Alfred University Athletics

Alfred competes in NCAA Division III, meaning students play sports for personal enrichment and school pride rather than athletic scholarships. With 487 total athletes out of 1,401 students, about 35% of the student body participates in varsity athletics. The Saxons field teams in 25 different sports as members of the Empire 8 Conference. Division III emphasizes the student-athlete experience, where players balance rigorous academics with competitive athletics but receive no athletic scholarships. The high participation rate reflects a campus culture where sports serve as both recreation and community building. Alfred's rural setting in upstate New York creates tight-knit team actives, and the school's engineering focus attracts student-athletes who excel both in labs and on playing fields.