NCAA: National Collegiate Athletic Association

• Most well-known with over 1000 schools

• Division I, Division II, and Division III schools vary in size, level of competition, and types of scholarships available

• Recruiting restrictions based on Division and sport

• College-bound student-athletes preparing to enroll in a Division I or II school need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center 

NAIA: National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

• 260 schools

• No divisions

• No recruiting calendar restrictions

• No core course requirements

• Must register with the NAIA Eligibility Center

NJCAA: National Junior College Athletic Association

• 525 two-year schools organized into 24 regions

• Each school chooses to compete in Division I, II, or III in designated sports

• Divisions vary in size, level of competition, and types of scholarships available