Our Three Divisions

The NCAA's three divisions were created in 1973 to align like-minded campuses in the areas of fairness, competition and opportunity.

Division I

361
Schools

8,800
Median Undergraduate Enrollment

1 in 22
Students are Athletes

19
Average Teams Per School

37%
of NCAA Student-Athletes

Multiyear, cost-of-attendance athletics scholarships available.

57% of athletes receive athletics aid.

Did you know...

Division I student-athletes graduate at a higher rate than the general student body.

Division II

293
Schools

2,100
Median Undergraduate Enrollment

1 in 7
Students are Athletes

17
Average Teams Per School

24%
of NCAA Student-Athletes

Partial athletics scholarship model.

62% of athletes receive athletics aid.

Did you know...

Division II is the only division with schools in Alaska, Puerto Rico and Canada.

Division III

422
Schools

1,700
Median Undergraduate Enrollment

1 in 5
Students are Athletes

19
Average Teams Per School

38%
of NCAA Student-Athletes

No athletics scholarships.

80% of athletes receive non-athletics aid.

Did you know...

Division III's largest school has 28,974 undergraduates. The smallest? 339.

*The number of schools for each division is current as of the 2025-26 academic year. All other figures are based on 2024-25 data. Percentages shown for schools and student-athletes represent numbers at active NCAA schools, so they do not add up to 100%.

How is each division governed?

NCAA schools develop and approve legislation for their own divisions. Groups of presidents and chancellors lead each division in the form of committees with regularly scheduled meetings. For more information, visit on.ncaa.com/governance.

What are the eligibility requirements in each division?

If students want to compete at an NCAA Division I or II school, they must meet academic and amateurism standards set by NCAA members. Learn more about competing in each division at ncaa.org/future