Differences Among the Three Divisions: Division III

Division III Facts and Figures

MEMBERSHIP

Source: September 2011 Membership Report

• 442 Total Members (436 Active and 6 Provisional/Reclassifying) *Division III is the NCAA’s largest division.
• Eighty-one percent (352) of active Division III institutions are private, while 19 percent (84) of institutions are public.  19 percent (84) of the institutions are public and 81 percent (352) of the institutions are private.
• 43 Division III Conferences

COMPOSITION OF STUDENT BODY

On average, student-athletes represent 20 percent of the student body at Division III institutions. (This percentage is much higher, typically between 25 - 40 percent at many smaller institutions.)

INSTITUTIONAL ENROLLMENT

Source: 2010-11 EADA Data Submission

	LOWEST	AVERAGE	HIGHEST
Overall	329	2,625	22,097

NCAA-SPONSORED CHAMPIONSHIPS

Source: 2011-12 Division III Manual

Men Championship Sports (14)

• Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Volleyball*, Wrestling

Women Championship Sports (14)

• Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Volleyball

National Collegiate Championships (10)

• Men -  Gymnastics, Water Polo; Women - Bowling, Gymnastics, Water Polo; Men and Women - Fencing, Rifle, Skiing

*New NCAA Championship starting in 2011-12

ATHLETICS PARTICIPANTS (including Emerging Sports)

Source: 2009-10 Participation and Sponsorship Report 

About 40 percent of NCAA student-athletes compete at Division III institutions.
 

	DIVISION III	OVERALL
Men	101,329 (59%)	249,307 (57%)
Women	70,984 (41%)	186,460 (43%)
Total	172,313 (40%)	435,767

AVERAGE NUMBER OF MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SPORTS SPONSORED PER INSTITUTION

Source: 2009-10 Participation and Sponsorship Report

Men – 8.2

Women – 8.9

AVERAGE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS PER INSTITUTION

Source: 2009-10 Participation and Sponsorship Report

Men – 230

Women – 160

NCAA DIVISION III BUDGET ALLOCATIONS

Source: NCAA Financial Statements

• 3.18 percent of NCAA operating budget, which equals about $25 million in 2011-12.

PRIORITY INITIATIVES

Source: NCAA Division III Strategic Plan

• Clarify the values of Division III athletics
• Establish a greater strategic role for presidents in the Division III governance structure
• Ensure the division is effectively managing diversity and gender equity issues
• Establish a drug education and testing program
• Assess adherence to the Division III philosophical principle that student-athletes should have academic performance consistent with the general student body.

DID YOU KNOW?

Source: 2009-10 CIRP College Senior Survey

• Division III student-athletes report participating in club sports and intramural sports at greater rates than non-athletes. Female student-athletes also report in greater numbers than female non-athletes that they have served as a leader in an organization.
• Division III student-athletes report active academic engagement and participation in academic “extras,” such as research with faculty, study abroad opportunities and capstone/senior thesis projects.
• Division III student-athletes report significantly greater gains in time management when compared with non-athletes. Male student-athletes also report significantly greater gains in leadership when compared with male non-athletes.
• Division III student-athletes report greater involvement in volunteering. They also are more likely to report “leadership potential” as an important consideration in choosing a career.
• Division III student-athletes are more likely to report that they see themselves as part of the campus community.

 

Last Updated: Mar 5, 2012