The University of Michigan and Michigan State University are well known for their athletic teams, but many other student-athletes are competing at nearly as high a level at Division II colleges in Michigan. Whether you want to participate or just watch, there are many men's and women's teams at Michigan schools competing in NCAA Division II.
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University's main campus is on 1,280 acres in Allentown, 12 miles west of Grand Rapids. It offers 77 undergraduate degrees and 29 graduate degrees. For six consecutive years, the university won the Director's Cup, awarded to the nation's best NCAA Division II athletic program. The University's athletic teams are known as the Lakers and compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 19 intercollegiate sports. There are both men's and women's teams for basketball, cross country, golf, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field. Men also compete in baseball and football, while there are also women's teams for lacrosse, softball and volleyball.
Grand Valley State University 1 Campus Drive Allendale, MI 49401-9403 616-331-5000 gvsu.edu www.gvsulakers.com
Wayne State University
Wayne State University has 350 degree programs and is near Detroit's museums, performing arts venues and sports arenas. The university's athletic teams are known as the Warriors. Men's and women's teams compete in Division II basketball, cross country, fencing, swimming, tennis and volleyball. There are also men's teams for baseball, footbal, and golf, while there are also women's softball and volleyball teams.
Wayne State University 656 W. Kirby St. Detroit, MI 48202 313-577-2424 wayne.edu wsuathletics.com
Ferris State University
Ferris State University was founded in 1884 and now offers associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees through more than 170 educational programs. Enrollment at Ferris averages almost 14,000 students, with 10,000 on the main campus in Big Rapids. Nicknamed the Bulldogs, Ferris has Division II men's and women's teams for basketball, cross country, golf, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track. Ferris men's teams also compete in Division II football and Division I ice hockey, while women's team compete in Division II soccer, softball and volleyball.
Ferris State University 1201 S. State St., CSS 201 Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-591-2000 ferris.edu ferrisstatebulldogs.com
Hillsdale College
Founded in 1844, Hillsdale College is a private liberal arts college. On a nearly 200-acre campus in rural southern Michigan, Hillsdale has about 1,300 students. The Hillsdale Chargers compete in men's and women's Division II basketball, cross country, and indoor and outdoor track. Men's teams also compete in baseball and football, while women's teams compete in softball, swimming and volleyball.
Hillsdale College 33 E. College St. Hillsdale, MI 49242 517-437-7341 hillsdale.edu
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Based in San Francisco, David Chalk has been writing for popular websites since 2007, most notably eHow and Yahoo!'s Big League Stew. Chalk has also traveled extensively and worked in e-commerce, education and fashion. Chalk studied Shakespeare at Cambridge University, and has an M.A.L.A. degree from St. John's College.