About College Athletic Scholarships

Thousands of student athletes obtain scholarships for college every year. These scholarships are geared toward collegiate athletes and are awarded based on different factors. Some scholarships are full scholarships, while others are partial scholarships. These students have a variety of awards to choose from and apply for.

NCAA Scholarships

The NCAA is the governing body for collegiate athletes in the United States and it is also the largest collegiate athletic organization in the United States. Over 1000 schools fall under the organization and they represent schools from Division I, Division II and Division III categories. Student athletes that play football or basketball in a Division I program automatically receive full scholarships. Division II and Division III athletes are not always granted full scholarships because the programs are smaller and do not make as much money as Division I programs. The scholarships are separated by category and division.

NAIA Scholarships

The NAIA is another collegiate athlete association that is located in the United States and Canada. It is much smaller than the NCAA and only represents about 300 schools. More emphasis is placed on the student’s academic career than their athletic ability. The number of athletic scholarships is limited. Like the NCAA, the NAIA also represents Division I, Division II and Division III programs.

NJCAA Scholarships

The NJCAA association represents two-year colleges. Although they are small, the programs are highly competitive and athletic. Students who start off at these two-year colleges may want to transfer to a four-year college later. The scholarships are available in Division I and Division II programs. For men, scholarships are granted for: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, outdoor track and field, soccer and tennis. For women, scholarships are granted for: soccer, tennis, volleyball, outdoor track and field, basketball, cross country and fast-pitch softball.