This information is meant to serve as a brief reference and not a full exposition or legal advice. For complete and direct information you can check out the NJCAA and CCCAA on their respective websites.
Junior College athletics are played at over 500 schools across the nation. There are two associations that govern these programs, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA).
National Junior College Athletic Association
There are more than 400 schools in the NJCAA. At these programs you’ll be able to get a foundation for your education, play your sport at the college level, and have a chance to transfer to a four-year school after putting in your time. Many junior college athletes transfer in this way. You have a chance to prove yourself and take care of any academic issues if necessary. While in a program you will have three years to play two seasons. You can read more at www.njcaa.org.
There are three divisions of play in the NJCAA, each with different athletic scholarship opportunities:
- Division 1 – These schools may offer full ride athletic scholarships.
- Division 2 – They are limited to awarding the cost of tuition, fees, and books.
- Division 3 – No athletic scholarships.
California Community College Athletic Association
Over 100 programs and 25,000 athletes are governed by the CCCAA, which operates in the state of California. These schools do not offer athletic scholarships but the total cost of school is typically very low. You can read more at www.cccaasports.org.