Beyond Division 1 - Other Great Options for High School Athletes by Donna Dye

Click to view

Beyond Division I - Other great options for high school athletes
By Donna Dye

You've heard of the NCAA Division I (sometimes called D-I).  But do you know about the other divisions?  And do you know about the NAIA and the NJCAA?  When it comes to athletics and picking a college, there are other good choices beyond Division I.

Often, high school athletes, particularly, elites and those wanting good competition in college, think only of D-1.  For athletes and fans alike, the high level of play and prestige of D-I are the big attractions.  But there are other choices to consider.  Depending on your education goals, your athletic skill level, the campus life style that suits you, and your finances, the NCAA Divisions II (D-II) and Division III (D-III), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) may be good choices for you.

Some outstanding athletes have competed in D- II, D-III, NAIA and NJCAA.  Some examples are shown on the tables below.

The Bottom Line

While the numbers are fewer than D-I athletes, D-II, D-III, NAIA and Junior College athletes can do well in professional athletics.   But, at these colleges athletics is folded into the whole college experience, balances athletics with academics, social and community for a well balanced education.

So, you can get good training and competition at colleges other than D-I that could lead to a professional career.  But if what you want is a good education with good athletic competition, you should also look beyond D-I.   The choice depends on what you think is best for you.

Having it All 

A college's philosophy toward athletics helps to determine participation in an athletic association or division.  Colleges that believe athletics should be part of the college experience but not the major part, tend to belong to NCAA D-II or D-III or belong to another athletic organization such as the NAIA.  There are several differences between the NCAA divisions.  One of the major differences is the number of sports sponsored.  D-1 colleges must sponsor 7 sports for both men and women or 6 for men and 8 for women with two team sports for each gender; D-II must sponsor 5 sports for both men and women or 6 for men and 8 for women with two team sports for each gender; D-III must sponsor 5 sports for both men and women with two team sports for each gender.  A complete discussion of the differences is offered on the NCAA website.

The D-II, III, NAIA colleges see athletics as one part of a well rounded college experience.  In their view the college experience is a balance of academics, athletics, social development, community service and in some cases religious development.   These colleges participate in fewer sports and tend to have less emphasis on the role of spectators in the athletic experience. 

But this balanced approach to athletics does not necessarily mean inferior competition.  As the athletes noted above demonstrate, the opportunity to excel in athletics is still there.   Guided by good coaching and training staff, these colleges produce athletes ready and capable of competitive sports.  Except for D-II, the maximum number of athletic scholarships requirement is gone.  So, these colleges can provide more opportunities for more students in a less stressful environment.  And while these colleges are not in D-I, they none-the-less frequently compete against D-I athletes at the meets that are open to all colleges.

All of these colleges provide financial aid and all but D-III provide athletic scholarships.  And, in keeping with less emphasis on athletics, the eligibility and recruiting rules are different than D-I and more in tune with the broad educational philosophy.  In general, there are fewer required high school courses and GPA requirement, and test scores on the ACT or SAT are more liberal than for D-I. 

More Scholarships.  Since the implementation of Title IX, women sports and scholarships have increased while men's programs have not done as well.  As a result, there are fewer men's programs and scholarships.  NCAA scholarship allowances for Track and Field (Cross Country is included in the number allowed for Track and Field)  per college is:  D-I 18 scholarships for women and 12.6 for men; D-II 12.6 for both men and women.)   Beyond D-I colleges, that is D-II, D-III, NAIA, NJCAA expand the number of scholarships available and provide opportunities for financial assistance and athletic competition that would not otherwise be possible.

Balance is the Philosophy

Division II
According to the NCAA D-II:  “The emphasis for the student-athlete experience in Division II is a comprehensive program of learning and development in a personal setting.  The approach in Division II provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletics competition, and development of societal attitudes in service to community.  The balance and integration of these different areas of learning opportunity provide Division II student-athletes with a path to graduation, while cultivating a variety of skills and knowledge for life ahead.”

Visit the NCAA II Website for more information and a video “Choose Division II.”  To learn which colleges are D-II go to the NCAA D-II Member List.

Division III

According to the NCAA D-III website:  “Colleges and universities in NCAA Division III place highest priority on the overall quality of the educational experience and on the successful completion of all students' academic programs.  They seek to establish and maintain an environment in which a student-athlete's athletics activities are conducted as an integral part of the student-athlete's educational experience.  They also seek to establish and maintain an environment that values cultural diversity and gender equity among their student-athletes and athletics staff.”

Financial aid is available at D-III in the form of academic scholarships and need-based scholarships.  And while D-III coaches recruit, they cannot get involved in the scholarship process.  So, prospective students need to apply directly to the college.   In many cases, the financial aid can be as much as D-I full scholarships.  Also, colleges like to have a diversified population.  So, often financial aid is available for out of area students and international students. 

On D-III competition, Coach Michael Owens, Men's and Women's Coach at Manhattanville College in New York State, says that:  "There is a misconception.....that D-III is an inferior product or that the cost is out of reach at the private schools.  Many D-III colleges have better athletic facilities than some D-I and D-II schools and often compete in the same meets during the regular season along side of D-I athletes.  While there are no athletic scholarships, opportunities exist for academic- and need-based awards.''

For more information visit the NCAA D-III website.  For information on which colleges are D-III, go to the NCAA D-III Member List.
 
NAIA
The NAIA colleges are champions of character emphasizing exemplary behavior modeling on and off the field of play.  NAIA says that it's "schools offer a unique experience for student-athletes with benefits like close-knit communities and small class sizes." 

NAIA says it offers:

 Seasonal play and championship opportunities
•    Flexibility to transfer without missing a season of eligibility
•    Fewer recruiting restrictions
•    A focus on education and character development
•    Opportunities for regional and national athletic recognition
•    Small classes and closer student-faculty interaction

NJCAA
“The National Junior College Athletic Association has more than 500 member organizations in the United States divided into three athletic divisions. Its mission is to promote and foster junior college athletics on intersectional and national levels so that results will be consistent with the total educational program of its members.”

The NJCAA offers financial assistance and scholarships.  Many student athletes who don’t have grades or test scores high enough to meet the NCAA requirements, start their college career at the junior college level where they can improve their academic standing while continuing to compete athletically.  There are specific requirements for this move which the NJCAA can assist students to understand and follow if they want to transfer to a four-year college.

Consider a junior college if:

1. Your grades and test scores do not meet the NCAA eligibility but your athletic skills are good.  While at the junior/community college you can improve your academics and compete athletically.  Once you improve your academic skills, you may be eligible to transfer to a four-year college.
2. You don't think you will qualify for a either an academic or athletic scholarship, don't have funds for a four year college but you can afford a junior college and want to compete athletically.
3. You think you can be competitive for an athletic scholarship at a junior college.