Athletic Scholarships by Division — What D1, D2, D3, and NAIA Actually Offer

Athletic Scholarships by Division — What D1, D2, D3, and NAIA Actually Offer

The idea of a "full ride" shapes a lot of families' expectations — and for most athletes, it's the wrong expectation.

Division I

Important recent change: Following the House v. NCAA settlement, beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, all Division I sports became equivalency sports — including football, basketball, and volleyball.

Practical takeaway: a D1 offer is very often a partial scholarship.

Division II

D2 schools do offer athletic scholarships, typically as partial awards.

Division III

Division III does not offer athletic scholarships at all — this is an NCAA rule.

NAIA

NAIA schools can offer athletic scholarships in all sports, with no headcount-style restrictions.

Why Most Awards Are Partial, Not Full

Examples of how thin the scholarship pool gets spread:

Sport: Approx. Equivalencies — Roster Size

D1 baseball: ~11.7 — ~35 players

D1 men's soccer: ~9.9 — 25-30 players

D1 women's soccer: ~14 — 25-30 players

Combining Athletic Money With Other Aid

Academic merit aid and need-based aid can often be combined with a partial athletic award.

Bottom Line

Full rides are the exception, not the rule, at every NCAA level.

Want help building a realistic financial picture? Book a One-on-One with Aware Athletics.