A different governing body
NAIA Colleges and Athletic Programs
Smaller schools, more flexible recruiting rules.
Programs
249
States
38
NAIA runs separately from the NCAA. Schools tend to be smaller, and the recruiting calendar is more flexible, including earlier contact windows than NCAA rules allow. For athletes who don't fit the NCAA mold on size, timing, or eligibility, NAIA is a legitimate competitive path.
NAIA scholarships are comparable in structure to NCAA D-II, and the lower academic floor opens the door for athletes who need a more accessible entry point without giving up a real shot at a scholarship.
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Get My Free Fit ScoreNAIA recruiting, answered.
What is NAIA?
NAIA stands for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, a separate governing body from the NCAA. NAIA schools tend to be smaller and offer more flexible recruiting rules than NCAA programs, including earlier contact windows. For athletes who don't fit the NCAA mold on size, timing, or eligibility, NAIA is a legitimate competitive path, not a fallback.
What GPA do you need for NAIA sports?
NAIA requires a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, along with either an 18 ACT, a 970 SAT, or a top-half class rank, whichever the school checks. That's lower than the NCAA's core GPA requirements, which is one reason NAIA opens doors for athletes who don't clear NCAA eligibility. Competitive NAIA programs still prefer athletes in the 2.3 to 2.8+ range.
Are NAIA scholarships as good as NCAA scholarships?
NAIA schools award athletic scholarships and can offer up to 24 in football and 11 in basketball, comparable in structure to NCAA D-II. Combined with NAIA's more flexible recruiting calendar and smaller roster sizes, athletes who get a real look and real playing time often find NAIA scholarships stack up well against a partial NCAA offer.
How many NAIA programs are on RawRecruit?
RawRecruit tracks NAIA programs across football, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's track & field, women's track & field, and girls flag football. The live count and state breakdown are shown above. Use the state index below to browse every school by name.
All 249 NAIA programs, state by state
Open a state to jump to any program's page.