Member Schools
Teams
Of All Student-Athletes
Median Undergrad Enrollment
What is Division I?
Here at the highest level of NCAA competition, 190,000+ student-athletes benefit from tremendous support — including athletic scholarships up to and including full rides. This is where you find the most comprehensive student-athlete benefit programs, as well as multiple football subdivisions and legendary conferences, including the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference.
Division I Subdivisions
Division I has three subdivisions. The Football Bowl Subdivision is the highest level of Division I football and is made up of major conferences like the SEC, Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 and Pac-12. FBS teams compete to play in the College Football Playoff and other bowl games. The Football Championship Subdivision is made up of conferences like The Ivy League, Big Sky Conference and Coastal Athletic Association, which are limited in scholarship offerings. FCS teams play in a separate single-elimination playoff tournament. Basketball Subdivision schools do not have football.
How Division I Is Governed
Division I operates under a shared NCAA governance model led by member schools, conferences, committees and councils working together to shape policy, championships and the student-athlete experience.
