During the 1960s and 70s most western schools competed in the NAIA and did not fall under the jurisdiction of the NCAA.
This began to change once the NCAA instituted the Division II Tournament in 1978.
In some cases NCAA teams were invited to participate in the NAIA tournament, leaving the ordering of schools at that time unclear.
† played as an independent prior to the formal creation of lower-tier ice hockey in 1964.
† played as an independent prior to the formal creation of lower-tier ice hockey in 1964.