Recruiting tool
Athletic scholarship comparison by division
A semantic comparison table of how athletic scholarships work across NCAA Division I, II, III, and the NAIA—educational, not financial advice.
| Division | Athletic scholarships | Aid model |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA Division I | Athletic scholarships allowed (NCAA rules) | Division I programs may offer athletic scholarships. Head-count sports (e.g., football, basketball) and equivalency sports follow different NCAA scholarship models. |
| NCAA Division II | Athletic scholarships allowed (NCAA rules) | Division II uses an equivalency scholarship model for most sports—partial athletic aid combined with academic and need-based aid is common. |
| NCAA Division III | No NCAA athletic scholarships | No NCAA athletic scholarships. Athletes may receive academic merit aid and need-based financial aid from the institution. |
| NAIA | Athletic scholarships allowed (NAIA rules) | NAIA programs may offer athletic scholarships under NAIA rules, which differ from NCAA Division I and II models. |
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Frequently asked questions
- Can D3 schools give athletic scholarships?
- No. NCAA Division III does not offer athletic scholarships.