Messiah University Athletics

Messiah competes in NCAA Division III, where athletics focus on personal development rather than big-time sports spectacle. The Falcons field 18 varsity teams with 457 total athletes, meaning about 20% of students participate in varsity sports. Division III schools don't offer athletic scholarships, so student-athletes compete for the love of the game while pursuing rigorous academics. Messiah belongs to the Middle Atlantic Conferences, a competitive D3 league in the Northeast. The soccer programs have historically been the school's athletic crown jewel, with both men's and women's teams earning national recognition over the years. The relatively high percentage of student-athletes creates a campus culture where sports matter to participants and supporters, but academics always come first in this Christian liberal arts environment.