If you are a student-athlete who is hoping to play sports in college, you should understand the difference between the three NCAA divisions. Here is some useful information when deciding which colleges to apply to.
- NCAA Division III – The programs are less competitive, but that also means there are fewer requirements. It is important to know that NCAA Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships. However, you can still receive other forms of financial aid if you qualify. Division III schools are mainly focused on academics but still give you the opportunity to play the sport that you love.
- NCAA Division II – This is a slightly more competitive group of schools, and you will need to meet eligibility requirements in order to play. This means registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center. In Division II schools, about 60% of athletes will receive athletic scholarships that provide partial financial aid.
- NCAA Division I – This is the most competitive of the divisions and features the teams that you know and watch on television. These schools often offer multi–year scholarships that cover the entire cost-of-attendance. There are 350 schools in this division, and 1 out of every 23 students at these schools is an athlete.
Preparing Your Student-Athlete for College
College Planning Source is here to help with the college admissions process and with the search for free money for college. It all begins with your complimentary college assessment. Contact us today at 858.676.0700, or you can request your assessment via our website.
