The Atlantic East Conference formed in 2018 to foster athletic competition and cooperation among academically selective, private colleges located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The geographic focus brings together some of the top colleges in the region, while still allowing for a strong conference of like-minded institutions, all of which integrate competitive athletics into the student-athlete’s university experience. The Atlantic East sponsors the following 20 sports: men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, field hockey, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming, baseball, softball, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis as well as men's and women's outdoor track & field. The founding member schools that joined the conference in September of 2018 included Cabrini University, Gwynedd Mercy University, Immaculata University, Marymount University, Marywood University, Neumann University and Wesley College. Since the conference's inception, many major member changes have been made. Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University and St. Mary's College of Maryland have since joined the Atlantic East as affiliate members in swimming. St. Mary's College of Maryland is also a part of the conference for field hockey competition. In addition, William Paterson University and New Jersey City University both joined the conference as affiliate golf members. In 2021, full-time founding member Wesley College departed the conference after school closure. Centenary University has since joined the Atlantic East as the full-time, seventh member of the conference.
