As of October 13, 2026, seven New England college programs are ranked in the NCPA’s official University Rankings — led by Harvard, now the #5 team in the country and #1 in the region. It is the clearest sign yet that New England has become real territory on the national college-pickleball map.
New England in the NCPA national rankings
The NCPA University Rankings are a season-long points table that updates as regional results come in — not a poll. Here is where New England’s ranked teams stand right now:
| National rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Harvard | 70.7 |
| 11 | UConn | 58.3 |
| 26 | Tufts | 46.3 |
| 28 | Boston University | 46.1 |
| 45 | WPI | 34.6 |
| 49 | Vermont | 31.7 |
| 66 | MIT | 17.3 |
Harvard leads the region
Harvard’s #5 national ranking follows its win at the first-ever NCPA Massachusetts Regional, where the Crimson beat UConn in an all–New England final four. For context at the very top of the table: 1) Utah Tech, 2) Liberty, 3) Virginia Tech, 4) Virginia, 5) Harvard — so Harvard is within striking distance of the national top four, and comfortably the best team in the Northeast.
The rest of New England’s ranked teams
UConn sits just outside the top ten at #11, the region’s clear #2. Tufts (#26) and Boston University (#28) are bunched in the twenties — both earned Division 1 Nationals bids at the Massachusetts Regional alongside Harvard and UConn. WPI (#45), Vermont (#49) and MIT (#66) round out the ranked New England programs, and several more — Babson, Bentley, Brandeis and Boston College among them — are registered and waiting to put points on the board.
How the rankings work — and what’s next
Because the standings are scored across the season, they shift every time a regional is played. The next stops are the California Regional (Oct 17–18) and the St. Thomas Aquinas Conference in Valley Cottage, NY (Oct 24–25) — the closest event to New England — before the road ends at the NCPA National Championship in April 2027. You can check the current table any time on the official NCPA University Rankings.
One clarification worth making: the NCPA is a separate circuit from the DUPR College Pickleball Tour. Florida Atlantic (FAU), often called the reigning college champion, holds that title on the DUPR tour — on the NCPA board it currently sits at #20. We keep the two straight so our coverage stays accurate.
We track every New England program, roster and result on our College Pickleball hub.
New England college pickleball rankings: FAQ
Who is the #1 college pickleball team in New England?
Harvard — ranked #5 nationally in the NCPA University Rankings as of October 13, 2026, and first among New England programs.
How many New England teams are ranked by the NCPA?
Seven: Harvard (#5), UConn (#11), Tufts (#26), Boston University (#28), WPI (#45), Vermont (#49) and MIT (#66).
Is the NCPA the same as the DUPR College Pickleball Tour?
No — they are separate circuits. Florida Atlantic (FAU) is the reigning champion on the DUPR tour; on the NCPA board FAU currently sits at #20.
Rankings via the official NCPA University Rankings (tournaments.ncpaofficial.com), as of October 13, 2026; standings update through the season. Photos courtesy of the National Collegiate Pickleball Association.