Queens University of Charlotte has officially been accepted as a full NCAA Division I member, granting all Royals’ athletic programs eligibility for postseason championships beginning with the 2025–2026 season. The news was announced on June 24 after the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved Queens’ completion of the transition period.
The transition process began on July 1, 2022, as Queens officially joined the ASUN Conference and started the reclassification process, which is normally four years in length. Due to new legislation passed by the NCAA in January 2025, however, that timeline was reduced to three years, making Queens one of the first schools to benefit from the new rule.
“It is definitely an exciting time to be a part of the Queens University of Charlotte community,” said Cherie Swarthout, Director of Athletics at Queens.
While schools in reclassification are not allowed to compete for NCAA postseason championships, Queens athletes were able to participate in full ASUN regular-season schedules during the transition period. The Royals now have the opportunity to qualify for NCAA Championships in all sponsored sports. Queens is particularly well-known in the swimming & diving world, having been a national power for many years.
“Achieving full Division I membership opens the door to new and exciting opportunities to highlight the strength of both our academic and athletic programs on a national stage,” said Sarah Fatherly, Queens’ Interim Chief Operations Officer and Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs. Fatherly also served as chair of the university’s Division I Transition Committee.
Prior to reclassification, Queens swimming & diving won seven NCAA Division II team titles each for the men and women between 2015 and 2022. Additionally, the men’s swimming and diving team won the university’s first ASUN Championship title.
Queens sponsors 23 NCAA sports. During the three-year transition period, the university reported a combined 45 conference postseason appearances across all sports. Men’s basketball made the ASUN semifinals in 2025 and qualified for the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), Royals student-athletes in all sports reported a departmental GPA above 3.4 and performed over 7,000 hours of community service in the last year.
The move to full Division I status became official on July 1, 2025, with postseason eligibility beginning in the fall.
