Athletic students who wish to make their career in athletics during their college years but facing financial issues then can apply with NAIA school scholarship programs. They offer various scholarships for athletes which includes full-ride scholarships and partial scholarships. The range of these schools is also very wide because NAIA works with 300 schools. In these schools, privately run colleges and schools are also included. So, to help you out we will discuss NAIA, the number of scholarships they provide, their eligibility criteria, full-ride or partial scholarships, NCAA, etc.
What is NAIA?
NAIA stands for National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics. In 1937, NAIA was founded and it is the oldest college athletics governing body. It offers scholarship programs in 28 different sports and 300 schools are working under NAIA across the country. Students can choose the scholarship programs according to their preferences. NAIA scholarship programs are a little similar to D3 schools. NAIA schools offer great athletic experience and direct financial assistance to the students.
Does NAIA give Athletic Scholarships?
Yes, NAIA schools give athletic scholarships to students who are in need. There are various eligibility criteria to get NAIA athletic scholarships and students have to fulfill these. NAIA offers both partial and full-ride scholarships based on students’ potential. Now, let’s discuss the number of scholarships given by NAIA and their eligibility criteria.
Number of Scholarships given by NAIA
The number of scholarships is divided according to the sports which means the sport is more popular having a large number of scholarships and the less popular sport has less number of scholarships. As per the data, there are around 800 million dollars awarded by NAIA each year to athletes. In this both partial and full-ride scholarships are included. The list of scholarships is as follows.
- 12 scholarships are offered for sports like Soccer, Track and Field, Competitive Cheer, Baseball, and Lacrosse.
- 24 scholarships are offered for Football.
- 10 scholarships are offered for sports like Softball, Dance, and Wrestling.
- 8 scholarships are offered for Volleyball, Diving, and Swimming.
- 5 scholarships are offered for Tennis, Cross Country, and Bowling.
- 6 scholarships are offered for Golf.
Eligibility Criteria for NAIA Athletic Scholarship
The eligibility criteria of NAIA are a little different and to get eligibility for an Athletics Scholarship you have to register yourself with the NAIA eligibility center at PlayNAIA.org. Once you get the registration, you will be eligible to apply for NAIA Athletics Scholarships at any school and for more than one scholarship. The registration process is also very simple and you only have to create a profile with some basic details like name, academic details, sports details, and any sports participation. So, to compete with NAIA schools to get the scholarship you have to complete the registration process with the NAIA eligibility center. The best thing about NAIA is that they do not have any deadlines, contact restrictions, and recruitment rules. So, students can easily apply for NAIA Athletic Scholarships.
Does the NAIA Scholarship provide free gear to students?
Yes, the NAIA scholarship provides free gear to students but the amount they offer is not the same and varies according to the school and program. If you compare the free gear between NAIA and NCAA schools then NAIA has given less gear to students because of their funding.
Does NAIA give full-ride Athletic Scholarships?
NAIA offers full-ride and partial scholarships both to their athletic students. The full-ride scholarships are more competitive than partial. If you are unable to get a full right scholarship at NAIA then you can apply from outside sources as well. The outside sources to search for athletics scholarships include Bold.org. This is the site where you can search for any type of scholarship as millions of scholarships are uploaded by the providers.
NAIA v/s NCAA
NCAA stands for National Collegiate Athletic Association and this association works with around 1200 schools. It works with the 3 divisions which means schools are divided under 3 divisions (Divisions 1, 2, and 3). The NCAA manages 23 sports under their divisions.
NAIA is an association that is somehow similar to the Division 3 of the NCAA. NCAA’s D1 and D2 are more competitive in athletics and academics as compared to D3 and NAIA. In NAIA schools students are not restricted with the registration process, may offer more time to play, offers more free time and less traveling time, and offers fewer practice and competition sessions. The NCAA’s recruitment process and registration criteria are a little different and rigorous. NAIA offers full and partial scholarships for athletes but NCAA offers full scholarships more and getting a full-ride scholarship is a little difficult due to their rules and competition. Therefore, both associations have their benefits and drawbacks and the decision of taking admission fully depends upon your level and ability.
Conclusion
NAIA is an association that works with 300 schools and offers athletics scholarships to students who are good at athletics. To get eligibility for an NAIA scholarship you have to fulfill their eligibility criteria which means you have to register yourself with the NAIA eligibility center. NAIA offers around 800 million dollars each year to athletics scholarships. It offers both partial and full right scholarships to the athletes. It also provides free gear to the students but the number of scholarships may vary according to the major and school chosen by students. If you are good in athletics and want to live with full-rounded freedom and time then NAIA schools are best and if you are unable to get a full-ride scholarship then you can apply with outside sources as well.