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How many NAIA baseball schools are there?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 18, 2026

The NAIA, or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, sets the athletic rules for its 300+ member colleges and its 212 baseball programs.

How many NAIA schools are there in the US?

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has 252 member colleges and universities for athletic competition.

How many NAIA are there?

There are 96 NAIA football schools across the country. NAIA football conferences include: Frontier Conference, Great Plains Athletic, Heart of America Athletic, Kansas Collegiate Athletic, Mid-South, Mid-States Football Association, North Start Athletic Association and Sooner Athletic conferences.

What is the best NAIA school?

Goshen College has been named one of the best National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) schools in the country for student-athletes, according to Next College Student Athlete (NCSA), the country's largest college athletic recruiting network.

Is it better to go JUCO or NAIA?

The development that you see at a NJCAA school is better than any junior varsity program at a NAIA school so to speak.” JUCO's offer athletes two years to develop as athletes. If an athlete takes this time seriously, they have two years to: Sharpen their skills.

16 related questions found

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.

Is NAIA Baseball better than D3?

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.

What does NAIA stand for?

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics.

What division is Indiana Wesleyan University Baseball?

IWU is also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I. The university has earned a national reputation for athletic excellence and in recent years, has dominated both the Crossroads League and NCCAA.

How many NAIA schools are in Texas?

You have four NAIA colleges in Texas to choose from: Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas College in Tyler and Wiley College in Marshall.

Can 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.

How many NAIA Division 1 schools are there?

Division 1 has around 205 men's programs and 333 women's programs. Division 2 has around 214 men's programs and 265 women's programs.

How many NAIA schools are there in California?

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is an institution that promotes athletics as an integral component of academic learning. There are approximately 300 NAIA member colleges nationwide, out of which 23 are in California.

Can NAIA offer full rides?

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.

Do NAIA athletes get free gear?

Yes we get free gear, but it is nowhere near what big schools receive. We may get a few shirts along with uniform equipment but that is the extent of our clothing benefits. We do get to travel, but we are treated like every other student on campus, but professors tend to work with the athletes well.

Do NAIA athletes go pro?

There are many athletes who competed at NAIA schools and went on to pursue professional sports careers. Tramaine Brock signed on as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers following the 2010 NFL Draft.

How many NAIA athletes are there?

The NAIA offers 26 championships in 13 sports, with around 60,000 student-athletes at 300 member colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada.

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.

Are NAIA sports good?

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.

How much athletic scholarships are given at NAIA schools?

Unlike NCAA schools, however, over 90% of NAIA schools offer athletic scholarships. On average, individual athletes receive $7,000, or 10-20% of their cost attendance, in financial aid.

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.

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.

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 NAIA give full athletic scholarships?

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.