College pickleball is the fastest-growing corner of the fastest-growing sport in America — and New England is right in the middle of it. The National Collegiate Pickleball Association has gone from about 30 schools in 2023 to more than 150 in 2026, and the region just hosted its first-ever regional championship.
21 clubs across six states
New England now has 21 college pickleball clubs spanning all six states, from the Boston-metro cluster to Vermont’s Champlain Valley. Massachusetts leads with 11, followed by Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire.
Why it’s taking off
Pickleball is fast, social and easy to pick up, which makes it a natural fit for campus life — and it’s become a genuine competitive pathway. Players can’t hold pro-tour contracts, but NIL deals and sponsorships are allowed, and the college game is increasingly the pipeline that feeds the PPA and MLP pro tours.
The proof is on the court
When the Massachusetts Regional wrapped, four New England programs — Harvard, UConn, Tufts and Boston University — had qualified for the NCPA National Championship. Explore every program in our College Pickleball hub, and if you run or play for a New England college club, get in touch — we’d love to feature your team.
Event details via the official NCPA broadcast of the 2026 Massachusetts Regional. Photos courtesy of the National Collegiate Pickleball Association.