The 17 Best NAIA Schools in Ohio

If you’re an aspiring athlete, it’s important to find the best NAIA schools in Ohio that will meet your needs and help you hone your athletic skills.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is made up of over 250 schools, each of which has its own set of academics, athletics, and extra-curricular activities for students to enjoy.

Finding an NAIA school with high graduation rates and a strong alumni network will ensure that you’ll be surrounded by people who want to help you get to the next level in your career.

Read through this article, we have outlined some of the athletic colleges that are part of the NAIA for you to make a more informed decision.

But before that, we shall answer some related questions;

Are NAIA schools good for sports?

People often ask if there are NAIA schools that are really good for sports.

There are lots of excellent schools out there, but if you want to go to a highly competitive school and get a chance to play D1, NAIA schools will give you a leg up.

Many NAIA schools in Ohio have sports programs, so they’re great for athletes like you, who will be able to show your athletic ability.

Learn More:

• 12 Best NAIA Schools in California: A Comprehensive Guide
• The 5 Best NAIA Schools in Alabama
• The 5 Best NAIA Schools in Arizona For Every Student

Can you register for both NCAA and NAIA?

Yes, these are three distinct groups with different eligibility requirements.

If you are a student-athlete who is not sure whether you would like to play in an NCAA group of colleges, at an NAIA college, or even at your local community college, then you should register at all three.

List of the Best NAIA Schools in Ohio

Here are some of the best NAIA universities in Ohio for aspiring athletes;

1. Ohio Christian University
2. Cedarville University
3. Wilberforce University
4. Lourdes University
5. Canton’s Malone University
6. Cincinnati Christian University
7. Mount Vernon Nazarene University
8. University of Northwestern Ohio
9. Miami University – Hamilton
10. Wright State University – Lake campus
11. Ohio State University – Mansfield
12. Shawnee State University
13. Kent State University- Tuscarawas
14. University of Rio Grande
15. University of Cincinnati – Clermont
16. Ohio State University – Lima
17. Ohio University – Chillicothe

Ohio Christian University

Ohio Christian University is one of the private Christian colleges located in Circleville, Ohio.

The school also has athletic programs and is affiliated with the Churches of Christ in the Christian Union.

As one of the best Ohio NAIA schools they primarily compete in the River States Conference at the Division I level since the 2015-16 academic year.

Ohio Christian has about 19 varsity sports including:

• Baseball and basketball
• Cross country
• Golf and soccer
• Tennis, track, and field, etc.

Find out more about this school.

Cedarville University

Cedarville University is the next on our list of NAIA schools in Ohio.

This is a private Baptist university that is located in Cedarville, Ohio and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Here are Cedarville University’s athletic teams:

• Men’s and women’s cross country
• Men’s golf
• Men’s and women’s soccer
• Men’s and women’s tennis
• Women’s volleyball, to mention a few.

As a Christian college, all students are required to attend Christian services, while students of other faiths take religious education classes while they’re enrolled.

It might dissuade some students who were considering Cedarville University because it’s an institution that places an emphasis on faith above all else.

But it’s a great environment for athletes who want a school with a healthy blend of academics and athletics.

Find out more about this school.

Wilberforce University

Wilberforce University is known to be a private historically black university in Wilberforce, Ohio. and is religiously affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The school is also one of the athletic schools in Ohio and in the world of sports, Wilberforce University teams are often called the Bulldogs.

The school joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 2012 and has been competing in the American Mideast Conference since 1999.

The following Wilberforce varsity sports are available for men: basketball, cross country, golf, and track and field (indoor and outdoor).

Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, softball, track, and field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball.

Find out more about the school.

Lourdes University

Lourdes University is a prestigious private university in Sylvania, Ohio, and was founded in 1958, the university is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania.

The Lourdes Gray Wolves are the athletic teams that represent Lourdes University as one of the Ohio NAIA schools.

The school’s athletic teams primarily compete in the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference.

There are at least 25 varsity sports offered by Lourdes, including baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.

Find out more about this school.

Canton’s Malone University

If you are interested in attending a private school with athletic programs in Ohio, Malone University is a good option.

Malone University is one of the top NAIA schools in Ohio and was founded in 1892 by Walter and Emma Malone as a small, co-educational Bible institute called Cleveland Bible College.

The school has a current enrollment of over 5,000 students, including undergraduate and graduate levels.

Malone’s athletics program is one of its most famous attributes and has been honored multiple times as one of NAIA’s best athletic schools in Ohio.

Find out more about the school.

Shawnee State University

Shawnee State University is one of the public universities in Portsmouth, Ohio., and it was founded in 1986.

It is the southernmost member of the University System of Ohio, the Shawnee State University is also one of the Ohio NAIA schools with diverse athletic programs.

The Shawnee State Bears are the official sports teams for Shawnee State University and have won 25 National Championships.

Shawnee State University (commonly known as SSU) was a member of the American Mideast Conference (AMC) from 1991 until 2010, and the first school to win 17 conference championships.

Find out more about this school.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) is a Christian college in Mount Vernon, Ohio, founded in 1968 by the Church of the Nazarene.

They offer degrees for both traditional and non-traditional students. The MVNU campus also includes the MVNU Cougars Athletics.

MVNU is one of the NAIA schools in Ohio and is part of the Crossroads League from 1975-76 to 2010-11, the Cougars were members of the American Mideast Conference.

MVNU fields 21 different men’s teams including baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

Find out more about this school.

University of Northwestern Ohio

The University of Northwestern Ohio is one of the private universities in Lima, it was founded in 1920, it is also one of the Ohio NAIA schools that competes predominantly in the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC).

The University of Northwestern Ohio Athletic team is called the Racers and competes in about 17 different sports including:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Bowling
• Golf
• Soccer and tennis.

Find out more about this school.

NAIA Baseball Schools in Ohio

• University of Northwestern Ohio
• Lourdes University
• Miami University – Hamilton
• Mount Vernon Nazarene University
• Wright State University – Lake campus
• Ohio State University – Mansfield
• Shawnee State University
• Kent State University- Tuscarawas
• University of Rio Grande
• University of Cincinnati – Clermont
• Ohio State University – Lima
• Ohio University – Chillicothe
• Wilberforce University

NAIA Softball Schools in Ohio

• Miami University – Hamilton
• Ohio Christian University
• Lourdes University
• University of Northwestern Ohio
• Kent State University- Tuscarawas
• University of Rio Grande
• Shawnee State University
• Mount Vernon Nazarene University

NAIA Basketball Schools in Ohio

• Lourdes University
• University of Northwestern Ohio
• Wilberforce University
• University of Rio Grande
• Wright State University – Lake campus
• Ohio State University – Mansfield
• Shawnee State University
• Ohio Christian University
• Mount Vernon Nazarene University

NAIA Volleyball Schools in Ohio

• Lourdes University
• University of Cincinnati – Clermont
• Shawnee State University
• University of Rio Grande
• University of Northwestern Ohio
• Wilberforce University
• Mount Vernon Nazarene University
• Ohio Christian University
• Wilberforce University

NAIA Soccer Schools in Ohio

• Lourdes University
• University of Cincinnati – Clermont
• Shawnee State University
• University of Rio Grande
• University of Northwestern Ohio
• Ohio Christian University
• Mount Vernon Nazarene University

NAIA Soccer Schools in Ohio

• Mount Vernon Nazarene University
• Lourdes University

Conclusion

Generally, colleges either have their own athletic program or compete against other schools in athletic conferences.

Division II is less competitive than Division I, and therefore might be a good option for aspiring athletes.

If you are looking for NAIA universities in Ohio to get into, these schools listed in this article are good for you to consider.

Are all NAIA schools religious?

Most NAIA schools are private institutions and are religious but not all. There are a large number of both Protestant (of many denominations) and Catholic schools.

Can NAIA give full-ride scholarships?

Few NAIA schools provide full scholarships to athletes, but they do give out partial scholarships much more often. In order to be eligible for these funds and to play on a team, you must enroll in at least 12 credit hours.

What GPA do you need for NAIA?

Eligibility decisions can be requested from the NAIA Eligibility Center by qualified seniors who have completed their junior year of high school and met or exceeded the criteria for any NAIA event in which they intend to participate. They need to have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale to get in.

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