New England Small College Athletic Conference

The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III comprising sports teams from eleven highly selective liberal arts institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The eleven institutions are Amherst College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, Connecticut College, Hamilton College, Middlebury College, Tufts University, Trinity College, Wesleyan University, and Williams College.

The conference originated with an agreement among Amherst, Bowdoin, Wesleyan and Williams in 1955. In 1971, Bates, Colby, Hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts, and Union College joined and the NESCAC was officially formed. Union withdrew in 1977 and was replaced by Connecticut College in 1982. NESCAC members maintain some of the largest financial endowments among liberal arts colleges in the world.

History

Williams began its inaugural football season in 1881 and its rivalry with Amherst College is one of the longest at any level of college football. Bates and Bowdoin have competed against each other athletically since the 1870s and subsequently share one of the ten oldest NCAA Division III football rivalries; there is a long history of athletic competition between the two colleges and Colby. Colby began its a notable hockey rivalry, with Bowdoin in 1922.

thumb|left|[[Williams College football team, 1901|209x209px]]

In 1899, Amherst, Wesleyan and Williams schools first began to compete together as the "Triangular League". Since then they have continued to play each other in most sports on a regular basis. The conference originated with an agreement among Amherst, Bowdoin, Wesleyan and Williams in 1955. Later, Bates, Colby, Connecticut College, Hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts joined and the NESCAC was officially formed. The Conference was created out of a concern for the direction of intercollegiate athletic programs and remains committed to keeping a proper perspective on the role of sport in higher education. Prior to 1993 NESCAC generally did not allow member schools to send teams to NCAA championships. Since then all sports except football have had this freedom, many excelling in the NCAA Division III championships. The NACDA Directors' Cup, awarded since 1996 to the college or university in each NCAA Division that wins the most college championships, has been claimed at the Division III level by a NESCAC institution every year except 1998. In the 2012–13 season, four of the top ten NACDA Director's Cup institutions were from NESCAC: Williams (1), Middlebury (3), Amherst (6), and Tufts (8).

Chronological timeline

1971 – The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) was founded. Charter members included Amherst College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, Hamilton College, Middlebury College, Trinity College, Tufts University, Union College, Wesleyan University and Williams College, beginning the 1971–72 academic year.
1977 – Union left the NESCAC after the 1976–77 academic year.
1982 – Connecticut College joined the NESCAC in the 1982–83 academic year.

Member schools

Current members

The NESCAC currently has 11 full members, all of which are private institutions of higher education. Admission to NESCAC institutions is highly competitive, with admit rates consistently below 15% for the majority of the conference. Some member schools are among the oldest institutions of higher education in the U.S., with Williams, Bowdoin and Middlebury being among the 40 oldest institutions in the country.

NESCAC members maintain some of the largest financial endowments among liberal arts colleges in the world. Endowment data provided by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) as self-reported by member schools.

! Nickname

! Joined

! class="unsortable" | Colors

| Amherst College

| Amherst, MA

| 1821

| 1,907

| 7%

| $3.549

| Mammoths

| 1971

| Bates College

| Lewiston, ME

| 1855

| 1,800

| 13%

| $2.423

| Polar Bears

| 1971

| Colby College

| Waterville, ME

| 1813

| 2,300

| 7.5%

| $1.160

| Mules

| 1971

| Connecticut College

| New London, CT

| 1911

| 1,990

| 36%

| $0.482

| Camels

| 1982

| Hamilton College

| Clinton, NY

| 1793

| 2,053

| 12%

| $1.597

| Panthers

| 1971

| Trinity College

| Hartford, CT

| 1823

| 2,159

| 36%

| $0.834

| Bantams

| 1971

| Tufts University

| Medford, MA

| 1852

| 6,635

| 9%

| $2.533

| Jumbos

| 1971

| Wesleyan University

| Middletown, CT

| 1831

| 3,064

| 13.9%

| $1.583

| Cardinals

| 1971

| Williams College

| Williamstown, MA

| 1793

| 2,250

| 8%

| $3.655

| Ephs

| 1971

;Notes

Former member

The NESCAC had one former full member, which was a private institution.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

! Institution

! Location

! Founded

! Affiliation

! Enrollment

! Nickname

! Joined

! Left

! class="unsortable" | Colors

! Current conference

| Union College

| Schenectady, NY

| 1795

| Nonsectarian

| 2,197

| Dutchmen & Dutchwomen

| 1971

| 1977

| Liberty (LL)

;Notes

Membership timeline

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id:Full value:rgb(0.7,0.9,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports

id:FullxF value:rgb(0.9,0.8,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football

id:AssocF value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only

id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.8,0.9,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only

id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference

id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference when the other color has already been used

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bar:3 color:Full from:1971 till:end text:Bowdoin (1971–present)

bar:4 color:Full from:1971 till:end text:Colby (1971–present)

bar:5 color:Full from:1971 till:end text:Hamilton (1971–present)

bar:6 color:Full from:1971 till:end text:Middlebury (1971–present)

bar:7 color:Full from:1971 till:end text:Trinity (Conn.) (1971–present)

bar:8 color:Full from:1971 till:end text:Tufts (1971–present)

bar:9 color:Full from:1971 till:1977 text:Union (1971–1977)

bar:10 color:Full from:1971 till:end text:Wesleyan (Conn.) (1971–present)

bar:11 color:Full from:1971 till:end text:Williams (1971–present)

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Academics

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:right; font-size:85%; margin-right:2em;"

|+Reaching the ivory tower: systemic grade deflation (2005)

!School

!Grade deflation score

!Source

|Amherst

|84.5/100

| The conference's schools have received media attention over both perceived grade inflation and deflation.

Association of American Universities

Tufts University is a member of the Association of American Universities.

Geographic distribution

Most applicants to schools in the NESCAC come from the Northeast, largely from the New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia areas. As all NESCAC schools are located on the East Coast, and all but one are in New England, most graduates end up working and residing in the Northeast after graduation.

Revenue

Total revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights/licensing, student fees, school funds, and all other sources including TV income, camp income, food, and novelties. Total expenses includes coaching/staff, buildings/grounds, maintenance, utilities and rental fees, and all other costs including recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues, and insurance costs.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"

! style="width:100px;"| Conference rank (2020)

! style="width:190px;"| Institution

! style="width:130px;"| 2020 total revenue from athletics

! style="width:130px;"| 2020 total expenses on athletics

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Conference Sports

! scope="col" | Sport

! scope="col" | Men's

! scope="col" | Women's

| style="text-align: left;" | Baseball

| style="text-align: left;" | Basketball

| style="text-align: left;" | Cross Country

| style="text-align: left;" | Field Hockey

| style="text-align: left;" | Football

| style="text-align: left;" | Golf

| style="text-align: left;" | Ice Hockey

| style="text-align: left;" | Lacrosse

| style="text-align: left;" | Rowing

| style="text-align: left;" | Soccer

| style="text-align: left;" | Softball

| style="text-align: left;" | Squash

| style="text-align: left;" | Swimming & Diving

| style="text-align: left;" | Tennis

| style="text-align: left;" | Track & Field

| style="text-align: left;" | Volleyball

Men's Sports

Yes | No | * Funded as club team but competes with NESCAC

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 95%"

! scope="col" | School

! scope="col" | Baseball

! scope="col" | Basketball

! scope="col" | Cross Country

! scope="col" | Football

! scope="col" | Golf

! scope="col" | Ice Hockey

! scope="col" | Lacrosse

! scope="col" | Rowing

! scope="col" | Soccer

! scope="col" | Squash

! scope="col" | Swimming & Diving

! scope="col" | Tennis

! scope="col" | Track & Field

! scope="col" | Total NESCAC Sports

!Amherst

!13*

! Bates

! 12

! Bowdoin

! 13*

! Colby

! 13

! Connecticut College

! 10

! Hamilton

! 13

!Middlebury

!13*

!Trinity

!13

!Tufts

!13

!Wesleyan

!13

!Williams

!13

! Totals

! 10

! 11

! 10

! 11

! 11*

! 11

! 136

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the NESCAC that are played by NESCAC schools

{| class="wikitable"

! scope="col" | School

! scope="col" | Alpine Skiing

!Nordic Skiing

!Rowing*

!Rugby

! scope="col" |

Sailing

! scope="col" | Water Polo

! scope="col" | Wrestling

!Amherst

|ACRA

! Bates

| EISA

|EISA

! Bowdoin

|EISA

|ACRA

| NEISA

! Colby

| EISA

|EISA

! Connecticut College

| NEISA

| CWPA

! Middlebury

| EISA

|EISA

|ACRA

|NERFU

! Trinity

| NEWA

! Tufts

| NEISA

! Wesleyan

| NEWA

! Williams

| EISA

|EISA

| NEWA

;Notes

*Rowing at Amherst, Bowdoin, and Middlebury is funded as club sport (versus varsity), so is sponsored by ACRA rather than NESCAC. However, all three teams compete against NESCAC schools and in NESCAC regattas.

Women's Sports

Yes | No | * Funded as club team but competes with NESCAC

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 95%"

! scope="col" | School

! scope="col" | Basketball

! scope="col" | Cross Country

! scope="col" | Field Hockey

! scope="col" | Golf

! scope="col" | Ice Hockey

! scope="col" | Lacrosse

! scope="col" | Rowing

! scope="col" | Soccer

! scope="col" | Softball

! scope="col" | Squash

! scope="col" | Swimming & Diving

! scope="col" | Tennis

! scope="col" | Track & Field

! scope="col" | Volleyball

! scope="col" | Total NESCAC Sports

! Amherst

! 14*

! Bates

! 13

! Bowdoin

! 14*

! Colby

! 13

! Connecticut College

! 12

! Hamilton

! 14

! Middlebury

! 14*

! Trinity

! 14

! Tufts

! 12

! Wesleyan

! 14

! Williams

! 14

! Totals

! 11

! 8

! 9

! 11

! 11*

! 11

! 10

! 11

! 145

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the NESCAC that are played by NESCAC schools

{| class="wikitable"

! scope="col" | School

! scope="col" | Alpine Skiing

! scope="col" | Fencing

!Nordic Skiing

!Rowing*

! scope="col" | Rugby

! scope="col" | Sailing

! scope="col" | Water Polo

!Amherst

|ACRA

! Bates

| EISA

|EISA

! Bowdoin

|EISA

|ACRA

| NIRA

| NEISA

! Colby

| EISA

|EISA

! Connecticut College

| NEISA

| MPSF

! Middlebury

| EISA

|EISA

|ACRA

! Tufts

| NFC

|NEISA

! Williams

| EISA

|EISA

;Notes:*Rowing at Amherst, Bowdoin, and Middlebury is funded as club sport (versus varsity), so is sponsored by ACRA rather than NESCAC. However, all three teams compete against NESCAC schools and in NESCAC regattas. In addition to the ban on postseason play, the NESCAC football league is notable for member teams playing conference games only. While some Division II and Division III teams play only conference schedules, NESCAC is unique in all of its members playing only within conference games. Every institution fields a football team except for Connecticut College.

Baseball

NESCAC Baseball is the only men's sport to utilize divisions. Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Tufts, and Trinity compete in the East Division, while Amherst, Hamilton, Middlebury, Wesleyan, and Williams compete in the West Division. Connecticut College does not sponsor baseball. The NESCAC has won the College World Series once: by the Trinity Bantams in 2008. Current member schools have appeared in the College World Series a combined total of 5 times.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

|+ College World Series / NCAA Tournament History

! School

! College World Series Championships

! College World Series Appearances

! Last CWS Appearance

! NCAA Tournament Appearances

! Last NCAA Appearance

| Trinity

| 2008

| 4

| 2009

| 10

| 2019

| Wesleyan

| 1

| 1994

| 3

| 2015

| Tufts

| 0

| n/a

| 10

| 2023

| Amherst

| 0

| n/a

| 7

| 2018

| Williams

| 0

| n/a

| 3

| 2007

| Bowdoin

| 0

| n/a

| 2

| 2012

| Middlebury

| 0

| n/a

| 4

| 2024

| Bates

| 0

| n/a

| 0

| n/a

| Colby

| 0

| n/a

| 1

| 2024

| Hamilton

| 0

| n/a

| 0

| n/a

;Notes:

NCAA championships

The Middlebury Panthers lead the NESCAC in NCAA men's titles with 15 and in overall NCAA titles with 44, while the Williams Ephs lead in women's titles with 30.

Baseball (1):

2008 – Trinity

Men's basketball (4):

2003 – Williams
2007 – Amherst
2013 – Amherst
2025 – Amherst

Women's basketball (3):

2011 – Amherst
2017 – Amherst
2018 – Amherst

Men's cross country (2):

1994 – Williams
1995 – Williams

Women's cross country (10):

2000 – Middlebury
2001 – Middlebury
2002 – Williams
2003 – Middlebury
2004 – Williams
2006 – Middlebury
2007 – Amherst
2008 – Middlebury
2010 – Middlebury
2015 – Williams

Field hockey (15):

1998 – Middlebury
2007 – Bowdoin
2008 – Bowdoin
2010 – Bowdoin
2012 – Tufts
2013 – Bowdoin
2015 – Middlebury
2017 – Middlebury
2018 – Middlebury
2019 – Middlebury
2021 – Middlebury
2022 – Middlebury
2023 – Middlebury
2024 – Middlebury
2025 – Tufts

Women's golf (1):

2015 – Williams

Men's ice hockey (9):

1995 – Middlebury
1996 – Middlebury
1997 – Middlebury
1998 – Middlebury
1999 – Middlebury
2004 – Middlebury
2005 – Middlebury
2006 – Middlebury
2015 – Trinity

Women's ice hockey (5):

2004 – Middlebury
2005 – Middlebury
2006 – Middlebury
2009 – Amherst
2010 – Amherst
2022 - Middlebury

Men's lacrosse (9):

2000 – Middlebury
2001 – Middlebury
2002 – Middlebury
2010 – Tufts
2014 – Tufts
2015 – Tufts
2018 – Wesleyan
2024 – Tufts
2025 – Tufts

Women's lacrosse (14):

1997 – Middlebury
1999 – Middlebury
2001 – Middlebury
2002 – Middlebury
2003 – Amherst
2004 – Middlebury
2008 – Hamilton
2012 – Trinity
2016 – Middlebury
2019 – Middlebury
2022 – Middlebury
2023 – Middlebury
2024 – Middlebury
2025 – Middlebury

Women's rowing (18)

2002 – Williams
2003 – Colby
2006 – Williams
2007 – Williams
2008 – Williams
2009 – Williams
2010 – Williams
2011 – Williams
2012 – Williams
2013 – Williams
2014 - Trinity
2015 – Bates
2017 – Bates
2018 – Bates
2019 – Bates
2021 – Bates
2024 – Tufts
2025 – Tufts

Men's soccer (10):

1995 – Williams
2007 – Middlebury
2014 – Tufts
2015 – Amherst
2016 – Tufts
2018 – Tufts
2019 – Tufts
2021 – Connecticut College
2024 – Amherst
2025 – Tufts

Women's soccer (3):

2015 – Williams
2017 – Williams
2018 – Williams

Softball (3):

2013 – Tufts
2014 – Tufts
2015 – Tufts

Women's swimming & diving (2):

1982 – Williams
1983 – Williams

Men's tennis (10):

1999 – Williams
2001 – Williams
2002 – Williams
2004 – Middlebury
2010 – Middlebury
2011 – Amherst
2013 – Williams
2014 – Amherst
2016 – Bowdoin
2018 – Middlebury

Women's tennis (12):

1999 – Amherst
2001 – Williams
2002 – Williams
2008 – Williams
2009 – Williams
2010 – Williams
2011 – Williams
2012 – Williams
2013 – Williams
2015 – Williams
2017 – Williams
2019 – Wesleyan

Women's indoor track (2):

2007 – Williams
2019 – Williams

New England Small College Athletic Conference

History

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Current members

Former member

Membership timeline

Academics

Association of American Universities

Geographic distribution

Revenue

Men's Sports

Women's Sports

Baseball

NCAA championships

See also

References

External links