Does NAIA offer athletic scholarships?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 22, 2026
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) offers scholarships on both the Division I and Division II level. Division III level sports do not offer scholarship funding.
Can you get athletic scholarships for NAIA?
Do NAIA schools offer full athletic scholarships? Yes, the NAIA awards over $800 million in athletic scholarships to student-athletes competing at NAIA institutions each year. Each sport has a maximum number of scholarships they are allowed to award recruits.
Can you get a full ride to NAIA?
Most NAIA schools have the ability to offer full-ride scholarships, but it's extremely uncommon for them to offer one. Similar to the NCAA, the NAIA sets a maximum number of full scholarships allowed to be distributed for each sport.
Can NAIA athletes be sponsored?
The NAIA is leading the way in NIL legislation that allows student-athletes to benefit from the use of their own name, image and likeness.
How many scholarships does NAIA offer?
The sports included and the number of scholarships for each individual NAIA team is: 24 scholarships for football. 17 scholarships for basketball. 12 scholarships each for baseball, soccer, lacrosse, competitive cheer, and indoor track & field.
33 related questions foundCan you transfer from NAIA to D1?
Athletes transferring from an NAIA school to an NCAA Division 1 or Division 2 school will find that they have the strictest transfer rules. Because the transfer rules can be so complex, athletes need to work through their school's compliance office to make sure they check off all the required boxes.
Is NAIA or d2 better?
While many of the demographics for top performing schools in the NAIA and the NCAA are similar, there are some key differences that set the NAIA apart. DII schools spend 70% more than NAIA schools to offer quality athletic programs. NAIA schools spend significantly less to be nationally competitive.
Will NAIA athletes get paid?
The NAIA, which represents 250 small colleges and universities, on Tuesday voted to allow its athletes the right to earn money from their personal brand and reference their schools in those deals, becoming the first college body in the nation to do so.
Can NAIA athletes make money?
NIL Can Be Simple
Meanwhile, the NAIA passed NIL laws in October 2020, and athletes just spent their first year making money. The NAIA's rules are much looser than the NCAA's proposal from November. For example, they're much less restrictive on the types of deals athletes can participate in.
Can NAIA athletes be paid?
The legislation, which was announced by the association in a press release on Tuesday, allows NAIA athletes to receive compensation from their names, images and likenesses, and permits them to refer to their participation in NAIA athletics in the process.
Is NAIA worse than D3?
NAIA also has lower academic standards for athletics which helps them to draw some very talented athletes as well that would not be eligible by NCAA standards. The arguement was NAIA /D3 and there is not much to base to a D3 agruement for D3. NAIA is the higher level of football than D3 anyway you want to slice it.
Is NAIA better than Division 3?
The well funded NAIA teams are much better than D3 as they should be. NAIA can offer 24 scholarships (Plus as many as they want for non varsity players or redshirts. Plus lower academic standards for athletes in NAIA allows helps NAIA get more D1 ability players.
Does NAIA have a dead period?
The NAIA does not impose mandatory start dates or dead periods. The 24-week season applies on a sport basis. Every team within that sport (varsity, junior varsity and freshman) has the same 24-week season.
Does NAIA d2 give scholarships?
Divisions I and II both offer athletic scholarships, with over 126,000 student-athletes receiving partial or full athletic scholarships. However, Division III student-athletes can only receive academic or non-athletic scholarships – no athletic scholarships are allowed.
Is NAIA better than d1?
The best NAIA tennis teams can have stronger players than a low-placed NCAA Division 1 team. It is true that the NCAA Division 1 top teams attract some of the best American talent to their university, partly because of the football and basketball popularity.
Is NAIA a good division?
NAIA: The Right Choice for You
If your school wants to be nationally competitive at a reasonable price, while driving enrollment and supporting the school's bottom line, the NAIA is the best association for you. NAIA schools measure success not just by game scores, but by their financial bottom lines, too.
Can NAIA athletes use nil?
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has formed a new partnership with Opendorse, the first-ever association-wide deal in college athletics. The three-year partnership will give NAIA athletes access to Opendorse's NIL marketing, education and compliance platform.
How do I become eligible for NAIA?
How to Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center
- Create a profile at PlayNAIA.org. ...
- Send all required documents to the NAIA Eligibility Center.
- Get on the priority list (referred to as the “short list”) to ensure the NAIA reviews their information.
What GPA do you need to play NAIA?
The NAIA Eligibility Center will provide qualified seniors with an eligibility decision before graduation if they meet or exceed the following criteria: They must have completed their junior year of high school. They need to have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, or a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale midway through senior year.
Do NAIA players get drafted?
Last year, 45 NAIA athletes (including 33 pitchers) were lucky enough to get drafted, something many baseball players can only dream of. This year, 44 players from 28 schools were drafted by 24 of MLB's 30 professional organizations. The first player taken was Dane Phillips from Oklahoma City University.
What level is JUCO?
NJCAA Division III
College coaches on the JUCO (Junior College) level are able to provide a great college experience with highly competitive games and tournaments.
Can you redshirt in NAIA?
If a player sustains a season-ending injury they will redshirt. When this occurs, the athlete may apply to the NCAA or NAIA for a 'medical redshirt'.
Does JUCO count against NCAA eligibility?
Does JUCO Use NCAA Eligibility? NJCAA eligibility differs from NCAA eligibility in several key respects. For one, whereas the NCAA's division-based eligibility requirements are consistent across member schools, JUCOs are allowed to set their own standards.
What GPA do you need to play JUCO sports?
Prior to the second season of participation in an NJCAA certified sport, student-athletes must pass a minimum of 36 quarter hours with a 2.00 GPA or higher. If the student-athlete has been enrolled in two (2) quarter terms or less, the second season requirement becomes 28 quarter hours with a 2.00 GPA or higher.
When can NAIA coaches talk to recruits?
After 11th grade a coach can have unlimited contact with an athlete. Prior to 11th grade, a coach can send you printed materials and make contact by phone. Athletes are allowed one official visit to given school beginning senior year. Athletes can make as many unofficial visit as they like.