By: Malachi Morton
Rowan University has continued to grow over the years, and its sports teams have been showing why the school deserves more attention. From men’s and women’s soccer to track and field, Rowan has been competing with some of the best teams in Division III. With all the success these teams have been having, it might be time for Rowan to start thinking about moving up to NCAA Division II. The school has shown it can win championships and compete nationally at the Division III level. That does not automatically mean it would be ready to win in Division II, but I believe the possibility deserves a serious conversation. Moving up could bring more attention to Rowan, help with recruiting and give student-athletes more opportunities if the university has the resources to make it work. Division II represents a different athletic and financial model, however, rather than an automatic improvement over Division III.
One team making a strong case for that conversation is men’s soccer. During the 2026 season, the Profs went unbeaten through their first 14 games before losing 4-1 to Rutgers-Newark on October 24. They bounced back with a 4-0 win over Rutgers-Camden on October 28, finishing the regular season 12-1-3 and 6-1-2 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). According to Rowan Athletics, the sixth-ranked Profs earned the second seed in the NJAC tournament. Evan Vilaboy scored his 11th goal of the season in that finale. The men’s team also reached the third round of the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2025. This program has shown it can compete against strong Division III opponents, and I think its success is one reason to explore what a higher level would demand.
The women’s soccer team has been having an amazing season too. Rowan finished its regular season 14-0 overall and 9-0 in NJAC play after beating Rutgers-Camden 2-0 on October 28. According to Rowan Athletics, the third-ranked Profs completed the first perfect, untied regular season in program history. They scored 49 goals while allowing only three. Sara Wiedeman scored her team-leading 13th goal against Rutgers-Camden and assisted on Bella Moore’s goal. Wiedeman also scored three times in Rowan’s 7-0 win over Rutgers-Newark on October 23, a result confirmed by the official box score. Both soccer teams have given Rowan plenty to be proud of, but Division II would be a different level of competition and would require its own preparation.
Track and field might be one of the biggest reasons why Rowan should consider Division II. In March 2026, the men’s indoor track and field team won the NCAA Division III national championship. Rowan finished with 75 points, beating Wisconsin-La Crosse by one point. It was the first indoor national championship in program history and, according to Rowan Athletics, the university’s 12th NCAA team national championship. Seth Clevenger won the 3,000 and 5,000 meters, while Rajahn Dixon won the 200 meters. During the outdoor season, Rowan finished second nationally with 85 points. Damitrius Hester won the javelin and David Brown won the high jump. These are not small accomplishments. Rowan has athletes winning national championships, and I think the university should consider what it would take to support them at another level.
The women’s track and field team has also been making noise. During the 2026 outdoor season, Rowan won its first NJAC championship since 2019. The Profs finished with 211.5 points, ahead of TCNJ’s 207. Nyla Jones won the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles, while Gabriella Pagano won the 5,000 meters. The women’s indoor team also won the NJAC championship during the 2025-26 season. This shows Rowan’s success is not just coming from the men’s teams. The women’s programs have been stepping up and winning championships too.
It is not just soccer and track and field either. Rowan has won nine NJAC team championships during the 2025-26 academic year and captured the NJAC Cup for the sixth straight year. The university also finished 18th nationally in the Division III Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, which measures athletic success across sports. Rowan’s baseball and softball teams both finished fifth in their NCAA Division III World Series appearances. According to Rowan Athletics, several teams reached NCAA postseason competition. Success across multiple sports is impressive, but moving divisions would affect the entire athletic department, not just the teams bringing home championships.
Another reason Rowan should consider Division II is athletic scholarships. Division III schools cannot award scholarships based on athletic ability, while Division II schools can offer athletic aid under NCAA rules. Division II generally operates under a partial-scholarship model, meaning athletic aid may be divided among eligible athletes and depends on the funding a university makes available. That difference could help Rowan compete for some recruits and give eligible student-athletes additional financial opportunities, but it would not guarantee stronger recruiting or more funding. Scholarships would also require a financial commitment from the university. Rowan would need to weigh that potential benefit against the cost of supporting all of its programs.
Of course, moving to Division II would not be easy. Rowan would have to evaluate the costs of scholarships, travel, recruiting, coaches, facilities, and staffing. It would also need to meet NCAA requirements beyond having successful teams. According to the NCAA’s Division II membership information, a university must receive an invitation from an active Division II conference before applying. It must also demonstrate that it meets institutional accreditation, sports sponsorship, personnel, and other membership requirements, and complete the applicable multiyear provisional process. The NCAA describes a standard process of at least three years and an expedited option of at least two years for eligible institutions. During either provisional process, teams are not eligible to compete in NCAA Division II championships, meaning Rowan would temporarily lose the opportunity to compete for those national titles until it achieved full membership. A transition would require planning across Rowan’s broader athletic program and university leadership, not simply moving its best teams into a new conference.
There is also no guarantee Rowan’s teams would have the same success they are having right now. Some people may believe Rowan should stay in Division III because it is already winning championships and competing for national titles. That is a fair argument. Why change something that has been working? Division II would bring different opponents and expectations, and some teams might need time to adjust. The university would have to decide whether the possible gains in visibility, recruiting, and student-athlete opportunities justify the financial and institutional commitments.
However, those challenges should not stop Rowan from exploring the possibility. The men’s and women’s soccer teams have had outstanding seasons, and both track and field programs have earned major championships. Rowan does not have to make the move tomorrow. It could begin by studying the costs, conference options, and effects on students and coaches. I am proposing that Rowan explore this possibility, not suggesting that the university has announced plans to change divisions. To me, asking those questions is not disrespecting Division III. It is taking Rowan’s athletic future seriously.
At the end of the day, Rowan has already proven it belongs among the top athletic programs in Division III. The university has won championships, developed talented athletes, and brought recognition to the school. That success alone does not prove Division II readiness, but it gives Rowan a reason to examine the next step. Moving up could create new opportunities, and it could also create real challenges. I believe Rowan should at least find out what the move would require before deciding that Division III is where its future has to stay.
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This article was produced as part of Follow South Jersey’s student journalism program, which provides aspiring journalists with practical experience in professional news reporting and writing.
