NCAA Division I independents (independent schools) are four-year institutions that do not participate in a conference in a given sport. This does not mean that Division I independents schedule each other for competition like conference schools do. There are considerably fewer independent schools than in years past; many independent schools later join (or attempt to join) established conferences.

In women's hockey, one school is currently Division I independents:

• Sacred Heart University. Its men's team plays in a conference that does not sponsor women's hockey (Atlantic Hockey).

College ice hockey