CLEVELAND, OHIO – Two NEWMAC institutions are currently in the top-50 of the 2025-2026 Learfield Directors’ Cup winter standings. MIT is ranked 11th, while Babson College sits at number 47. Overall, nine NEWMAC institutions are currently ranked in the standings, with four in the top-100.
 
MIT is the top-ranked school in the NEWMAC with 515.50 points, after securing 73.5 for a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship, and 61.5 points after a 14^th-place finish for the men. The Engineers also nabbed points for their finishes in indoor track & field, including an eighth-place finish for the women.

In the fall, MIT earned 75 points in women's cross country with a fifth-place finish at the National Championship, while the men’s squad accumulated 69 points on a ninth-place finish. Finally, MIT earned 64 points in both women's volleyball and women’s soccer after their respective NCAA tournament runs. 

Compiling 233 points, Babson cracked the top 50, grabbing 50 points for their men’s basketball finish. In the fall, their field hockey program compiled 83 points from a Final Four appearance. Men’s soccer and women’s volleyball combined for the remainder of the Beavers' point total with NCAA Tournament runs.

Springfield earned 161 points to land at number 78, with the bulk of its points coming from men’s wrestling and football.

WPI also cracked the top-100, earning 125.50 points, with men’s basketball, men’s indoor track & field, men’s cross country, and field hockey combining for their point total.

U.S. Coast Guard Academy enters the rankings at No. 104 with 111.00 points, after capturing points in men’s swimming and diving and wrestling.

Wheaton College is at No. 142, maintaining its 73 points earned from the men’s soccer Elite Eight appearance.

Smith College enters at No. 168 after earning 50 points for its women's basketball finish.

Wellesley enters at No. 198, after capturing 47.50 points for their 26^th-place finish at the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship.

Salve Regina University enters the rankings after a ninth-place finish in men’s ice hockey.

The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in the NCAA Championships.

NEWMAC Standings 

11. MIT 515.50
47. Babson 233.00
78. Springfield 161.00
98. WPI 125.50
104. Coast Guard 111.00
142. Wheaton (MA) 73.00
168. Smith 50.00
198. Wellesey 47.50
221. Salve Regina 25.00

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027