This is meant to serve as a quick reference resource and should not be considered legal advice in any way. For more details you can go straight to the source at NCAA.org.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) consists of 1,281 member institutions and organizations. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The NCAA was founded in 1906 as the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS) and became the NCAA in 1910. It is organized into three divisions, each with varying rules regarding scholarships, eligibility, and recruiting.
Division III – 440+ Schools
Schools at this level are usually more academically focused with smaller student body populations. They may not offer athletic scholarships. Coaches tend to recruit athletes who they know will receive academic scholarships and other financial aid.
Division II – 280+ Schools
These schools have a great range in academic quality and size of school. Division II schools are able to offer athletic scholarships. Each sport has a certain number of full scholarships they can provide, however they can also divided them up and give athletes partial scholarships. Different schools handle this in different ways and it is always best to ask early on about the program’s policy. Here is a list of how many scholarships a sport will have at a given school:
Men’s Sports:
Baseball – 9
Basketball – 10
Cross Country/Track & Field – 12.6
Fencing – 4.5
Football – 36
Golf – 3.6
Gymnastics – 5.4
Ice Hockey – 13.5
Lacrosse – 10.8
Rifle – 3.6
Skiing – 6.3
Soccer – 9
Swimming/Diving – 8.1
Tennis – 4.5
Volleyball – 4.5
Water Polo – 4.5
Wrestling – 9
Women’s Sports:
Basketball – 10
Bowling – 5
Cross Country/Track & Field – 12.6
Equestrian – 15
Fencing – 4.5
Field Hockey – 6.3
Golf – 5.4
Gymnastics – 6.0
Ice Hockey – 18
Lacrosse – 9.9
Rowing – 20
Rugby – 12
Sand Volleyball – 5
Skiing – 6.3
Soccer – 9.9
Softball – 7.2
Swimming/Diving – 8.1
Tennis – 6
Volleyball – 8
Water Polo – 8
Division I – 340 Schools
Division I schools consist of the major powers in collegiate sports. They are known for more impressive facilities, larger athletic budgets, and more athletic scholarships than other levels. The division is broken up into three sections:
- Football Bowl Subdivision
- Football Championship Division
- Non-Football Schools (Though some sponsor football with no scholarships)
Note that some Division II and Division III schools are able to classify one men’s and one women’s sport as Division I, provided they had already been playing that sport prior to 2011.
Scholarships
Sports sponsored by the NCAA are separated into two categories:
- Head Count Sports – The total number of scholarships is limited and each player is allowed up to a full scholarship.
- Equivalency Sports – The total amount of financial aid an institution can give for a sport must be equal to a set number of scholarships.
Here is a list of head count men’s sports and the number of scholarships:
Basketball – 13
Football (FBS) – 85
Here is a list of equivalency men’s sports and the number of scholarships:
Baseball – 11.7
Cross Country/Track – 12.6
Fencing – 4.5
Football (FCS) – 63
Golf – 4.5
Gymnastics – 6.3
Ice Hockey – 18
Lacrosse – 12.6
Rifle – 3.6
Skiing – 6.3
Soccer – 9.9
Swimming and Diving – 9.9
Tennis – 4.5
Volleyball – 4.5
Water Polo – 4.5
Wrestling – 9.9
Here is a list of head count women’s sports and the number of scholarships:
Basketball – 13
Gymnastics – 12
Tennis – 8
Volleyball – 12
Here is a list of equivalency women’s sports and the number of scholarships:
Bowling - 5
Cross Country/Track – 18
Equestrian – 15
Fencing – 5
Field Hockey – 12
Golf – 6
Ice Hockey – 18
Lacrosse – 12
Rowing – 20
Rugby – 12
Sand Volleyball – 5
Skiing – 7
Soccer – 14
Softball – 12
Swimming and Diving – 14
Water Polo – 8
Note that there are many individual exceptions and variables that go into how different situations are handled. Schools change divisions and rules change every year in response to issues the NCAA deals with. This has been meant a general guide for how the NCAA works on a basic level. For a complete understanding of a particular instance you should go straight to the source at NCAA.org. If you are a current varsity athlete it would be wise to consult with your coach, compliance director, or Athletic Director with any specific questions.
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