Planning to Participate in Sports in College?
Students are responsible for communicating with their coach and counselor.
NCAA Athletic Eligibility
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the largest and most well-known governing body for college sports in the United States. All students planning to enroll in college as freshmen and wanting to participate in Division I or Division II athletics must be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center (Please reference the eligibility requirements at the NCAA Eligibility Center).
- Division I: Often regarded as the highest level of competition within the NCAA, Division I schools are typically large, well-funded institutions with significant athletic programs. Scholarships at the Division I level are highly competitive, and athletes must meet rigorous academic and athletic standards to be considered for a scholarship. Division I schools can offer full-ride scholarships covering tuition, room and board, and other expenses.
- Division II: Division II schools are typically slightly smaller than Division I but still offer highly competitive athletic programs. Scholarships at the Division II level are also highly competitive, but athletes may be able to secure partial scholarships to cover a portion of their expenses.
- Division III: Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but they do offer financial aid packages to student-athletes based on their academic achievements and financial need. Division III schools are typically smaller, liberal arts institutions prioritizing academics over athletics.
NAIA Athletic Eligibility
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is another governing body for four-year college sports in the United States. Unlike the NCAA, the NAIA does not have divisions. Instead, the NAIA offers scholarships based on sport-specific equivalency, which means that scholarships can be split among multiple athletes in a given sport. The NAIA Eligibility Center is responsible for determining the NAIA eligibility of first-time student-athletes. Any student playing NAIA sports for the first time must meet the eligibility requirements (Please reference the eligibility requirements at the NAIA Eligibility Center).
NJCAA
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) governs two-year colleges and junior colleges in the United States. The NJCAA is divided into three divisions based on the level of competition and the size of the school (Please reference the eligibility requirements at the NJCAA Eligibility):
- Division I: Division I schools are typically larger institutions with very competitive athletic programs. Scholarships at the Division I level are highly competitive and can cover tuition, room and board, and other expenses.
- Division II: Division II schools are typically slightly smaller than their Division I counterparts but still offer very competitive athletic programs. Scholarships at the Division II level are also highly competitive, and athletes are able to secure partial scholarships to cover a portion of their expenses.
- Division III: Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but they do offer financial aid packages to student-athletes based on their academic achievements and financial need. Division III schools are typically smaller community colleges that prioritize academics over athletics.
NCAA / NAIA / NJCAA - NCSD Contacts:
- Kelly Walsh High School: Mike Britt, Principal, and Marial Choma, Counselor
- Natrona County High School: Spencer Cantrell, Athletics Director, and Cari Langley, Counselor
- Midwest High School: Mike Brainard, Principal, and Mercedes Lindsay, Registrar