NCAA Divisions
Which Level Is Right for You?
College sports in the US have four main levels: NCAA Division I, II and III, plus the separate NAIA. They differ in competition, scholarships and how much of your week the sport takes. Most college athletes do not play D1, and that is fine.
At a Glance
School counts are approximate and change a little every year.
Division I
The top level: the biggest budgets, crowds and TV coverage.
What it is
The level of March Madness and the College Football Playoff. Players are among the best in their age group, and the sport is close to a full-time job: in season, practice is capped at 20 hours a week, but travel, film and recovery come on top.
Money
The House v. NCAA settlement (approved June 6, 2025) replaced D1's per-sport scholarship caps with roster limits (105 in football, 15 in men's and women's basketball) and lets schools that opt in pay athletes directly through revenue sharing, capped at about $20.5M per school in 2025-26 and roughly $21.3M in 2026-27. Inside a roster limit every spot can be funded, but each school decides how many it actually funds, so partial aid is still common.
Read the full House settlement money rulesWho it fits
Athletes who are clearly among the best in their state or country and want the sport at the center of college life. Roster limits mean fewer walk-on spots than before, so D1 is now mostly for recruited athletes.
Division II
Strong competition with more room for the rest of college life.
What it is
Very competitive athletics with mostly regional travel and less media attention. Many D2 players could play D1 and choose D2 for playing time or academics.
Money
Every D2 sport is an equivalency sport: the team has a set number of scholarships (10 in basketball, for example) that the coach can split into partial awards. Most players combine athletic aid with academic or need-based aid.
Who it fits
Talented athletes who want real scholarship chances, regular playing time and time for studies, internships or study abroad.
Division III
The largest NCAA division. Academics come first.
What it is
Serious, competitive sport with shorter seasons and less travel. Includes many top academic schools such as MIT, Johns Hopkins, Emory, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Chicago.
Money
No athletic scholarships. Many D3 schools give generous academic and need-based aid instead, and the total package can beat a partial athletic scholarship elsewhere.
Who it fits
Students who want to keep competing while putting their degree first, including demanding majors like engineering or pre-med. There are no NCAA academic requirements: you only need to be admitted.
NAIA
A separate association from the NCAA, with its own rules and championships.
What it is
Mostly small private colleges. The level ranges from close to D2 down to more modest programs, so judge each team on its own.
Money
NAIA schools can give athletic scholarships, usually split into partial awards (basketball: up to 8 per team). They are often combined with academic aid.
Who it fits
Athletes who want a small school, close contact with coaches and scholarship chances, or who do not meet NCAA requirements. You qualify with a 2.3 GPA, or 2 of 3: 2.0 GPA, top half of your class, 18 ACT / 970 SAT.
Scholarships Compared: Basketball Example
Numbers differ by sport. These show how the levels compare.
At schools in the House settlement, every one of the 15 players can get a full scholarship. Schools outside it keep the old caps (13 men, 15 women).
Ten full scholarships' worth of money, usually split across 12-15 players.
Aid comes from grades and family finances, never from athletics.
Can be split into partial awards and combined with academic aid.
How to Choose
Four honest questions.
Ask your coach which level you would play at, not just make the roster. Contact schools at two levels so you have options.
Your degree lasts longer than your playing career. Demanding majors are easier to fit around D2, D3 or NAIA schedules.
Compare the cost after all aid at each school. Use each college's net price calculator.
D1 and D2 need 16 core courses and a 2.3 (D1) or 2.2 (D2) core GPA. D3 and NAIA have other routes. See the Eligibility Guide.
Filter colleges by the division that fits you
Search 660+ NCAA D1 and D2 programs by division, conference, state, sport and academics, then save the ones worth contacting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Division I is the highest level, with the biggest budgets, full scholarships and, at schools that opted in, revenue-sharing payments. Division II is very competitive but more balanced, with mostly partial scholarships. Division III gives no athletic scholarships and puts academics first, often with generous academic and need-based aid.
It is possible but uncommon. Every D2 sport is an equivalency sport, so coaches split a fixed number of scholarships into partial awards. Most D2 athletes combine athletic aid with academic or need-based aid.
No. D3 schools cannot give aid for athletics. Many offer strong academic and need-based aid instead.
A separate association from the NCAA, made up of about 235 mostly small colleges. NAIA schools can give athletic scholarships (up to 8 per basketball team), and the eligibility rules are more flexible: a 2.3 high school GPA, or 2 of 3 from a 2.0 GPA, the top half of your class, or 18 ACT / 970 SAT.
No. A partial D2 scholarship plus academic aid, or a generous D3 aid package, can cost less than a small D1 offer. Always compare what your family pays after all aid.
Pick the level where you will play, can afford the cost after aid, and can study what you want. Ask your coach for an honest level, and contact schools at more than one level.
Know Your Level. Find Your Fit.
Next: check your eligibility and start a list of schools at more than one level.