tournament champion. Men’s basketball’s Elijah Charles earned D2CAA All‑West Region honors, and men’s track athlete Martel Fields hit the NCAA qualifying time in the 200 meters. Men’s volleyball hosted nationally ranked Division I opponents UCLA and BYU.

Six Bobcats earned all‑conference honors, nine received honorable mention recognition, and 85 student‑athletes earned academic distinctions.

The university’s transition also included acceptance into several conferences. UC Merced joined the CCAA in November 2023, adding men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, soccer, track and women’s volleyball to the league. Women’s water polo entered the Western Water Polo Association in January 2024, and men’s volleyball was admitted into the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in June 2025.

UC Merced is now the highest‑ranked university in NCAA Division II, according to U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Colleges in the Nation.