​Point Park University in Pittsburgh has received approval for full membership in NCAA Division II, effective September 1. The university states that it completed the three-year provisional membership process in just two years after the NCAA granted a waiver. The waiver, officials say, was issued because Point Park met all NCAA compliance, academic, and operational benchmarks a year ahead of schedule, following its transition from NAIA.
“Point Park is proud to be a member of both the Mountain East Conference and NCAA Division II,” said Point Park University President Chris W. Brussalis. “We are honored that the NCAA recognized our athletic performance and dedication by waiving a third provisional year and granting us full membership. We could not have achieved this without the unwavering support of the MEC, and we look forward to competing in the conference for many years to come.”
Athletics Vice President Scott Swain added, “Today’s news is historic for Point Park University and our entire downtown community. Over the past two years, our student-athletes, staff, donors, and the community have strived for excellence with the goal of NCAA membership, and 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.”
Point Park was invited to join the Mountain East Conference on January 16, 2024, and received approval for NCAA Division II provisional membership on July 11, 2024. The Pioneer athletics program completed its first year of the provisional process during the 2024-25 academic year, then met full membership criteria in the 2025-26 academic year.
The Pioneers captured their first MEC Championship in baseball in the spring of 2025. During the 2025-26 academic year, Point Park qualified for MEC postseason competition in 13 sports and finished as MEC runner-up in five of them: women’s cross country, men’s track & field (indoor and outdoor), and women’s track & field (indoor and outdoor). The university also earned its first-ever MEC postseason appearances in men’s and women’s soccer during the fall of 2025. In the first year of the provisional period, 10 Point Park athletics programs qualified for MEC postseason play. In addition to the baseball championship, women’s indoor track & field and men’s outdoor track & field finished as league runners-up in the 2024-25 academic year.
On the academic side, Point Park student-athletes posted a 3.42 grade-point average in the fall and a 3.35 GPA in the spring semester during the 2025-26 year. The university notes that 258 student-athletes were named to the All-MEC Academic Team and the Commissioner’s Honor Roll.