Ava Romero
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a governing body for small college athletics programs. It offers athletic scholarships in 28 different sports across more than 250 schools in the US. NAIA golf is comparable to NCAA Division 3, with top-level NAIA golfers achieving scores in the low 70s. NAIA golf schools offer an opportunity for athletes to balance academics and athletics, with fewer practice and competition hours than NCAA Division 1 and 2.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of schools | 250-300 |
| Number of golf schools | 250 |
| Number of sports | 13 |
| Number of athletes | 60,000 |
| Number of divisions | 2 (Division I and II) |
| Competition level | Comparable to NCAA D3, mid/high-level D2 |
| Scholarships | Yes, over $800 million awarded |
| Average scholarship amount | $7,000 |
| Average team size | 10 golfers |
| Maximum scholarships per team | 5 |
| Top golfer scores | Low 70s |
| Mid-to-low tier golfer scores | High 80s |
| Practice and competition hours | Fewer than NCAA D1 and D2 |
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What You'll Learn
NAIA vs. NCAA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a governing body for small college athletics programs. It offers student-athletes the opportunity to earn athletic scholarships in 27 or 28 different sports at more than 250 schools across the US. The average NAIA school enrols around 1,400 full-time students, including about 308 student-athletes. NAIA schools are mostly private and faith-based institutions.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the other main governing body for college athletics in the US. It is much larger than the NAIA, serving close to 500,000 student-athletes across more than 1,100 colleges and universities. The NCAA is divided into three divisions (D1, D2, and D3) and offers 22 or 24 athletics conferences. Athletes in D1 schools typically practice and train the hardest.
NAIA programs are comparable to NCAA D3 schools. Top-level NAIA programs match the talent found at mid- to high-level NCAA D2 schools. NAIA programs often offer athletes more opportunities to compete, with less demanding practice and competition schedules, allowing for a better balance between academic, social, and athletic pursuits. NAIA programs also tend to compete against local and regional teams, whereas NCAA programs often travel across the country for competitions.
The NAIA has awarded over $800 million in athletic scholarships, and student-athletes who struggle to find scholarship opportunities with an NCAA program may have better luck with an NAIA program. NAIA schools measure success not just by game scores but also by their financial bottom lines. Their NCAA counterparts spend an average of 60% more on athletics.
Initial eligibility rules for NAIA institutions differ slightly from the NCAA eligibility rules. For example, there is no age limit for NAIA competition, whereas students can only compete during four seasons of competition in any given sport and have 10 semesters to complete those seasons.
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NAIA scholarships
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a college athletics governing body for small college athletics programs. The NAIA offers student-athletes the opportunity to earn athletic scholarships in 28 different sports at more than 250 schools across the United States.
NAIA programs are comparable to NCAA Division 3 schools. Top-level NAIA programs match the talent found at mid- to high-level NCAA Division 2 schools. Athletes who are just short of reaching NCAA recruiting standards may find a competitive alternative in the NAIA. NAIA programs often offer athletes more opportunities to compete, with fewer practice and competition hours, creating a better balance between academics and athletics.
NAIA athletes have the potential to receive full-ride scholarships, but many NAIA athletic scholarships are only partial awards. The NAIA has awarded over $800 million in athletic scholarships, with $1.3 billion awarded in scholarship money each year.
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NAIA member schools
The NAIA, or the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, is a college athletics governing body for small college athletics programs. There are 237 NAIA schools across the country, although one source states there are more than 250. These schools offer athletic programs and scholarships for student-athletes, focusing on a well-rounded educational experience.
NAIA schools are known to be highly competitive, and they give out scholarship dollars. The NAIA has a significant scholarship fund of $1.3 billion to help student-athletes at its institutions. These scholarships follow an equivalency model, allowing coaches to distribute funds among multiple athletes. Each sport has its own scholarship limit for recruiting, and the renewal of NAIA scholarships depends on annual evaluations carried out by coaches and schools. The maximum number of scholarships an NAIA school can offer ranges between 5 and 24, depending on the specific sport. For example, in football, each team can offer 24 scholarships, while in basketball, teams can provide eight scholarships.
NAIA programs are comparable to NCAA D3 schools. Top-level NAIA programs match the talent found at mid/high-level NCAA D2 schools. Athletes in NAIA programs have more opportunities to compete and have fewer practice and competition hours, creating a less stressful environment where they can better balance academics, social life, and athletics.
The NAIA currently operates with a single division for all sports. While in the past there were separate divisions for men's and women's basketball, this changed in the 2020-2021 academic year.
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NAIA talent pool
The NAIA, or the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, is a college athletics governing body for small college athletics programs. It offers student-athletes the chance to earn athletic scholarships in 28 different sports at over 250 schools across the United States.
NAIA recruiting rules encourage coach-student and personal relationships. Students are permitted a maximum of two days of tryouts throughout their athletic career, and coaches will often make contact after National Signing Day.
The NAIA awards over $1.3 billion in athletic scholarships to student-athletes competing at NAIA institutions annually. Each sport has a maximum number of scholarships they can award, and these are usually divided into partial scholarships across several athletes. NAIA scholarships are not guaranteed year to year and must be renewed at the discretion of the coach and school.
NAIA programs are comparable to NCAA D3 schools. The top NAIA programs match the talent found at mid-to-high-level NCAA D2 schools. Athletes who are just short of reaching NCAA recruiting standards may find the NAIA a competitive alternative. NAIA schools are recruiting a larger pool of athletes than they used to, creating a deeper, more talented level of competition.
NAIA golf specifically has 250 schools across the country. The average team is made up of 10 golfers, and coaches can award a maximum of five scholarships per team, usually divided into partial scholarships. The top NAIA golfers are averaging scores in the low 70s, while mid-to-low-tier programs see scores in the high 80s.
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NAIA men's golf schools
The NAIA Men's Golf Championship is an annual tournament that has been held every year since 1952 to determine the national champions of men's NAIA collegiate golf in the United States and Canada. There are 250 NAIA golf schools across the country, with 169 universities offering college golf as a varsity sport in 33 conferences.
The most successful programme is Oklahoma City, with 11 NAIA national titles. Lindsey Wilson is the reigning national champion, having won their first national title in 2025.
From a competitive standpoint, the top NAIA golfers are averaging scores in the low 70s, while mid-to-low-tier programmes see scores in the high 80s. This level is also a great option for student-athletes who decide to pursue college golf later in their high school careers, as NAIA coaches often recruit into senior year.
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Frequently asked questions
NAIA stands for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. It is a college athletics governing body for small college athletics programs.
NAIA is a smaller association than the NCAA, with just over 60,000 students and 300 schools. It offers an alternative to NCAA, with less competition for spots and more opportunities to compete. NAIA programs also have fewer practice and competition hours, allowing for a better balance between academics, social life, and athletics.
NAIA golf is comparable to NCAA Division 2. NAIA golf schools across the country number 250, and the average team consists of 10 golfers.
NAIA offers student-athletes numerous scholarship opportunities. NAIA athletes receive an average of $7,000 in financial aid, and NAIA has awarded over $800 million in athletic scholarships. NAIA eligibility requirements and scholarship rules are also less strict than those of the NCAA.
