JUCO Men's Track and Field Schools: A Complete List (2023)
While student-athletes may be familiar with competing at the NCAA or NAIA levels, they often overlook junior colleges. There are many misconceptions about what junior colleges can offer student-athletes, and that’s why they get overlooked or ignored in favor of a four-year institution. However, what many student-athletes don’t realize is that junior colleges—often referred to as JUCO—are considered “feeder” schools for D1 schools. D1 college coaches often look to the best track and field JUCO colleges to fill empty roster spots created by transfers, injuries or a lack of academic eligibility on their current team. For many student-athletes, JUCO is a great way to improve their times or other key measurables while crossing off some core classes before moving on to a D1, D2, D3 or NAIA program.
What else do student-athletes get wrong about junior colleges with track and field? Many student-athletes don’t realize that competing at the JUCO level shows college coaches that they can handle the challenges of balancing college coursework along with their athletic schedules, which makes them highly sought-after recruits. College coaches want to recruit student-athletes who they know can stay academically eligible while competing. Also, since many junior college recruits have at least one, if not two years of experience competing at the college level, college coaches know they are a safe bet and can “jump in” to a last-minute roster opening when compared to their freshmen peers, who may need some additional guidance or training.
Depending on the junior college, it’s not unheard of for JUCO track and field schools to offer scholarships. In fact, track and field athletes at the junior college level often have more scholarship options than they think. The National Junior College Athletic Association, or the NJCAA, offers full and partial scholarships at the D1 level. Additionally, junior colleges are considerably more affordable than a four-year private or even public college, so when factoring in academic, athletic and need-based aid, it’s not unheard of for some top athletes to receive full-rides to some of the best track and field JUCO colleges in the USA.
How many men’s JUCO track and field schools are there?
There are more than 100 junior colleges with track and field programs in the U.S. Of those, 64 junior colleges offer indoor track and field programs, while 105 offer outdoor track and field programs. Student-athletes who compete at the junior college level operate under the governing association of community, state and junior college athletics known as the National Junior College Athletic Association, or the NJCAA. It’s important to note that while the NJCAA is divided into three division levels (like the NCAA and NAIA D1, D2 and D3 levels), track and field programs operate at the D1 and D3 levels only. Additionally, while there are 20 scholarships available per program, they are only available at the NJCAA D1 level. Sixty-four D1 programs offer indoor track and field programs, while 67 D1 programs offer either outdoor track and field or both indoor and outdoor programs.
Check out a complete list of junior colleges with track and field programs here.
Best track and field JUCO colleges in USA
Several organizations offer JUCO track and field rankings throughout both indoor and outdoor seasons, including the NJCAA, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and the Track & Field Results Reporting System. Here are the top programs:
- Iowa Central
- Barton
- Cloud County
- Coffeyville
- South Plains
- Central Arizona
- Trinidad State
- Colby
- Monroe College
- Hinds
Check out the best track and field JUCO colleges in the USA.
List of NJCAA men’s track and field colleges that compete at Division 1 and 2
While the NJCAA is divided into three division levels like the NCAA and NAIA D1, D2 and D3 levels, track and field programs only operate (and give scholarships!) at the D1 and D3 levels. D1 and D3 junior colleges with track and field compete during the winter and spring. Indoor track programs operate in the winter, while outdoor track programs start running in the spring.
Check out the best track and field JUCO colleges in the USA that compete at the indoor level.
Check out the best track and field JUCO colleges in the USA that compete at the outdoor D1 level.
Check out the best track and field JUCO colleges in the USA that compete at the outdoor D3 level.
Full list of junior colleges with track and field
School
City and State
Type
Conference
Division
Gadsden, Alabama
Public
ACCC
JC
Birmingham, Alabama
Public
ACCC
JC
Glendale, Arizona
Public
ACCAC
JC
Mesa, Arizona
Public
ACCAC
JC
Phoenix, Arizona
Public
ACCAC
JC
Tucson, Arizona
Public
ACCAC
JC
Sells, Arizona
Public
ACCAC
JC
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Public
Region 2
JC
Fresno, California
Public
Central Valley Conference
JC
Oakland, California
Public
Bay Valley
JC
Modesto, California
Public
Central Valley Conference
JC
Moorpark, California
Public
WSC
JC
Walnut, California
Public
CCCAA
JC
Costa Mesa, California
Public
Orange Empire Conference
JC
Pasadena, California
Public
South Coast Conference
JC
Porterville, California
Public
Central Valley Conference
JC
Sacramento, California
Public
CCCAA
JC
Mission Viejo, California
Public
Orange Empire Conference
JC
San Bernardino, California
Public
Southern California Athletic Conference
JC
San Diego, California
Public
Pacific Coast Conference
JC
San Jose, California
Public
CCCAA
JC
Santa Barbara, California
Public
Western States Conference
JC
Santa Monica, California
Public
CCCAA
JC
Santa Rosa, California
Public
Bay Valley 19, NORCAL Football Alliance, West Coast Conference
JC
Orange, California
Public
Orange Empire Conference
JC
Redding, California
Public
CCCAA
JC
Victorville, California
Public
Foothill, South Coast (Wrestling)
JC
Culver City, California
Public
CCCAA, SCFA
JC
Trinidad, Colorado
Public
Region 9
JC
Sanford, Florida
Public
Mid-Florida Conference
JC
Milledgeville, Georgia
Public
GCAA
JC
Oxford, Georgia
Private
GCAA
JC
Palatine, Illinois
Public
North Central Community College Conference
JC
Normal, Illinois
Public
Mid-west Athletic Conference
JC
Joliet, Illinois
Public
North Central College
JC
Centralia, Illinois
Public
GRAC
JC
Palos Hills, Illinois
Public
Skyway Conference
JC
Cicero, Illinois
Public
Region 4
JC
Des Plaines, Illinois
Public
Skyway Conference of Community Colleges
JC
Dixon, Illinois
Public
Arrowhead Conference
JC
River Grove, Illinois
Public
North Central Community College Conference
JC
Sugar Grove, Illinois
Public
Skyway Conference
JC
Donaldson, Indiana
Private
MCCAA
JC
Vincennes, Indiana
Public
Region 24
JC
Ottumwa, Iowa
Public
Iowa Commuinty College Athletic Conference
JC
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Public
ICCAC
JC
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Public
ICCAC
JC
Muscatine, Iowa
Public
IJCAA
JC
Mason City, Iowa
Public
Iowa Junior College Conference
JC
Bettendorf, Iowa
Public
IJCAA
JC
West Burlington, Iowa
Public
Iowa Community College Athletic Conference
JC
Creston, Iowa
Public
ICCAC
JC
Garden City, Kansas
Public
KJCCC
JC
Hesston, Kansas
Private
KJCCC
JC
Highland, Kansas
Public
Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference
JC
Hutchinson, Kansas
Public
Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference
JC
Chanute, Kansas
Public
KJCCC
JC
Goodland, Kansas
Public
Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference
JC
Pratt, Kansas
Public
KJCCC
JC
Hagerstown, Maryland
Public
MD JUCO
JC
Bel Air, Maryland
Public
MD JUCO
JC
Columbia, Maryland
Public
MD JUCO
JC
Rockville, Maryland
Public
MD JUCO
JC
Largo, Maryland
Public
MD JUCO
JC
Baltimore, Maryland
Public
MD JUCO
JC
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Public
MCCAC
JC
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts
Public
Region 21
JC
Brockton, Massachusetts
Public
Region 21
JC
Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts
Public
MCCAC
JC
Centreville, Michigan
Public
MCCAA
JC
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Public
MCCAA
JC
Battle Creek, Michigan
Public
Michigan Community College Athletics Association
JC
Benton Harbor, Michigan
Public
MCCAA
JC
Lansing, Michigan
Public
MCCAA
JC
Warren, Michigan
Public
MCCAA
JC
Flint, Michigan
Public
MCCAA
JC
Muskegon, Michigan
Public
MCCAA
JC
Livonia, Michigan
Public
Michigan Community College Athletic Association
JC
Detroit, Michigan
Public
Region 12
JC
Raymond, Mississippi
Public
MACCC
JC
Meridian, Mississippi
Public
MACJC
JC
Independence, Missouri
Public
Region 16
JC
Park Hills, Missouri
Public
Midwest JCAA
JC
Cottleville, Missouri
Public
Region 16
JC
Sedalia, Missouri
Public
Region 16
JC
Newark, New Jersey
Public
Garden State Athletic Conference
JC
Edison, New Jersey
Public
Region 19
JC
Toms River, New Jersey
Public
Garden State Athletic Conference
JC
Vineland, New Jersey
Public
NJAC
JC
Sewell, New Jersey
Public
Region 19
JC
Cranford, New Jersey
Public
GSAC
JC
Hobbs, New Mexico
Public
WJCAC
JC
Canandaigua, New York
Public
Mid-State Athletic Conference
JC
New Rochelle, New York
Private
Region 15
JC
Garden City, New York
Public
North Eastern Athletic
JC
Syracuse, New York
Public
Middle States Athletic Conference
JC
Selden, New York
Public
Region 15
JC
Binghamton, New York
Public
Mid State Athletic Conference
JC
Plattsburgh, New York
Public
Region 3
JC
Johnstown, New York
Public
Region 3
JC
Herkimer, New York
Public
Region 3
JC
Troy, New York
Public
Region 3
JC
Jamestown, New York
Public
Western New York Athletic Conference
JC
Watertown, New York
Public
Mid State Athletic Conference
JC
Utica, New York
Public
Region 3
JC
Middletown, New York
Public
Intercollegiate Community Colleges Conference
JC
Loch Sheldrake, New York
Public
Mid Hudson Conference
JC
Dryden, New York
Public
Mid State Athletic Conference
JC
Valhalla, New York
Public
Mid Hudson Conference
JC
Louisburg, North Carolina
Private
Region 10
JC
Nelsonville, Ohio
Public
OCCAC
JC
El Reno, Oklahoma
Public
Region 2
JC
Eugene, Oregon
Public
Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges
JC
Coos Bay, Oregon
Public
NWAACC
JC
Ontario, Oregon
Public
Scenic West Athletic Conference
JC
Roseburg, Oregon
Public
Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges
JC
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Private
Region 19
JC
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Public
Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference
JC
Nanticoke, Pennsylvania
Public
Region 19
JC
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Private
Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference
JC
Media, Pennsylvania
Public
USCAA, Penn State University Athletic Conference
JC
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Public
Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference
JC
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Public
AJCCA
JC
Youngwood, Pennsylvania
Public
Region 20
JC
Media, Pennsylvania
Private
NLLC
JC
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Private
Region 10
JC
Jacksonville, Texas
Private
Region 14
JC
Gainesville, Texas
Public
Region 5
JC
Ranger, Texas
Public
Region 5
JC
Levelland, Texas
Public
Western Junior College Athletic Conference
JC
Terrell, Texas
Private
Sooner Athletic Conference
JC
Victoria, Texas
Public
Region 14
JC
Snyder, Texas
Public
Region 5
JC
Richlands, Virginia
Public
Region 10
JC
Everett, Washington
Public
Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges
JC
Bremerton, Washington
Public
Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges
JC
Spokane, Washington
Public
Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges
JC
Bellingham, Washington
Public
Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges
JC
Keyser, West Virginia
Public
Region 20
JC
