INFO CENTER

Some important information for you when considering your future in collegiate athletics.

IMPORTANT NCAA LINKS

  • NCAA Eligibility Center

    If you want to play for an NCAA institution, creating an account is the first step toward becoming an NCAA student-athlete

    Click Here to Begin

  • NCAA Recruiting FAQs

    NCAA member schools have adopted rules to create an equitable recruiting environment.

    Recruiting FAQs

  • NCAA Recruiting Guide

    Read through the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete and learn more about NCAA athletics.

    See the Eligibility Guide

COLLEGE ATHLETICS

With over 1,200 universities and colleges in the US that sponsor athletics programs, there are many opportunities for talented athletes to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. These institutions offer diverse programs; this wide range of options allows athletes to find a school that best fits their athletic and academic goals. Our goal is to assist these athletes in navigating the college search process and help them find a place where they can thrive both on and off the field. Read about the different divisions and options below.

COLLEGIATE DIVISIONS

NCAA Division 1

NCAA Division 1 is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics in the United States. Division 1 schools have the largest athletic budgets and often offer the most scholarships. Student-athletes at Division 1 schools are typically highly skilled and competitive, and the academic requirements are also rigorous.

NCAA Division 2

NCAA Division 2 is a level down from Division 1 and typically has a lower level of athletic competition and smaller athletic budgets. Division 2 schools still offer scholarships, but they may not be as extensive as those at Division 1 schools. The academic requirements are similar to Division 1, but may be less stringent.

NCAA Division 3

NCAA Division 3 is the lowest level of intercollegiate athletics governed by the NCAA. Division 3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and the level of competition is generally lower than at Division 1 or Division 2 schools. The focus at Division 3 schools is on academics, and student-athletes are expected to maintain high academic standards.

NAIA

The NAIA is a separate organization from the NCAA and governs a smaller number of intercollegiate athletic programs. NAIA schools have fewer resources and smaller athletic budgets than NCAA Division 1 or Division 2 schools, but they still offer scholarships to student-athletes. The level of competition and academic requirements vary among NAIA schools.

NJCAA

The NJCAA is a national organization that governs junior college sports programs at two-year colleges across the United States. The NJCAA oversees athletic programs at over 400 member colleges in 24 states and offers a variety of sports for student-athletes to participate in.

CCCAA

The CCCAA is a state-level organization that governs junior college sports programs in California. The CCCAA oversees athletic programs at over 100 community colleges in California and offers a variety of sports for student-athletes to participate in.

USCAA

The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) serves as a nationwide organization dedicated to fostering intercollegiate athletic programs among 72 predominantly smaller colleges, encompassing community and junior colleges throughout the nation.

NCCAA

The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) unites Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges across the United States and Canada, with the core mission of advancing and enriching intercollegiate athletic competition through a distinctively Christian lens.

SCHOLARSHIP INFO

In college sports, athletic scholarships are an important way to attract and support student-athletes. However, the number and type of scholarships available can vary depending on the division or association.

NCAA Division I is the highest level of college athletics and most Division I schools offer the maximum number of athletic scholarships allowed in each sport. In team sports, such as football and basketball, full scholarships are typically awarded, while in individual sports, partial scholarships are more common. There are no limits to the number of athletic scholarships that can be awarded by a Division I program, but there are limits to the number of scholarships that can be awarded in each sport.

NCAA Division II schools can also offer athletic scholarships, but the number of scholarships is generally lower than in Division I. Full scholarships are more limited, and partial scholarships are more common. Division II also has limits on the number of scholarships that can be awarded in each sport.

NCAA Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but athletes may still be eligible for need-based or academic scholarships. The focus in Division III is on the student-athlete experience, and many Division III athletes choose to participate in sports for the love of the game.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is similar to Division II in terms of the number of scholarships that can be awarded, but there are fewer restrictions on the number of scholarships that can be offered in each sport. Full scholarships are not as common as in Division I, but partial scholarships are available.

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is the governing body for two-year colleges, and it offers athletic scholarships at the junior college level. The number of scholarships that can be awarded is limited, and full scholarships are not as common as in Division I. The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) is the governing body for community college athletics in California. Like the NJCAA, the CCCAA offers athletic scholarships at the junior college level, but the number of scholarships is limited, and full scholarships are not as common as in Division I.

It is important to note that each division and association has its own specific rules and regulations regarding athletic scholarships, and schools may choose to allocate less funding to their coaches for various reasons, such as budget constraints or a need to prioritize other expenses. Ultimately, athletic scholarships are just one aspect of the student-athlete experience, and many other factors, such as academics, campus culture, and coaching staff, also play a role in the decision-making process for student-athletes.

RECRUITING INFO

Recruiting is a critical aspect of college athletics, and the process can vary depending on the division or association. In NCAA Division I, coaches have a larger recruiting budget and often travel extensively to attend tournaments, camps, and high school games in search of top talent. They may also use online recruiting platforms and social media to find and evaluate potential recruits.

Division I coaches can offer official visits to campus, where recruits can meet the team, tour facilities, and get a sense of what it's like to be a student-athlete at that school. With the high level of competition in Division I, coaches must work hard to find top talent that can help their team succeed.

In NCAA Division II, coaches also have a recruiting budget, but it is generally smaller than in Division I. Coaches may attend local events and tournaments or rely on online recruiting platforms to find potential recruits. Division II schools may offer official visits to campus, but the rules around official visits are stricter than in Division I. Despite the smaller budget, coaches in Division II must still find top talent that can help their team compete at a high level.

In NCAA Division III, coaches cannot offer athletic scholarships, so recruiting is focused on finding student-athletes who are a good fit for the school academically and athletically. Coaches may attend local events and tournaments or rely on online recruiting platforms. Recruits can take unofficial visits to campus, but coaches cannot offer official visits. In Division III, the focus is on finding athletes who are passionate about their sport and can balance athletics with a rigorous academic workload.

The NAIA is similar to Division II in terms of budget and recruiting. NAIA schools often have smaller budgets and smaller recruiting staffs than Division I and II programs. Coaches may rely on online recruiting platforms and word of mouth to find potential recruits. NAIA schools may offer official visits to campus, but the rules around official visits are less strict than in Division I and II.

The NJCAA is the governing body for two-year colleges, and NJCAA coaches often recruit locally, attending high school games and tournaments in their area. They may also rely on online recruiting platforms to find potential recruits. NJCAA schools can offer official visits to campus, but the rules around official visits are different from those in the NCAA. The CCCAA is the governing body for community college athletics in California, and CCCAA coaches typically recruit locally and may rely on online recruiting platforms to find potential recruits. CCCAA schools can offer official visits to campus, but the rules around official visits are different from those in the NCAA.

Regardless of the division or association, coaches must work hard to find top talent while staying within their recruiting budget and following the rules and regulations set forth by their governing body. The recruiting process is highly competitive, and coaches must balance finding top talent with prioritizing other aspects of their program, such as academics and team culture.