Women's NCAA Athletics | Barnard College

Small-School Support, Big-School Athletics

Because of the College’s partnership with Columbia University, Barnard is the only women’s college where you can compete in NCAA Division I Athletics.

Interested in Becoming a Division I Athlete?

Athletic Teams

The Competitive Edge

Since 1896, when a group of students created a bicycle club, Barnard women have been involved in some type of sport. Today the College’s student-athletes compete in 15 sports, including archery, basketball, cross-country, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

See All 15

Division I Athletics

It’s a unique arrangement: The Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium allows Barnard students to compete with Columbia undergraduates in NCAA Division I Athletics and the Ivy League, while working with some of the country’s best coaches.

Being a college athlete means that I’m part of something bigger than myself. Knowing that I get to play the sport I love almost every day with 21 incredible athletes who are also incredibly smart is motivating.

Alana Palomino ’22, Field Hockey

Game On

15

varsity sports

38

Barnard scholar-athletes in 2020

1

National Fencing Championship

On and Off the Field

A study of women CEOs found that 80% had played competitive sports in their youth. Scholar-athletes learn confidence, teamwork, time management skills (ask any Barnard athlete), and resilience. They want to succeed, and they learn how to make it happen here.

Meet Barnard's Athletes

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Nina Tang ’20

My Game: Women's Crew
My Major: Cellular/molecular biology
"I am inspired by my teammates to row harder, study better, and immerse myself further in my own professional pursuits."

Meet Nina

Rebekah Mills '19

My Game: Women’s Track
My Majors: History and Political Science, SIPA 4+1
“Running in college has taught me perseverance and determination, skills that I can carry into the future.”

Meet Rebekah

Anne Cebula '20

My Game: Women’s Fencing
My Major: Neuroscience and Behavior
“I'm honored to be a part of history, but I'm more excited at the thought of the future — not just my own, but of what will grow out of the unique relationship that defines the Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium."

Meet Anne

Devon Bernsley ’20

My Game: Women's Rowing
My Major: Physiology and organismal biology with pre-med advisement
"After years as a scholar-athlete, when someone tells me I can’t do something, my initial thought is, 'Actually, I can.'"

Meet Devon

Yudi Liu ’19

My Game: Men’s Lightweight Rowing (coxswain)
My Major: English with pre-med advisement
“As a woman on the men’s team, I’ve learned so much about communication and trust, which play important roles in relationships on and off the water.”

Meet Yudi

Ester Schreiber ’20

My Game: Women’s Fencing
My Major: Architecture with a philosophy minor
“I love being able to show younger children — and especially girls — that women can be strong and active and have all the agency that we’re often deprived of in media and society.”

Meet Ester

Caprice Herjavec ’20

My Game: Women's Rowing
My Major: Psychology and Human Rights
[Having started as a rower, coxing] was a challenge at first, but with the help of the rowers in my boat, I was able to lead our crew to a second-place finish at our championship meet."

Meet Caprice

Seanna Barrett ’19

My Game: Women’s Swimming and Diving
My Major: Psychology
“When I first visited Barnard, I was blown away by the cheerful atmosphere and the fact it’s in one of the greatest cities in the world. I love that Barnard emphasizes the importance of women supporting other women.”

Meet Seanna

On and Off the Field

The fencing program at Columbia University has forced me to hone my time-management skills. Since we train at [Columbia’s] Dodge Hall in the morning twice a week, our evenings and the rest of the week are dedicated to training at our home clubs throughout the city.

Anne Cebula ’20

Being on an athletic team in college means you automatically have a group of people looking out for your best interests from day one. It brings a sense of security and community.

Maya Esberg ’22

Being an athlete in college is teaching me to balance my energy both physically and mentally. I am learning to take care of my body in ways that allow me to perform to the best of my ability, both on the track and in the classroom.

Sofia Camacho Ferral ’22