Do D3 Schools Give Athletic Scholarships?

Being a student-athlete is an exciting endeavor that allows students to continue playing a sport at a competitive level while pursuing a college education. However, with the rising costs of tuition, many athletes, and even non-athletes, are finding it more and more difficult to access a higher education financially. Prospective students are then left to look for athletic scholarships to pay for school and other expenses, like Division III scholarships.

Today's article is focused on Division III (DIII) scholarships. Not to be confused with Division I or Division II schools athletic scholarships! So, if you're a DIII athlete looking for financial assistance, this read is just for you!

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Understanding Division III Scholarships

Finding the right school across the three NCAA Divisions can be difficult if you're not sure what you want as a student-athlete. College sports can be demanding, and if you're not sure how much time and effort you want to commit, a Division III school may be a good option for you, unlike DI and DII schools. Those schools require more time, effort, dedication, and rigor from their student-athletes to pay you.

Division III schools are home to over 195,000 student-athletes who compete at the collegiate level. These programs value quality competition and academic performance, offering Division III student-athletes the opportunity to play a sport while still immersing themselves in the college community outside of athletics.

What Division III Schools Offer

However, unlike students at Division I and II, after the recruiting process, a student at a Division III school cannot receive an athletic scholarship funded by the school, but student-athletes who attend Division III schools can still earn a merit-based or need-based financial aid package that can cover a significant amount of college expenses.

Despite not receiving a scholarship, Division III athletes are still eligible to receive a substantial financial aid package through the school. Many DIII schools are private universities, which means they traditionally offer more merit-based scholarships than athletic scholarships. A student will need to maintain a minimum grade point average while being a member of the team to keep their scholarships. Furthermore, Division III athletes can receive athletic scholarships from private scholarship sources on Bold.org. In fact, student-athletes can even check out a curated list of athletic scholarships.

At Division III schools, the admissions committees review a student's application holistically and not just based on athleticism and test scores. Students who demonstrate leadership experience and have participated in multiple extracurricular activities while dedicated to their sports and studies are great candidates for Division III schools.

If it turns out Division II doesn't fit your needs or circumstances have changed, take a chance on Division III athletics! Student-athletes receive merit-based scholarships or need-based aid to play soccer or another sport of their choice at the college level.

Even if the scholarship money offered at many Division III schools isn't equivalent to a full athletic scholarship, don't worry! Division III schools offer a multitude of benefits and a well-rounded college experience for student-athletes looking for the best both sides have to offer.

Why DIII Doesn't Offer Athletic Scholarships

Division III programs do not offer athletic scholarships because they emphasize a well-rounded, balanced college experience as opposed to one heavily focused on athletics. Division III athletes still have the athletic ability to get competitive play and financial aid while attending college. instead of athletic scholarships, DIII student-athletes can receive merit-based or need-based financial aid.

As a Division III student-athlete, academic performance is just as important as athletic prowess. Student-athletes play schools that are near high school, which don't require much travel, so Division III students don't miss as many classes as they would as Division I or II athletes.

To learn more about Division I scholarships and whether Division II schools give scholarships, check out our guides!

As previously mentioned, student-athletes are assessed on academic performance as much as they are on athletic skills, which is why high test scores and extracurricular activities are important to have during the application process. Though these schools do not offer athletic scholarships, a Division III school will give students a more holistic experience when it comes to athletics and academic programs and will still offer students financial aid.

If being a student-athlete is of interest to you, but you also want to study abroad and participate in other divisions and student organizations, a Division III school might be a great fit for you. Division III schools still offer competitive programs and the chance to compete in 28 national championships, so consider a Division III school for your athletic future.

Benefits of Being a DIII Athlete

In addition to a well-rounded college career, Division III student-athletes have a lot of perks to enjoy. Division III schools play in smaller regions, which allows student-athletes to play in post-season tournaments. Division III schools do not provide athletic scholarships; they still allow athletes to take Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, which can help them build their careers while they're still in college.

Another benefit to a Division III school is a strong financial aid package. Student-athletes may receive need-based aid and/or merit-based scholarships depending on their college application. The competition for athletic scholarships is strong, so if you heavily depend on need-based scholarships or financial aid to fund your studies, a Division III school could be a great fit.

Even though DIII schools don't directly give athletic scholarships, there are other sources where you can find athletic aid. Bold.org is one such platform for full athletic scholarships, offering hundreds of scholarship opportunities to students of all different backgrounds, fields of study, and extracurricular involvement. Athletes can even find exclusive sports scholarships in this guide to athletic scholarships!

Frequently Asked Questions About DIII Athletic Scholarships

How do DIII schools make offers?

Division III coaches have more leeway in contacting student-athletes than Division I and II coaches. You can email coaches at any point during high school and ask them to come to one of your games or matches. College coaches will verbally make an offer for you to join their roster, and offers can be made at a sports camp or an official visit.

Can you commit to a DIII school?

Yes, you can! Division III colleges will make an offer either prior to or after the college admissions process and will require you to commit to the Division 3 school to accept the position.

College coaches will help you through the recruiting process, and if you receive an offer, you'll be able to sign a Commitment Letter on National Signing Day.

What advantages do DIII athletes get?

Even without a scholarship, DIII athletes still receive big perks of being a D3 athlete, like schools playing in smaller regions and post-season tournaments. Division III schools also allow athletes to take Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, which can help them build their careers while they're still in college.

Check out the Scholarship Blog for more information on athletic and college-related articles, including exclusive scholarship opportunities!