The Northeast Conference (NEC) is a college athletic conference whose schools are members of the NCAA. The NCAA designates the Northeast Conference to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for Division I Men's Football (formerly Division I-AA) and to Division I Sports for all other sports.

Founded in 1981 as the ECAC

Eastern College Athletic Conference

The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...

-Metro Conference, member schools changed the conference name beginning in 1989. Participating schools come from the northeastern United States

Northeastern United States

The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...

.

The Northeast Conference has expanded seven times since 1981. The expansions were in 1985, 1989, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2008. The additions from the original charter members were Monmouth, Mount Saint Mary's, Central Connecticut State, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart and Bryant.

The Northeast Conference has a total of twelve members in 22 championship sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s bowling, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball. Men's lacrosse will become the league’s 23rd sport by the 2011 season. There are also nine affiliate members that compete in football, field hockey, and women's bowling. The Northeast Conference's ranks increased to 12 in 2008 with the addition of Bryant University. Although Bryant is already in the conference it will not be a core member, a member with voting rights, until the 2012 season.

Membership

There are a total of twenty-two institutions that compete in the Northeast Conference twelve full-time member schools and ten affiliate member schools:

Full members

Institution	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Joined	Nickname
Bryant University Bryant University Bryant University is a private university located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, U.S., that grants the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and master's degrees in business, taxation and accounting. Until August 2004, it was known as Bryant College... †	Smithfield, RI Smithfield, Rhode Island Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Hanton City, Stillwater and Greenville...	1863	Private	5,082	2008	Bulldogs Bryant Bulldogs The Bryant Bulldogs are the athletic teams representing Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The Bulldogs are currently in NCAA Division I reclassification process and compete at the Division I level as a member of the Northeast Conference...
Central Connecticut State University Central Connecticut State University Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922...	New Britain, CT New Britain, Connecticut New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....	1849	Public	12,233	1997	Blue Devils
Fairleigh Dickinson University Fairleigh Dickinson University Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...	Teaneck, NJ Teaneck, New Jersey Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....	1942	Private	12,158	1981	Knights
Long Island University Long Island University Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...	Brooklyn, NY	1926	Private	24,170	1981	Blackbirds
Monmouth University Monmouth University Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....	West Long Branch, NJ West Long Branch, New Jersey West Long Branch is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,097. It is the home of Monmouth University....	1933	Private	7,440	1985	Hawks
Mount St. Mary's University	Emmitsburg, MD Emmitsburg, Maryland -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,290 people, 811 households, and 553 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,992.9 people per square mile . There were 862 housing units at an average density of 750.2 per square mile...	1808	Private	2,373	1989	Mountaineers
Quinnipiac University Quinnipiac University Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...	Hamden, CT Hamden, Connecticut Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant." Hamden is home to Quinnipiac University. The population was 58,180 according to the Census Bureau's 2005 estimates...	1929	Private	8,520	1998	Bobcats
Robert Morris University Robert Morris University Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...	Moon Township, PA Moon Township, Pennsylvania Moon Township is a township along the Ohio River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Moon is a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area and is located northwest of Pittsburgh. The origin of its name is unknown for certain, although it has been suggested that it derives from a...	1921	Private	5,464	1981	Colonials Robert Morris Colonials The Robert Morris' Colonials are the athletic teams for Robert Morris University, in Moon Township, Pennsylvania a suburb of Pittsburgh. The Colonials use the school colors of blue, white and red and compete in NCAA Division I . Most of the school's sports participate in Northeast Conference...
Sacred Heart University Sacred Heart University Sacred Heart University is a Roman Catholic university located in suburban Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. Sacred Heart was founded in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sacred Heart University was the first Catholic university in...	Fairfield, CT Fairfield, Connecticut Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...	1963	Private	6,938	1999	Pioneers
St. Francis College	Brooklyn, NY	1858	Private	2,953	1981	Terriers
Saint Francis University Saint Francis University Saint Francis University is a four-year, coeducational Catholic liberal arts university in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1847 and conducted under the tradition of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular...	Loretto, PA Loretto, Pennsylvania Loretto is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is officially part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area as recognized by the US Census Bureau, but local sources list it as part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania area due to its proximity to...	1847	Private	2,618	1981	Red Flash
Wagner College Wagner College Wagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...	Staten Island, NY	1883	Private	2,275	1981	Seahawks

† - Bryant University becomes a core-member in 2012. They were granted voting rights in 2009, and began eligibility for certain conference championships in 2009.

Affiliates

Institution	Mascot	Location	Conference	Type	Enrollment	Sport
Adelphi University Adelphi University Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...	Panthers	Garden City, New York Garden City, New York Garden City is a village in the town of Hempstead in central Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is located on Long Island, to the east of New York City, from mid-town Manhattan, and just south of the town of...	Northeast 10 Northeast Ten Conference The Northeast-10 Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division II. Member institutions are located in the northeastern United States in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont...	Private	8,530	Women's Bowling
University at Albany University at Albany, SUNY The State University of New York at Albany, also known as University at Albany, State University of New York, SUNY Albany or simply UAlbany, is a public university located in Albany, Guilderland, and East Greenbush, New York, United States; is the senior campus of the State University of New York ...	Great Danes Albany Great Danes The Albany Great Danes are the intercollegiate athletic programs of the University at Albany, SUNY. The University's intercollegiate athletics date back to the late 1890s, but its development was hampered for several decades by inadequate facilities, uncertain financial support, and the relatively...	Albany, New York Albany, New York Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...	America East America East Conference The America East Conference is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located mainly in the northeastern United States. The conference was known as the ECAC North from 1979 to 1988 and the North Atlantic Conference from the fall semester of 1988 to the end of the spring...	Public	17,040	Football
Duquesne University Duquesne University Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...	Dukes Duquesne Dukes The Duquesne Dukes are the athletic teams of Duquesne University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Duquesne has played men's basketball only in NCAA Division I and has played football as a club team from 1891–1894, 1896–1903, 1913–1914, and 1920–1928, in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision ...	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Atlantic 10	Private	10,184	Football
Lock Haven University Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, commonly abbreviated LHU, is a state university in Lock Haven, in central Pennsylvania located along the Susquehanna River, and is roughly from the major towns of Williamsport and State College. Lock Haven University is one of the fourteen members of the...	Bald Eagles	Lock Haven, Pennsylvania Lock Haven, Pennsylvania The city of Lock Haven is the county seat of Clinton County, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Located near the confluence of the West Branch Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Creek, it is the principal city of the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, micropolitan statistical area, itself part of the...	PSAC Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference that participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. The conference is composed of 16 full-time members within Pennsylvania and one associate member in New York...	Public	5,500	Field Hockey
Kutztown University Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown University of Pennsylvania , is an American public university located in rural Kutztown, Berks County, Pennsylvania and is one of fourteen schools that comprise the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary...	Golden Bears Kutztown University Athletics Kutztown University of Pennsylvania sports eight men's and 13 women's intercollegiate sports. The university provides a large array of intramural and club sports programs for the student body...	Kutztown, Pennsylvania Kutztown, Pennsylvania Kutztown is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Allentown and northeast of Reading. As of the 2000 census, the borough has a total population of 5,067. It is the site of Kutztown University.- History :...	PSAC Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference that participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. The conference is composed of 16 full-time members within Pennsylvania and one associate member in New York...	Public	10,193	Women's Bowling
New Jersey City University New Jersey City University New Jersey City University is a public university in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. It is a member of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities....	Gothic Knights	Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...	NJAC New Jersey Athletic Conference The New Jersey Athletic Conference , formerly the New Jersey State Athletic Conference, is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. Full members are located in New Jersey, track-only and football-only members are located in Connecticut and New York.-Member...	Public	8,300	Women's Bowling
University of Rhode Island University of Rhode Island The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...	Rams Rhode Island Rams The Rhode Island Rams are the athletic programs of the University of Rhode Island, based in Kingston, Rhode Island, USA. The school sponsors 18 athletic programs , most of which compete in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. The football team, however, competes in the Colonial Athletic...	Kingston, Rhode Island Kingston, Rhode Island Kingston is a village and a census-designated place in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States, and the site of the main campus of the University of Rhode Island. Much of the village center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Kingston Village Historic...	Atlantic 10	Public	19,095	Football (Starting 2013 season)
Rider University Rider University Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...	Broncs Rider Broncs The Rider Broncs are the athletic teams of Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, United States. They compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference . Rider is the only member which is not a Catholic institution. For wrestling only, Rider is an associate member of the Colonial Athletic...	Lawrenceville, New Jersey Lawrenceville, New Jersey Lawrenceville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Lawrence Township in Mercer County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP population was 3,887...	MAAC Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...	Private	5,039	Field Hockey
Saint Peter's College	Peacocks	Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...	MAAC Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...	Private	3,700	Women's Bowling
Siena College Siena College Siena College is an independent Roman Catholic liberal arts college in Loudonville, in the town of Colonie, New York, United States. Siena is a four-year, coeducational, independent college in the Franciscan tradition, founded by the Franciscan Friars in 1937. It has 3,000 full-time students and...	Saints	Loudonville, New York Loudonville, New York Loudonville is a hamlet in the town of Colonie, in Albany County, New York, United States. Loudonville was a census-designated place in the 1970, 1980, and 1990 US Census, but ceased to be in the 2000 Census.The area is not precisely defined...	MAAC Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...	Private	3,705	Field Hockey

Former members

Institution	Affiliation	Years	New Conference	Classification
Towson University Towson University Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...	Charter Member	1981–1982	CAA Colonial Athletic Association The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...	NCAA Division I
Siena College Siena College Siena College is an independent Roman Catholic liberal arts college in Loudonville, in the town of Colonie, New York, United States. Siena is a four-year, coeducational, independent college in the Franciscan tradition, founded by the Franciscan Friars in 1937. It has 3,000 full-time students and...	Charter Member	1981–1984	MAAC Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...	NCAA Division I
Loyola College Loyola College in Maryland Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...	Charter Member	1981–1989	MAAC Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...	NCAA Division I
Marist College Marist College Marist College is a private liberal arts college on the east bank of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York. The site was established in 1905 by Marist Brothers, and the college was chartered in 1929...	Charter Member	1981–1997	MAAC Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...	NCAA Division I
Rider University Rider University Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...	Full Member	1992–1997	MAAC Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...	NCAA Division I
UMBC	Full Member	1998–2003	America East America East Conference The America East Conference is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located mainly in the northeastern United States. The conference was known as the ECAC North from 1979 to 1988 and the North Atlantic Conference from the fall semester of 1988 to the end of the spring...	NCAA Division I

Men's basketball champions

Season	Regular Season Champion	Tournament Champion
1982	Fairleigh Dickinson (12–3)	Robert Morris
1983	Robert Morris (12–2)	Robert Morris
1984	Long Island (11–5)	Long Island
1985	Marist (11–3)	Fairleigh Dickinson
1986	Fairleigh Dickinson (13–3)	Marist
1987	Marist (15–1)	Marist
1988	Fairleigh Dickinson (13–3)	Fairleigh Dickinson
1989	Robert Morris (12–4)	Robert Morris
1990	Robert Morris (12–4)	Robert Morris
1991	St. Francis (PA) (13–3)	St. Francis (PA)
1992	Robert Morris (12–4)	Robert Morris
1993	Rider (14–4)	Rider
1994	Rider (14–4)	Rider
1995	Rider (13–5)	Mount Saint Mary's
1996	Mount Saint Mary's (16–2)	Monmouth
1997	Long Island (15–3)	Long Island
1998	Long Island (14–2)	Fairleigh Dickinson
1999	UMBC (17–3)	Mount Saint Mary's
2000	Central Connecticut St. (15–3)	Central Connecticut St.
2001	St. Francis (NY) (16–4)	Monmouth
2002	Central Connecticut St. (19–1)	Central Connecticut St.
2003	Wagner (14–4)	Wagner
2004	Monmouth and St. Francis (NY) (12–6)	Monmouth
2005	Monmouth (14–4)	Fairleigh Dickinson
2006	Fairleigh Dickinson (14–4)	Monmouth
2007	Central Connecticut St. (16–2)	Central Connecticut St.
2008 2008 Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament The 2008 Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place from March 6–12, 2008 at campus sites . Mount Saint Mary's won the tournament to receive an automatic berth to the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.-Format:...	Robert Morris (16–2)	Mount Saint Mary's
2009 2009 Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament The 2009 Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament will take place from March 5–11, 2009 at campus sites. The Championship game was televised by ESPN2.-Format:...	Robert Morris (15-3)	Robert Morris
2010	Quinnipiac (15-3)	Robert Morris
2011	Long Island (16-2)	Long Island
2012

Tournament championships by school

School	# of Tournament Championships	Last Tournament Championship
Robert Morris Robert Morris University Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...	7	2010
Monmouth Monmouth University Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....	4	2006
Fairleigh Dickinson Fairleigh Dickinson University Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...	4	2005
Mount St. Mary's	3	2008
Central Connecticut St. Central Connecticut State University Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922...	3	2007
Long Island Long Island University Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...	3	2011
Marist Marist Red Foxes Marist College plays NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the MAAC. Other schools in this conference include Siena College, Iona College, Niagara University, Manhattan College, Fairfield University, Loyola College in Maryland, Canisius College, Rider University, and Saint Peter's... †	2	1987
Rider Rider Broncs The Rider Broncs are the athletic teams of Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, United States. They compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference . Rider is the only member which is not a Catholic institution. For wrestling only, Rider is an associate member of the Colonial Athletic... †	2	1994
St. Francis (PA) Saint Francis University Saint Francis University is a four-year, coeducational Catholic liberal arts university in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1847 and conducted under the tradition of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular...	1	1991
Wagner Wagner College Wagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...	1	2003
Bryant Bryant University Bryant University is a private university located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, U.S., that grants the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and master's degrees in business, taxation and accounting. Until August 2004, it was known as Bryant College...	0	—
Quinnipiac Quinnipiac University Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...	0	—
Sacred Heart Sacred Heart University Sacred Heart University is a Roman Catholic university located in suburban Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. Sacred Heart was founded in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sacred Heart University was the first Catholic university in...	0	—
St. Francis (NY)	0	—

• ^†Former member of NEC

Football champions

5 — Monmouth

4 — Albany

4 — Central Connecticut State

1 — Sacred Heart