No. NCAA Division III schools do not give athletic scholarships, because NCAA rules prohibit it. Division II schools do offer athletic scholarships, but most are partial scholarships rather than full rides. In this guide, we explain how D2 scholarships work, what kind of money D3 athletes actually get, and how to decide which division fits you.
Key Takeaways
- D3 schools cannot award financial aid based on athletics. D3 athletes rely on academic, merit, and need-based aid instead.
- D2 schools offer athletic scholarships, but coaches split a limited number of scholarships across the whole roster, so most awards are partial.
- Full rides in D2 are possible but rare.
- A D3 coach can recruit you, but cannot offer you money or tie your aid to playing.
- Neither division is better for everyone. The right choice depends on money, competition level, and academics.
Do D3 Schools Give Athletic Scholarships?
No. Under NCAA Division III rules, a member school cannot award financial aid to any student based on athletics leadership, ability, participation, or performance. Athletes must be considered for aid through the same process as every other student. Being a star player cannot raise your aid package, and quitting the team cannot lower it.
That does not mean D3 is expensive for athletes. According to the NCAA, roughly 80% of Division III student-athletes receive some form of academic grant or need-based scholarship. That money comes from:
- Academic scholarships, based on grades and test scores
- Merit aid, for things like leadership, arts, or community service (but not sports)
- Need-based aid, based on your family’s finances
- Federal and state grants, such as the Pell Grant
Can a D3 Coach Help You Get Money?
D3 coaches recruit actively. They can contact you, invite you to visit, and point you to the school’s admissions and financial aid offices. What they cannot do is offer money for playing, promise a larger aid package, or take part in deciding your aid. If a school treats athletes differently when awarding aid, it breaks NCAA rules.
The One Exception
A handful of D3 schools play a single sport at the Division I level and were “grandfathered” in decades ago. These schools, such as Johns Hopkins in lacrosse and Clarkson, RPI, and St. Lawrence in ice hockey, can award athletic scholarships only in that one Division I sport. All of their Division III teams follow the same no-scholarship rule as every other D3 school.
How D2 Athletic Scholarships Work
Division II uses what the NCAA calls a partial-scholarship model, also known as the equivalency model. Each sport has a cap on the total athletic aid a team can give out, measured in “equivalencies.” One equivalency equals one full scholarship.
Coaches can split those equivalencies however they want. Some players may get a large share, some a small share, and some nothing at all.
Here is a simple example. D2 football has a limit of 36 equivalencies. If a team has 90 players and spends its full limit, it could give 36 players full scholarships and 54 players nothing. More often, a coach spreads the money out, so a few key players get large awards, many get partial ones, and some walk on with no athletic aid.
A few more things to know:
- Scholarships are usually one-year deals. D2 athletic aid is typically awarded for one academic year and renewed each year. It is not a four-year guarantee, so ask every school how renewals work.
- You can often stack aid. The NCAA says D2 athletic aid can often be combined with academic scholarships, grants, and other financial aid. Ask each school’s compliance office how other aid counts toward your team’s limit.
- Full rides happen, but they are rare. The NCAA notes that some D2 athletes receive full tuition support, while others get partial athletic aid combined with other aid.
D2 vs D3 at a Glance
| Question | Division II | Division III |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic scholarships? | Yes, up to a set limit per sport | No (NCAA rule) |
| Full rides? | Possible, but rare | No athletic full rides |
| What aid is available? | Athletic, academic, need-based, grants | Academic, merit, need-based, grants |
| Who decides the aid? | Coach (athletic aid) plus financial aid office | Financial aid office only |
| Recruiting | Coaches can offer athletic money | Coaches recruit but cannot offer money |
| Level of competition | Scholarship-level, generally above D3 | Competitive, with a heavier focus on academics |
Which Sports Give the Most Scholarship Money?
D2 limits vary widely by sport. These are the highest equivalency limits from the NCAA’s official Division II table (current as of 2026):
| Sport | D2 scholarship limit (equivalencies) |
|---|---|
| Football (men) | 36.0 |
| Rowing (women) | 20.0 |
| Ice hockey (women) | 18.0 |
| Equestrian (women) | 15.0 |
| Ice hockey (men) | 13.5 |
| Cross country/track and field (men and women) | 12.6 |
| Rugby (women) | 12.0 |
| Lacrosse (men) | 10.8 |
| Basketball (men and women) | 10.0 |
| Flag football (women) | 10.0 |
| Wrestling (women) | 10.0 |
At the other end, men’s golf and rifle have the lowest limit at 3.6, and men’s fencing, tennis, volleyball, and water polo sit at 4.5.
Two things stand out. First, a high team limit does not always mean a big award per player. Football’s 36 equivalencies are spread across one of the biggest rosters in college sports. Second, women’s teams often have higher limits than men’s teams in the same sport. Women’s volleyball allows 8.0 equivalencies compared with 4.5 for men, and women’s soccer allows 9.9 compared with 9.0.
If you are helping a daughter choose a sport, see our guide to the best sports for girls and their benefits.
Can D3 Athletes Get Any Money?
Yes, and often a lot. D3 schools tend to be private colleges that use generous academic and need-based aid to attract students. The key is that every dollar comes from your academics, your finances, or other non-athletic achievements.
To get the most money at a D3 school:
- Keep your grades and test scores up. Strong academics are the biggest driver of merit aid at most D3 schools.
- File the FAFSA. It is the only way to qualify for federal need-based aid, and many schools use it for their own grants too.
- Apply for outside scholarships. Local and national scholarships not run by the school can add up.
- Compare net prices. A D3 school with a high sticker price may cost less than a D2 school once aid is counted.
D2 or D3: Which Should You Choose?
There is no single right answer. It depends on what matters most to you.
D2 may fit you better if:
- You need athletic money to make college affordable
- You want scholarship-level competition
- A coach has made you a real athletic aid offer
D3 may fit you better if:
- Academics come first for you
- You qualify for strong academic or need-based aid
- You want a balance between sports and the rest of college life
Whichever way you lean, compare actual aid packages, not brochures or verbal promises. Look at what you will really pay each year after all aid, and ask whether that amount is guaranteed to continue.
If you want athletic money but D2 is not the right fit, NAIA schools and junior colleges (NJCAA) also offer athletic scholarships and are worth researching.
How to Get Recruited for D2
Getting recruited is its own topic, but here are the basics:
- Make a highlight video of your best plays or performances.
- Contact coaches directly with your video, stats, and grades.
- Attend camps and showcases at schools that interest you.
- Keep your grades up. You must meet NCAA Division II academic standards and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to play D2.
How We Compared
This guide is based on NCAA rules and the NCAA’s official Division II and Division III pages. The D2 scholarship limits come from the NCAA’s current Division II equivalency table, published on NCAA.org in 2026. Limits and rules can change from year to year, so always confirm details with each school’s athletics compliance and financial aid offices. We did not include average scholarship amounts, because the NCAA does not publish one and aid varies widely by school, sport, and player.
Conclusion
D3 schools do not give athletic scholarships, while D2 schools do, but mostly as partial awards. The better choice depends on your finances, your academics, and the level you want to play at. Start by filing the FAFSA, then compare real aid offers from every school on your list.
FAQ
Do D3 schools give athletic scholarships?
No. NCAA rules prohibit Division III schools from awarding financial aid based on athletic ability, participation, or performance. However, about 80% of D3 athletes receive academic grants or need-based aid. The only exception is a few grandfathered D3 schools that award scholarships in one Division I sport.
Can D3 give athletic scholarships if a coach really wants you?
No. A D3 coach can recruit you and point you toward the admissions and financial aid offices, but cannot offer money for playing or influence your aid package. Your aid is decided the same way as for any other student, based on academics and financial need.
Do D2 schools give athletic scholarships?
Yes. Division II schools offer athletic scholarships under a partial-scholarship model. Each sport has a limit on total athletic aid, and coaches usually split it among several players. Most D2 athletes on scholarship receive a partial award, often combined with academic or need-based aid.
Do D2 schools give full-ride scholarships?
Sometimes, but rarely. Because coaches must spread a limited number of equivalencies across the roster, most D2 awards are partial. Full athletic scholarships usually go to a small number of top recruits, and many athletes combine partial athletic aid with academic scholarships to lower their cost.
How much is a D2 scholarship worth?
It depends on the school, sport, and player. A full D2 scholarship can cover costs such as tuition, housing, meals, and books, while a partial one covers only a share. The NCAA does not publish an average amount, so compare the actual offer from each school.
Is D2 or D3 better?
Neither is better for everyone. D2 makes sense if you need athletic money and want scholarship-level competition. D3 may be a better fit if academics come first and you qualify for strong academic or need-based aid. Compare the real cost of each school after all aid.
Sources
- NCAA, Division II Athletics Scholarships
- NCAA, Division II Partial-Scholarship Model
- NCAA, Our Division III Story
- NCAA, Division III Financial Aid
- NCAA, 2025-26 Summary of NCAA Regulations: Division III
- Federal Student Aid, FAFSA and Federal Student Aid
- USCHO, Division III Schools Keep Division I Scholarships
