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College-Bound Student Athlete

College-bound student-athletes can continue their athletic careers in college through multiple pathways. Monitoring academic eligibility is essential, and students should research athletic options that best fit their overall college experience. Collegiate athletics are organized under two associations with divisions and conferences based on institutional size, competition level, and athletic funding.

Division Levels

  • Division I – The NCAA Division I consists of almost 350 institutions with specific sports offered in men's and women's athletics. This consists of large institutions that typically have large scholarship packages for recruiting.
  • Division II – The NCAA Division II consists of over 300 institutions and features the same sports as Division I. These athletes are just as physically able to compete at the Division I level, but schools typically have less athletic funding. Division II student athletes typically receive a combination of athletic and merit-based scholarships and need-based financial aid.
  • Division III – The NCAA Division III consists of 450 institutions. It is the largest division of the NCAA sports. Competition is still high between Division III teams, and there is a wide variety of experiences for these athletes that include a focus on academics, extracurricular activities, study abroad opportunities, and other college experiences. Students may receive financial aid or merit-based awards.
  • Club Sports – Club sports are not regulated by NCAA. Students can join a team and compete against other teams regionally and/or nationally. They are student-run and typically open to all. Some sports may have different levels of competitive teams for the same sport.
  • Intramural Sports – Intramural sports are not regulated by NCAA and typically run like an extracurricular club, open to all. The teams compete against each other, some at the same school and some at neighboring schools. These sports often include sports that are not offered at the NCAA or club level.

A day in the life of a college athlete depends on the division/level the student is competing.

Resources