Intercollegiate athletics constitutes a significant component of the student experience at Azusa Pacific University. The university conceptualizes athletics as a formative “laboratory of life,” in which student athletes develop and demonstrate physical abilities while engaging in teamwork and competition consistent with the institution’s Christian mission. Participation in athletics also fosters campus unity and provides opportunities for meaningful engagement with local communities through outreach and relationship-building initiatives.

Azusa Pacific athletics has sustained a distinguished history of competitive success, including membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1965 to 2011 and subsequent participation in NCAA Division II from 2012 through 2025. Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, the university’s 19-sport Cougar athletics program will transition to NCAA Division III and join the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), one of the NCAA’s oldest and most respected conferences. Full SCIAC membership for all teams will be realized in 2027-28, with eligibility for conference championships commencing the following academic year. The acrobatics and tumbling program will continue to compete in nonconference NCAA competition.

The transition to NCAA Division III reflects an institutional commitment to a model that emphasizes the integration of academic and athletic pursuits. In keeping with Division III principles, student athletes are regarded primarily as students and are afforded an experience aligned with that of the broader student body.

The 2026-27 academic year also marks the reinstatement of football following a six-year hiatus, and the introduction of women’s flag football. Both programs will compete in the newly renovated on-campus Cougar Athletic Stadium.

Men’s intercollegiate sports offerings include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer, tennis, and track and field (indoor and outdoor). Women’s offerings include acrobatics and tumbling, basketball, cross country, flag football¹, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball, and water polo.

Eligibility for participation in intercollegiate athletics requires compliance with NCAA and conference academic standards. Prospective student athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and satisfy academic and amateurism requirements. Consistent with NCAA Division III policy, financial aid is awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need and/or academic merit rather than athletic ability. The university affirms its commitment to the academic achievement, physical well-being, and ethical development of all student athletes, as well as to adherence to NCAA rules and regulations.

During its 12 years of active NCAA Division II membership, Azusa Pacific achieved notable success, including two NCAA national championships in women’s outdoor track and field (2021, 2023) and the hosting of more NCAA West Regional playoff tournaments than any peer institution. Across this period, the university secured 52 conference championships.

Since claiming its first national title in 1968, Azusa Pacific has earned a total of 52 national championships, including 14 awarded by affiliated athletic associations, reflecting a long-standing tradition of competitive excellence.