NCAA Fencing Schools: Every College With a Team (2026-27)
Forty-five colleges have NCAA fencing teams in the 2026-27 season: 28 in Division I, 1 in Division II, and 16 in Division III. Two more, Arcadia University and Trinity College, have announced teams that start in 2027-28, which will bring the total to 47.
If you are building a college list, or just want to know whether a school fences, you will find every program here with its location, its teams, its conference, and a link to its official team page. We last checked this list in November 2026 against the NCAA’s directory of men’s and women’s programs, USA Fencing’s list of NCAA programs, and 2026-27 team rosters and schedules.
Quick facts
- 45 colleges have NCAA fencing teams in 2026-27, across 16 states: 28 in Division I, 1 in Division II, and 16 in Division III.
- All 45 colleges field a women’s team and 37 field a men’s team. Eight colleges have women’s fencing only, and no college has men’s fencing only.
- New York has the most NCAA fencing schools, with 10. Massachusetts has 7, and New Jersey and Pennsylvania have 5 each.
- NCAA fencing does not separate competition by division, so Division III fencers face Division I opponents.
- Denison University has the newest NCAA fencing team. Its men’s team opened its first varsity season on October 3-4, 2026.
- Six more teams have been announced at four colleges, starting in 2027-28 and 2028-29.
Which colleges have NCAA fencing teams?
These 45 colleges have NCAA fencing teams in the 2026-27 season. Each team link goes to the official athletics page, where you can find the roster, schedule, and coaches.
Conference abbreviations: ACC Atlantic Coast Conference, MPSF Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, CCFC Central Collegiate Fencing Conference, MACFA Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association, NFC Northeast Fencing Conference.
Division I fencing schools (28)
| School | Location | Teams | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA | Men’s and women’s | ACC |
| Brown University | Providence, RI | Women’s only | Ivy League |
| Cleveland State University | Cleveland, OH | Men’s, women’s | CCFC |
| Columbia University (with Barnard College) | New York, NY | Men’s and women’s | Ivy League |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | Women’s only | Ivy League |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | Men’s and women’s | ACC |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Teaneck, NJ | Women’s; men’s from 2027-28 | Independent |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | Men’s, women’s | Ivy League |
| Lafayette College | Easton, PA | Men’s and women’s | MACFA |
| Long Island University (LIU) | Brooklyn, NY | Men’s and women’s | Independent |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) | Newark, NJ | Men’s, women’s | MACFA |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | Women’s only | CCFC |
| Ohio State University | Columbus, OH | Men’s and women’s | CCFC |
| Penn State University | University Park, PA | Men’s and women’s | Independent |
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | Men’s, women’s | Ivy League |
| Sacred Heart University | Fairfield, CT | Men’s, women’s | NFC |
| St. John’s University | Queens, NY | Men’s and women’s | Independent |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | Men’s and women’s | ACC |
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | Women’s only | Independent |
| U.S. Air Force Academy | Colorado Springs, CO | Men’s and women’s | MPSF |
| UC San Diego | San Diego, CA | Men’s and women’s | MPSF |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, MI | Men’s, women’s | CCFC |
| University of North Carolina | Chapel Hill, NC | Men’s and women’s | ACC |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, IN | Men’s and women’s | ACC |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | Men’s, women’s | Ivy League |
| University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio, TX | Men’s, women’s | MPSF |
| Wagner College | Staten Island, NY | Men’s, women’s | Independent |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | Men’s, women’s | Ivy League |
Division II fencing schools (1)
Wayne State University is the only Division II school with NCAA fencing.
Division III fencing schools (16)
| School | Location | Teams | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandeis University | Waltham, MA | Men’s, women’s | NFC |
| City College of New York (CCNY) | New York, NY | Women’s; men’s from 2027-28 | Independent |
| Denison University | Granville, OH | Men’s, women’s | CCFC |
| Drew University | Madison, NJ | Men’s, women’s | MACFA |
| Haverford College | Haverford, PA | Men’s, women’s | MACFA |
| Hunter College (CUNY) | New York, NY | Men’s, women’s | MACFA |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | Men’s, women’s | MACFA |
| Lawrence University | Appleton, WI | Men’s, women’s | CCFC |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Cambridge, MA | Men’s, women’s | NFC |
| New York University (NYU) | New York, NY | Men’s, women’s | Independent |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken, NJ | Men’s, women’s | MACFA |
| Tufts University | Medford, MA | Women’s only | NFC |
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie, NY | Men’s, women’s | NFC |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley, MA | Women’s only | NFC |
| Wheaton College (MA) | Norton, MA | Men’s, women’s | NFC |
| Yeshiva University | New York, NY | Men’s, women’s | MACFA |
Why do other lists show different totals?
You may see 44, 45, or 47 NCAA fencing schools, depending on the source.
- 47 is the total on USA Fencing’s list, which includes Arcadia and Trinity even though neither has started competing.
- 44 is the total in the NCAA’s 2026-27 directory, with 36 men’s and 44 women’s programs. The directory does not list Lafayette College.
- 45 is our total. We count Lafayette because USA Fencing lists it, it has a 2026-27 roster, and its fencers compete at NCAA regionals.
Which colleges have women’s fencing but no men’s team?
Eight NCAA fencing schools have a women’s team only in 2026-27:
- Brown University
- City College of New York (men’s team from 2027-28)
- Cornell University
- Fairleigh Dickinson University (men’s team from 2027-28)
- Northwestern University
- Temple University
- Tufts University
- Wellesley College, a women’s college
The other 37 schools have both a men’s and a women’s team, so a men’s fencer can check any school not listed here.
Which colleges are adding NCAA fencing?
Four colleges have announced NCAA fencing teams that have not started yet. Together they would take NCAA fencing to 47 women’s teams and 41 men’s teams.
| College | Location | Division | New team | First season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia University | Glenside, PA | III | Men’s and women’s | Fall 2027 |
| City College of New York | New York, NY | III | Men’s (revived) | 2027-28 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Teaneck, NJ | I | Men’s | 2027-28 |
| Trinity College | Hartford, CT | III | Women’s, then men’s | 2027-28 (women), 2028-29 (men) |
Trinity’s men’s team is conditional. The announcement says the men’s program follows in 2028-29 “if successful,” so check with the college before you plan around it.
Which states have NCAA fencing schools?
Sixteen states have NCAA fencing schools. New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania hold 27 of the 45, so fencers in those states have the most choice close to home.
- New York (10): City College of New York (CCNY), Columbia University, Cornell University, Hunter College, Long Island University (LIU), New York University (NYU), St. John’s University, Vassar College, Wagner College, Yeshiva University
- Massachusetts (7): Boston College, Brandeis University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Tufts University, Wellesley College, Wheaton College (MA)
- New Jersey (5): Drew University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Princeton University, Stevens Institute of Technology
- Pennsylvania (5): Haverford College, Lafayette College, Penn State University, Temple University, University of Pennsylvania
- Ohio (3): Cleveland State University, Denison University, Ohio State University
- California (2): Stanford University, UC San Diego
- Connecticut (2): Sacred Heart University, Yale University
- Michigan (2): University of Detroit Mercy, Wayne State University
- North Carolina (2): Duke University, University of North Carolina
- Colorado (1): U.S. Air Force Academy
- Illinois (1): Northwestern University
- Indiana (1): University of Notre Dame
- Maryland (1): Johns Hopkins University
- Rhode Island (1): Brown University
- Texas (1): University of the Incarnate Word
- Wisconsin (1): Lawrence University
Arcadia (Pennsylvania) and Trinity (Connecticut) will add to states already on this list.
Which conferences have NCAA fencing?
Three multi-sport conferences sponsor fencing: the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Ivy League, and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Every other school competes in a fencing-specific conference or as an independent.
- Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) (5): Boston College, Duke University, Stanford University, University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame
- Ivy League (7): Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Yale University
- Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) (3): U.S. Air Force Academy, UC San Diego, University of the Incarnate Word
- Central Collegiate Fencing Conference (CCFC) (7): Cleveland State University, Denison University, Lawrence University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, University of Detroit Mercy, Wayne State University
- Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association (MACFA) (8): Drew University, Haverford College, Hunter College, Johns Hopkins University, Lafayette College, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Stevens Institute of Technology, Yeshiva University
- Northeast Fencing Conference (NFC) (7): Brandeis University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sacred Heart University, Tufts University, Vassar College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College (MA)
- Independent (8): City College of New York (CCNY), Fairleigh Dickinson University, Long Island University (LIU), New York University (NYU), Penn State University, St. John’s University, Temple University, Wagner College
Does division matter in NCAA fencing?
Division matters for scholarships, but not for who you fence. NCAA fencing does not separate competition by division, and the NCAA holds one national championship for all three divisions.
Scholarships are where the divisions differ. Division III colleges do not award athletic scholarships, and neither does the Ivy League. Our recruiting guide explains what fencing scholarships look like at the other schools.
What if your college does not have an NCAA fencing team?
You can still fence for your college. Many colleges without a varsity team have a fencing club, and the United States Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs (USACFC), which is part of USA Fencing, holds a national championship for them every year. Its member directory is the place to look for a club at a school you are considering.
Frequently asked questions
How many colleges have NCAA fencing teams? 45 colleges have NCAA fencing teams in the 2026-27 season: 28 in Division I, 1 in Division II, and 16 in Division III. Arcadia University and Trinity College have announced teams that will bring the total to 47.
How many colleges have men’s NCAA fencing? 37 colleges have a men’s NCAA fencing team in 2026-27, and all 45 have a women’s team.
Does the Big Ten have fencing? The Big Ten does not sponsor fencing as a conference sport, but three of its members have NCAA fencing teams: Northwestern (women’s only), Ohio State, and Penn State.
Do any SEC or Big 12 schools have NCAA fencing? No. No SEC or Big 12 member has an NCAA fencing team in 2026-27.
Can Barnard students fence for Columbia? Yes. The NCAA lists the program as Columbia University-Barnard College, a single team drawn from both schools.
Can a Division III fencer compete against Division I fencers? Yes. NCAA fencing does not separate competition by division, so Division III fencers meet Division I opponents during the season.
Is wheelchair fencing an NCAA sport? No. Parafencing is not an NCAA championship, although USA Fencing and the NCAA arranged a parafencing demonstration at the 2025 championships at Penn State.
Who won the most recent NCAA fencing championships? The University of Notre Dame won both the men’s and women’s team titles at the 2026 NCAA Fencing Championships.
How do I contact a college fencing coach? Start with the team’s official page, linked in the tables above. Our recruiting guide explains when coaches are allowed to reply, and USA Fencing members can also use College Connect.
Where to go next
- Fencing in College: How to Get on an NCAA Fencing Team — the six recruiting steps, when coaches can contact you, and what fencing scholarships look like.
- What to Expect from Your First Fencing Tournament — if you are still building the competitive record that college coaches look at.
- USA Fencing’s list of NCAA programs — the national governing body’s list, including teams that have not started yet.
- NCAA directory: men’s and women’s fencing — the NCAA’s own records of which schools sponsor each sport.
Programs start and stop every year, so confirm anything important on the team’s own page before you plan around it.