The National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) has been around since 1997 and has expanded from 20 programs that inaugural season to over 175 programs in the United States, Canada, and the island of Puerto Rico. The 2023 season has seen a rapid expansion both in new programs AND in programs that were once in the NCWA but had disbanded at some point in time. On top of this, the NCWA added 7 new athletic department programs in Puerto Rico during the 2022-2023 season culminating in the 2023 National Championship in San Juan, PR. Finally, the NCWA currently has 7 programs transitioning from one National Governing Body (NGB) to another, which makes them post-season ineligible according to NCAA rules. In order to help ease these programs into their new divisions, the NCWA allows the programs to have a post-season, which aids in retention and recruiting. In all, since 1997, the NCWA has helped 34 colleges/universities to transition or create new NCAA/NJCAA programs.

The current NCAA transition teams include the following:

Allen University (Allen, SC) - transitioning from NAIA to NCAA-D2 (Conference Affiliation: Conference Carolinas - NCAA / Mid-Atlantic Conference - NCWA)
Bellarmine University (Lousville, KY) - transitioning from NCAA-D2 to NCAA-D1 (Conference Affiliation: Southern Conference - NCAA / Great Lakes Conference - NCWA)
Emory & Henry College (Emory, VA) - transitioning from NCAA-D3 to NCAA-D2 (Conference Affiliation: Conference Carolinas - NCAA / Mid-Atlantic Conference - NCWA)
Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO) - transitioning from NCAA-D2 to NCAA-D1 (Conference Affiliation: Southern Conference - NCAA / Southwest Conference - NCWA)
Lyon College (Batesville, AR) - transitioning from NAIA to NCAA-D3 (Conference Affiliation: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference - NCAA / Southwest Conference - NCWA)
Queens University of Charlotte (Charlotte, NC) - transitioning from NCAA-D2 to NCAA-D1 (Conference Affiliation: Atlantic Sun Conference - NCAA / Mid-Atlantic Conference - NCWA)
Thomas More University (Crestview Hills, KY) - transitioning from NAIA to NCAA-D2 (Conference Affiliation: Great Midwest Conference - NCAA / Great Lakes Conference - NCWA)

Past programs that have transitioned or formed within the NCWA include the following:

Current and Former NCAA-D1: California Baptist University, Grand Canyon University, and Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. Note that Bucknell University dropped its D1 program and re-organized within the NCWA before returning to D1 status.

Current NCAA-D2: Belmont Abbey College (started as NCWA program), Davenport University, Grand Valley State University, Emmanuel College, Lincoln Memorial University, McKendree University, Minot State University, Newman University (started as NCWA program), and Notre Dame College.

Current NCAA-D3: Alfred State College, Defiance College (started as NCWA program), Linfield University (started as an NCWA program), Maine Maritime Academy (current NCWA program to be NCAA-D3 next season), Pennsylvania College of Technology (started as NCWA / USCAA program), Schreiner University (started as NCWA program), and Southern Virginia University (started as NCWA program),

Current NAIA: Menlo College (will be transitioning next season), St. Andrews University, and West Virginia Tech University

Current NJCAA: Big Bend Community College (started and is currently NCWA), Grays Harbor College (started and is currently NCWA), Henry Ford College (started as NCWA program), Mott Community College (started as NCWA program), Rochester Community & Technical College, Santa Rosa Junior College (NCWA Women's division only), SW Oregon CC (started as NCWA Women's program), Williamson College of the Trades (started and is currently NCWA).

What's even more promising is the resurgence of programs that once thrived in the NCWA that have re-started in 2023. These programs include the following:

Blue Lights College (NC), Florida Gulf Coast University (FL), Kansas State University (KS), Kennesaw State University (GA), Longwood University (VA), Louisiana State University (LA), and the University of Cincinnati (OH).

...and then there are the BRAND NEW programs...such as Tarleton State (TX) that shows promise to become the State of Texas' first NCAA-D1 program and the likes of Hillsdale College (MI) that uniquely receives no federal funding. Other new programs include Duquesne University (PA), Grand Valley State University WC (MI), Louisiana Tech University (LA), Menlo College WC (CA), Troy University (AL), and Western Michigan University (MI).

New Women's Programs have also arrived in 2023. These programs wrestle collegiate folkstyle vs. NCWA and freestyle against NCAA/NAIA:

Allen University (SC), Duquesne University (PA), Grand Valley State University (MI), Lyon College (AR), Maine Maritime Academy (ME), Monmouth University (NJ), Slipper Rock University (PA), St. Mary's College of Maryland (MD), University of Alabama (AL), University of Nevada - Las Vegas (NV), Virginia Tech (VA), West Chester University (PA), and Western Michigan University (MI).