Division III Colleges

NCAA Division D3 Quick Stats:

Total NCAA division III member schools: 442
19% are public institutions and 81% are private institutions
43 the number of DIII conferences
Average number of Male athletes per college: 230
Average number of Female athletes per college: 160

Search For Colleges

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Search for NCAA DIII Schools by GPA, Test Score Requirements and Academic Rankings

The academic rankings and requirements for NCAA DIII schools vary widely. Some of the elite academic institutions in the country are division 3 schools (4 of the top 10 colleges on the Forbes list of top schools are D3). When you are searching for a DIII school, it will save you time if you know you qualify academically based on your GPA and SAT or ACT test scores. Using the advanced search tool you can refine your list of potential schools based on the academic rankings (how highly the school is ranked) and requirements like GPA requirements and test score (SAT or ACT).

Get Matched with Colleges Based on Advanced Roster Analysis

When looking for an opportunity to play at a particular college, it is critical to know each programs recruiting habits and trends. Recruiting habits are things like where the school typically recruits (local, nation wide or international) and the size, weight and abilities of players at the various positions. Recruiting trends are things like how many players are at a specific position and how many athletes will be graduating on any given year. With our advanced search tool you can refine your searches based on these qualities, ensuring you are finding schools that recruit from your area, recruit players similar to you athletically and they will need people at your position when you are graduating high school.

Check Out the DIII Colleges Roster Openings

Another feature of our advanced search that will save your hours of work, are our roster openings. College coaches at many DIII universities are posting the positions they are recruiting and what you need athletically and academically to qualify. Using the advanced search tool, you can refine your search based on things like the position and needs listed by the school. This ensures the only schools showing up on your results are recruiting your position the year you graduate.

NCAA D3 Regions by the Numbers

Northeast Region (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland)

There are 231 DIII schools in this region. On average there are 3,000 students at each school with an average tuition cost of $27,000 per year.

Southeast Region (West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky)

There are 50 D3 universities in this region; the average size of each school is 1,300 students and the average cost per year is $26,000.

Central Region (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma)

There are 126 universities in the central region. The average school size is 1,800 students and the average cost of attendance is $27,000 per year.

West Region (Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Alaska, Hawaii)

The west region has the fewest number of D3 schools with only 35 institutions. The average size of these schools are 2,500 students and the tuition costs are on average $31,000 per year.

Championships Offered at the NCAA DIII Level

DIII institutions compete in the following sports: Baseball, Basketball (M and W), Cross Country (M and W), Football, Golf (M and W), Ice Hockey (M and W), Lacrosse (M and W), Soccer (M and W), Swimming/Diving (M and W), Tennis (M and W), Track and Field (M and W), Volleyball (M and W), Wrestling, Softball, Rowing (Women Only), Field Hockey, Gymnastics (Women Only), Water Polo (M and W), Bowling (Women only), Fencing, Rifle and Skiing.

What makes division III different from other NCAA divisions?

Division III is the NCAA’s largest athletic division due to having the largest number of member colleges and the greatest number of student-athletes. Many athletes choose the DIII level because they are looking for a better balance of athletics and academics. Recruits often find that schools competing at higher division levels don’t provide them the opportunities to focus on academics as much as they would like.

What are D3 Schools Like

The general description of D3 schools are smaller schools where 10%-30% of the student body are student-athletes. As a student at these schools, you can expect small class sizes and the opportunity to be surrounded by many other athletes. D3 schools can be located in big cities, but many times, you find these schools in rural locations or smaller towns. While there are DIII schools all across the US, most of them are located in the Northeast, Southern and Central regions of the US.

Will you have to register with the Eligibility Center if you play for a division III College?

While division III colleges are still under the larger umbrella of the NCAA, student-athletes wishing to compete at the division III level do not need to register or be cleared through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Each school has their own academic requirements and you will need to contact the coach at the school to get an idea of what you will need academically to qualify.

Can Student Athletes at the Division III level still earn scholarships?

Although division III student-athletes are not given athletic funding to play sports, they are allowed to accept financial aid through grants, academic scholarships, and student loans. Many times athletes find their financial aid opportunities at DIII schools are better than the athletic scholarship they were considering at a DI or DII school. In order to get an idea of what kind of financial aid could be available to you, you will need to have your academic and financial information reviewed by the university. College coaches can help you with this process once you have established contact with them and it is confirmed you have strong interest in playing for them.

Learn how to contact D3 coaches and get recruited here.

You can’t take official visits to DIII schools but you can take unofficial visits, learn more about them here.

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