RECRUITING INFO

Recruiting Basics

The major organizations that sanction collegiate athletics in the United States are the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA).

Facts and Figures

NCAA

  • 1,073 member colleges and universities
  • 539,000 student-athletes
  • 19,500 teams
  • $3.5 billion in athletics scholarships every year
  • 90 championships
  • 24 sports
  • 3 divisions

 

NAIA

  • 250 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada
  • 83,000 student-athletes
  • 29 national championships
  • $1.3 billion annually in financial aid awards

NJCAA

  • Second largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the U.S.
  • 500 member schools in 44 states
  • 3,400+ teams
  • 60,000 student-athletes
  • 28 sports
  • 52 national championship events and football bowl games

 

 

CCCAA

  • California only
  • 12 conferences
  • 109 member colleges
  • 24,000 student-athletes
  • 24 sports
  • 25 championships

Eligibility

Student-athletes being recruited by a university in Division I or Division II of the NCAA must have their academic and athletics eligibility certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Similarly, student-athletes hoping to play a sport in the NAIA must register with the NAIA Eligibility Center.

NCAA D1

Academics:

  • Complete 16 core courses in high school.
  • Earn a minimum GPA of 2.3 in core courses.
  • Graduate from high school.

Athletics:

  • Maintain amateur status.

NCAA D2

Academics:

  • Complete 16 core courses in high school.
  • Earn a minimum GPA of 2.2 in core courses.
  • Graduate from high school.

Athletics:

  • Maintain amateur status.

NCAA D3

Academics:

  • Division III schools set their own academic standards on campus.

Athletics:

  • International student-athletes school must register with the Eligibility Center and receive an amateurism certification.

NAIA

Academics:

  • A student instantly qualifies upon high school graduation by earning a 2.3+ GPA or by meeting two of the three following criteria:
    • Cumulative GPA of 2.0.
    • Class rank within the top 50% of graduating class.
    • ACT score of 18 or SAT score of 970.