Why Choose Division III

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The NCAA mission and Division III philosophy statement articulate principles that represent a commitment to the Division III student-athlete experience. It outlines the principles and expectations institutions and conferences strive for regarding the student-athlete collegiate and athletics experience.

NCAA Mission
Provide a world-class athletics and academic experience for student-athletes that fosters lifelong well-being.

Student-Athlete Collegiate Experience
  • Primarily focus on intercollegiate athletics as a four-year undergraduate experience.
  • Seek to establish and maintain an environment in which a student-athlete’s athletics activities are conducted as an integral part of their educational experience.
  • Assure that student-athletes are supported in their efforts to meaningfully participate in nonathletic pursuits to enhance their overall educational experience.
Student-Athlete Athletics Experience.
  • Support student-athletes in their efforts to reach the highest levels of athletics performance, with a primary emphasis on conference and regional competition, while providing access to national championships.
  • Prioritize the experience of the participants, and the internal constituency (e.g., students, alumni, institutional personnel) rather than on the entertainment needs of spectators or the general public.
  • Develop and maintain an environment that promotes sportsmanship and a positive culture for student-athletes, coaches, and administrative personnel, recognizing the role intercollegiate athletics can play in human development. Ensure spectators contribute to a positive sporting experience in support of all participants.

The governance structure, with input from the membership, has identified the following strategic priorities and vision for the division that directly impact student-athletes.

Promote Association-wide initiatives.
  • Engage Congress to introduce federal legislation addressing current threats to collegiate athletics.
  • Support key initiatives to advance the division (e.g., fan database, purchasing cooperative, post-eligibility insurance, officiating resources).
  • Monitor and proactively address legal, state and governmental challenges.
Enhance the championships experience.
  • Expand championships opportunities through new sport sponsorships (e.g., women’s wrestling).
  • Increase branding through a comprehensive live streaming strategy.
  • Identify opportunities to increase financial support for participating institutions and conferences.
  • Seek sponsorships to generate revenue.
Effectively advance opportunities and access for under-represented groups.
Provide professional development opportunities, promote educational programs and maintain grant funding.

Support the student-athlete experience.
  • Provide resources and funding to support athletic training and athletic communication departments.
  • Provide mental health training to head coaches and athletic trainers and provide relief through the waiver process based on a student-athlete’s mental health.
  • Promote the use of the Injury Surveillance Program to provide division specific data to inform playing rule changes. • Support sportsmanship and game environment initiatives.
  • Promote institutional commitment to sexual assault violence prevention education.
Division III, home to more than 200,000 student-athletes, provides an equitable and inclusive environment for student-athletes to participate in a competitive athletics environment, take responsibility for their own paths, follow their passions and discover their potential through a comprehensive educational experience.
Follow your passions and discover your potential.  The college experience is a time of learning and growth - a chance to follow passions and develop potential.  For student-athletes in Division III, all of this happens most importantly in the classroom and through earning an academic degree.  The Division III experience provides for passionate participation in a competitive athletic environment, where student-athletes push themselves to excellence and build upon their academic success with new challenges and life skills.  And student-athletes are encouraged to pursue the full spectrum of opportunities available during their time in college.  In this way, Division III provides an integrated environment for student-athletes to take responsibility for their own paths, follow their passions and find their potential through a comprehensive educational experience.
Six Attributes of Division III
  1. Proportion: Appropriate relation of academics with opportunities to pursue athletics and other passions
  2. Comprehensive Learning: Opportunity for broad-based education and success
  3. Passion: Playing for the love of the game, competition, fun and self-improvement
  4. Responsibility: Development of accountability through personal commitment and choices
  5. Sportsmanship: Fair and respectful conduct toward all participants and supporters
  6. Citizenship: Dedication to developing responsible leaders and citizens in our communities

Benefits of Division III:

  • Student-athletes continue to compete in a highly competitive athletic program and retain the full spectrum of college life - Focus on academic achievement while graduating with a comprehensive education that builds skills beyond the classroom
  • Access financial aid for college without the obligations of an athletic scholarship
  • Opportunities to play more than one sport
  • Be responsible for your own path, discover potential through opportunities to pursue many interests
  • Academics are the primary focus for student-athletes.  Shorter practices and playing seasons, no redshirting and regional competition minimize time away from their academic studies and keep student-athletes on a path to graduation.
  • Student-athletes are integrated on campus and treated like all other members of the general student-body, keeping them focused on being a student first.
  • Participation in athletics provides valuable "life lessons" for student-athletes (teamwork, discipline, perseverance, leadership, etc) which often translates into becoming a better student and more responsible citizen.
  • Division III institutions develop student-athlete potential through a comprehensive educational approach - Division III institutions offer athletics for the educational value and benefit to the student-athlete, not for the purpose of revenue generation and entertainment.
  • Student-athletes do not receive monetary incentive to play sports but rather participate for the love of the game.

Reasons to Believe in Division III

  1. Comprehensive educational experience.
  2. Integrated campus environment.
  3. Academic focus.
  4. Available financial aid.
  5. Competitive athletic programs.
  6. National championship opportunities.
  7. Commitment to athletics participation.