BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Mountain East Conference (MEC) member Point Park University was granted full NCAA Division II membership effective September 1, 2026, announced by the NCAA on Friday afternoon. 

A waiver to complete Point Park’s three-year NCAA provisional membership process in just two years has been approved after the university successfully completed the multi-year transition process from NAIA by meeting all NCAA compliance, academic, and operational benchmarks a year early.

"Point Park is proud to be a member of both the Mountain East Conference and NCAA Division II,” said President Chris W. Brussalis. “We are honored that the NCAA recognized our institutional performance and commitment enough to waive a third provisional year and grant us full membership. We could not have done this without the unwavering support of the MEC and look forward to competing in the conference for many years to come.”

"On behalf of the Mountain East Conference, congratulations to Point Park University on earning full NCAA Division II membership,” said MEC Commissioner Reid Amos. “This is a well-earned milestone that reflects the vision of President Brussalis, the leadership of Scott Swain, the outstanding work by his administrative staff, and the daily commitment of Point Park’s student-athletes and coaches. Since joining our league, the Pioneers have competed with distinction both on the field and in the classroom and have been a valued addition to the MEC. We congratulate the entire Point Park community and look forward to their continued success as full members of the conference.”

As full members of the Mountain East Conference and as an associate member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (in men’s lacrosse), the Pioneers will be fully integrated in NCAA Division II this fall – a major milestone for recruiting, visibility and competition. The announcement also gives Point Park NCAA postseason eligibility, as well as significantly more access to NCAA national and regional polls and postseason awards, both regional and national.

"Today’s news is historic for Point Park University and our entire downtown community,” said Vice President of Athletics Scott Swain. “Over the past two years, our student- athletes, staff, donors and community have strived for excellence with NCAA membership being the goal, today that hard work and commitment has paid off. NCAA membership will help our university grow – including enrollment, sponsorship, and achievements - both athletically and academically.

"We’d like to thank many individuals and departments on campus for their part in the NCAA membership process, including the president’s office, athletics department, registrar’s office, financial aid, admissions, student affairs and business office,” Swain continued.

Point Park was invited for membership to the Mountain East Conference on January 16, 2024, before being approved for the NCAA Division II provisional membership process on July 11 later that year. Pioneer athletics successfully completed the initial year of the process during the 2024-25 academic year, before completing the membership criteria in 2025-26.

Point Park captured its first MEC Championship in the spring of 2025 winning the baseball championship. Point Park qualified for MEC postseason competition in 13 sports during the 2025-26 academic year. The Pioneers finished MEC runner-up in five sports over the past year, including women’s cross country, men’s track & field (indoor and outdoor) and women’s track & field (indoor and outdoor). The institution also made its first-ever MEC postseason appearances in men’s and women’s soccer back in the fall.

In year one, 10 Point Park athletics programs qualified for MEC postseason competition. In addition to baseball winning the school’s first MEC Championship, women’s indoor track & field and men’s outdoor track & field both finished as league runner-up in 2024-25.

Point Park also celebrated success in the classroom during the 2025-26 academic year, with student-athletes recording a 3.42 grade-point average during the fall and a 3.35 GPA during the spring semester. Point Park placed 258 student-athletes on the All-MEC Academic Team and Commissioner’s Honor Roll this year.