NAIA vs NCAA: Choosing the Right Athletic Path for College Athletes

This essay provides a comparative analysis of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to help student-athletes make informed decisions about their college athletic careers. It highlights the key differences between the two associations, including the number of schools, the availability of athletic scholarships, the range of sports offered, and the level of competition. NCAA, with its three divisions, offers more scholarships and a more competitive environment, while NAIA, a smaller association, provides a more intimate setting with limited financial aid. The essay also touches on the increasing trend of schools transitioning from NAIA to NCAA, driven by the desire to enhance competitiveness and maintain academic standards. Ultimately, the essay emphasizes the importance of understanding the rules, regulations, and eligibility requirements of both associations to find the best fit for individual needs and aspirations. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments and study tools for students.

Running Head: ENGLISH 1
NAIA to NCAA
Author's Name
Institutional Affiliation

ENGLISH 2
Introduction
Student-athletes decide on the schools they want to join based on the National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
(Martin, 2015). NCAA schools enjoy the larger body of students while NAIA colleges have a
much smaller number of students. The school size determines the athletic division of the school,
and when compared to NCAA, NAIA is a much smaller association. Recently, it has been
observed that many schools are switching from NAIA membership to join the NCAA.
Student-athletes look for the right training to compete in championship events and play in
the pros one day. Apart from that, an aspiring college athlete seeks scholarships for sports and
academics. There is a stress on the student-athletes to not only stand out but also join the right
athletic association that would be best for them. The kind and amount scholarship a student-
athlete will get relies on the association his school.
NCAA consists of three divisions, Division I, II, and III that cater to 23 sports. Partial or
full athletic scholarships are given to Division I and II student-athletes while Division III
student-athletes get non-athletic scholarships (EXACT Sport, 2019). NCAA hands out more than
a billion dollars in athletic scholarships every year, and this is what looks more attractive to the
students aspiring to be professional athletes. When compared, NAIA is a smaller association
with a fewer number of schools and 13 sports and with two divisions, Division I and II. About
$7,000 of financial aid is given to NAIA athletes (EXACT Sport, 2019). NAIA Division II
schools are similar in practice to NCAA Division III and do not offer athletic scholarships.
Students get discouraged because of very limited scholarships (Cohen, 2015).

ENGLISH 3
NCAA has seen a 13 percent increase in the last couple of years with a boost in the
Divisions II and III membership (Cohen, 2015). Still, the Division I schools are witnessing a low
voting power disproportionately. NCAA, on the other hand, has restructuring issues of its own
and the number of small, private schools associated with it has continued to drop as asserted by
Cohen (2015). Many schools are making a transition from the NAIA to NCAA so as to expose
the students to a higher level of competitiveness and maintain the academic requirements at the
same time. The transition period from the NAIA to NCAA has been brought down from two
years to one (Budlong, 2010). The department’s financial goals and athletic budgets get
evaluated throughout the transition. The move to NCAA is believed to be beneficial for the
schools in several areas.
It is essential for student-athletes to understand both NCAA and NAIA associations, their
rules and regulations when looking for an athletic scholarship. The aim behind should be to find
the right fit for your needs and get admission in the best college. It is essential to be educated and
knowledgeable regarding scholarship rules and eligibility requirements. What motivates aspiring
college athletes to join the NCAA is because of the higher number of schools and athletic
scholarships, greater number of sports, and divisions and a more competitive environment. Still,
there is no guarantee for professional success.

ENGLISH 4
References
Budlong, J. (2010). College Athletics: So long NAIA, hello NCAA, rapid city journal Retrieved
from https://rapidcityjournal.com/sports/college-athletics-so-long-naia-hello-ncaa/
article_668f362a-8def-11df-b651-001cc4c002e0.html
Cohen, A. (2015). The Changing Face of College Sports, athletic business Retrieved from
https://www.athleticbusiness.com/college/the-changing-face-of-college-sports.html
EXACT Sport. (2019). NCAA and NAIA Scholarships – Know the Difference!, exactsports
Retrieved from https://exactsports.com/blog/ncaa-and-naia-scholarships-know-the-
difference/2011/02/05/
Martin, C. (2015). NAIA v NCAA: What’s the difference?, Fisher College Retrieved from
http://connect.fisher.edu/naia-v-ncaa-whats-the-difference