DIY College Rankings
College Sports Data
Play & afford, in one list
Find every program where your athlete can play — and that your family can afford.
Every U.S. college program for your sport — with real athletic aid per athlete, graduation outcomes, and net price for your family’s income, not just the sticker. Filter, sort, and compare up to 4 schools side by side.
Filter & match— narrow the list by cost, division, location and academics
Recruiting tip — look past the roster number. Team size tells you how big the squad is, not how many spots are opening. Before you target a school, research (or ask the coach) how many players are seniors vs. juniors at your athlete's position. Several graduating seniors means real openings soon; a roster stacked with underclassmen means years of competition ahead. That's how you turn a long list into a focused one.
How to read this: Athletic aid & rosters cover all ~2,000 programs (federal EADA). Admissions, net price, graduation & retention rates, sticker price, and income-band net price come from IPEDS, the College Scorecard, and each school's Common Data Set — schools without one show No CDS data. Net price by income is what families in each federal income band actually paid after grants. Athletic aid is school-wide (all sports); $0 = no athletic scholarships (Ivy / D-III). Confirm specifics with each program's coach and financial-aid office. Full data sourcing & methodology →
Sign up for your sport
Preview any sport free on the Find Colleges tab — 25 colleges, to get a feel for the database. When you’re ready, choose your sport below to unlock the full college list for that sport, plus Excel & PDF export. We don’t store your information.
Your access is locked to the sport you choose. Email is used only to send you this season’s data and update notices — it opens your own mail app; we don’t keep it.
🔄 The college dataset (athletic aid, rosters, net price by income, graduation rates and more) is refreshed once a year, based on availability from federal sources (IPEDS, EADA, College Scorecard) and each school’s Common Data Set. Access is sold per sport, per season — each year’s purchase covers that sport’s data for that year.
Plan & Track
Your tasks, schools, and the NCAA guides — all in one place.
Recruiting Tasks by Grade
Timing shown by grade and season — adjust for your athlete’s year
School Recruiting Tracker
Track every school, coach contact, and status
| School | Division | Sport / Team | Coach Name | Last Contact | My Interest | Their Interest | Status | Action |
|---|
NCAA / NAIA Academic Eligibility Checker
General guidelines that change and vary by sport. NCAA Division I & II no longer require SAT/ACT scores for eligibility (core-GPA based since 2023) — but colleges may still require tests for admission or scholarships. Always verify current rules at eligibilitycenter.org (NCAA) and playnaia.org (NAIA).
📚 NCAA Division I Requirements
Min GPA in Core Courses—
Required: 2.3 GPA
SAT (for NAIA check)
ACT (for NAIA check)
Core Courses Needed16 courses
English (4 years)
Math through Algebra II (3 years)
Natural/Physical Science (2 years)
Social Science (2 years)
Additional Core (4 years)
Total Core Courses0 / 16
DI Eligibility StatusEnter data
📚 NCAA Division II Requirements
Min GPA Required2.2
Core Courses Required16 courses
Your DII StatusEnter data above
🏆 NAIA Requirements
Min GPA2.0
Min ACT Score18
Min SAT Score970
Need 2 of 3 criteriaEnter data above
🎓 NCAA DIII Requirements
Test Scores RequiredNo minimum
GPA RequiredSet by each school
ClearinghouseNot required
✅ Key Registration Deadlines
NCAA Eligibility Centereligibilitycenter.org
Register for DI/DIIBy end of 11th grade
Recommended timingStart of junior year
SAT/ACT to NCAA (if a school requires it)Code: 9999
Amateurism CertificationRequest after April 1, Sr yr
NAIA Eligibility Centerplaynaia.org
NLI Signing Day (DI)Nov (early) / Apr (regular)
⚠️ Once you compete in any college sport, your eligibility clock starts. Check sport-specific rules on ncaa.org.
NCAA Recruiting Timeline — When Things Happen
Contact dates vary by sport and division and change over time — confirm current rules at ncaa.org before relying on a date.
🌱 9th Grade
Year-Round
Join varsity or JV teams. Begin building athletic resume. Take NCAA-approved core courses.
Any Time
Create athletic highlight clips. Start researching college programs. YOU can email any coach.
Spring
Upload 9th grade transcript to recruiting profile. Attend summer showcases and ID camps.
🔥 10th Grade
June 15 (after Soph yr)
DI & DII coaches may begin contacting you (most sports). Start building target list of 20-30 schools.
Summer (after Soph yr)
Calls, texts and off-campus evaluations open for most sports. Attend camps/showcases where coaches can watch you.
October
Take PSAT (National Merit qualifier). Register with NCSA, SportsRecruits, or Hudl.
End of Year
Create NCAA Eligibility Center account (recommended for DI/DII). Upload transcript.
⚡ 11th Grade — Critical Year
Sept 1 of Junior Year
Football & basketball coach contact opens (these sports follow a later calendar than most). Offers can intensify.
Aug 1 before Jr Year
DI recruits can take official and unofficial visits. Schedule campus visits now.
Jan 1 of Junior Year
DIII schools can host official visits. Begin applying to DIII programs.
Spring
Register with NCAA Eligibility Center (if not done). Ask coach for recommendation letter. Take the SAT/ACT only if your target colleges require them — NCAA DI/DII eligibility no longer requires test scores. If you take them, send to NCAA via code 9999.
End of Jr Year
10 of 16 core courses must be complete (DI requirement). Request counselor to upload transcript.
🏆 12th Grade — Decision Time
Early Nov — NLI Early Signing
National Letter of Intent signing day for most sports. Binding commitment to DI/DII school.
Nov–Dec
Complete remaining applications. Submit financial aid (FAFSA, CSS Profile).
April 1 of Senior Year
Request final amateurism certification from NCAA Eligibility Center.
Early April — NLI Regular
National Letter of Intent regular signing period. Last chance for official NLI commitment.
May 1
College decision deadline. Inform all other schools of your decision.
After Graduation
Request final official transcript sent to college and NCAA Eligibility Center.
💡 Key Rules to Remember
✅ YOU can contact any coach at any time
⛔ For most sports, DI/DII coach contact opens June 15 after sophomore year (football & basketball start later — verify at ncaa.org)
✅ NAIA: no recruiting calendar — coaches can contact anytime
✅ DIII: no contact restrictions after sophomore year
⛔ Never accept gifts, money, or meals from coaches before enrollment
✅ Official visits: DI/DII pay for travel, lodging, meals (1 per school)
⛔ Unofficial visits: you pay — but can go anytime
✅ NLI is binding — only sign if 100% certain
College Athletics Division Guide
🏆 NCAA Division I
Schools: ~350 programs
Scholarships: Full athletic scholarships available (headcount sports) or equivalency
Competition: Highest level, most visible
GPA Required: 2.3 in 16 core courses
Register: eligibilitycenter.org
Coach Contact: June 15 after sophomore year (most sports; football & basketball later)
NLI Signing: November (early) or April (regular)
Time Commitment: Very high
Scholarships: Full athletic scholarships available (headcount sports) or equivalency
Competition: Highest level, most visible
GPA Required: 2.3 in 16 core courses
Register: eligibilitycenter.org
Coach Contact: June 15 after sophomore year (most sports; football & basketball later)
NLI Signing: November (early) or April (regular)
Time Commitment: Very high
🥈 NCAA Division II
Schools: ~300 programs
Scholarships: Partial athletic scholarships (equivalency model)
Competition: High — great balance of athletics & academics
GPA Required: 2.2 in 16 core courses
Register: eligibilitycenter.org
Coach Contact: June 15 after sophomore year
NLI Signing: Same as DI
Time Commitment: High — more balanced than DI
Scholarships: Partial athletic scholarships (equivalency model)
Competition: High — great balance of athletics & academics
GPA Required: 2.2 in 16 core courses
Register: eligibilitycenter.org
Coach Contact: June 15 after sophomore year
NLI Signing: Same as DI
Time Commitment: High — more balanced than DI
🎓 NCAA Division III
Schools: ~450 programs (largest division)
Scholarships: No athletic scholarships — strong academic aid
Competition: Competitive but academics prioritized
GPA Required: Each school sets own standard
Register: No clearinghouse required
Coach Contact: After sophomore year (off-campus)
NLI Signing: No NLI system
Time Commitment: More balanced — ideal for pre-med, pre-law
Scholarships: No athletic scholarships — strong academic aid
Competition: Competitive but academics prioritized
GPA Required: Each school sets own standard
Register: No clearinghouse required
Coach Contact: After sophomore year (off-campus)
NLI Signing: No NLI system
Time Commitment: More balanced — ideal for pre-med, pre-law
⚡ NAIA
Schools: ~250 programs
Scholarships: Athletic scholarships available
Competition: Strong — comparable to DII
Eligibility: Final 2.3 GPA, or meet 2 of 3: 2.0 GPA, top-half class rank, or ACT 18 / SAT 970
Register: playnaia.org
Coach Contact: No calendar — coaches can contact anytime
NLI: No NLI — more flexible commitments
Eligibility Clock: 10 semesters (vs NCAA's 5-year clock)
Scholarships: Athletic scholarships available
Competition: Strong — comparable to DII
Eligibility: Final 2.3 GPA, or meet 2 of 3: 2.0 GPA, top-half class rank, or ACT 18 / SAT 970
Register: playnaia.org
Coach Contact: No calendar — coaches can contact anytime
NLI: No NLI — more flexible commitments
Eligibility Clock: 10 semesters (vs NCAA's 5-year clock)
🔄 JUCO / Community College
Schools: ~500+ programs (NJCAA)
Scholarships: Available at DI/DII JUCO level
Purpose: 2-year stepping stone to DI/DII/DIII
Benefits: Lower cost, keep NCAA eligibility, improve academics
Transfers: After 2 years, transfer with remaining NCAA eligibility
Common Path: JUCO → DI transfer portal
Register: njcaa.org
Tip: Strong option if DI offer doesn't come by senior year
Scholarships: Available at DI/DII JUCO level
Purpose: 2-year stepping stone to DI/DII/DIII
Benefits: Lower cost, keep NCAA eligibility, improve academics
Transfers: After 2 years, transfer with remaining NCAA eligibility
Common Path: JUCO → DI transfer portal
Register: njcaa.org
Tip: Strong option if DI offer doesn't come by senior year
📊 Scholarship Reality Check
Only 2% of high school athletes earn any athletic scholarship.
Headcount sports (DI): FBS football, basketball, and women’s gymnastics, tennis & volleyball — full rides only, no partial
Equivalency sports: Coach splits scholarship money among players
2025 change: the House v. NCAA settlement is replacing fixed scholarship limits with roster limits at schools that opt in — so the headcount vs. equivalency split is starting to blur.
Academic aid often exceeds athletic aid — especially at DIII and NAIA schools. Always compare net cost across all offers.
Headcount sports (DI): FBS football, basketball, and women’s gymnastics, tennis & volleyball — full rides only, no partial
Equivalency sports: Coach splits scholarship money among players
2025 change: the House v. NCAA settlement is replacing fixed scholarship limits with roster limits at schools that opt in — so the headcount vs. equivalency split is starting to blur.
Academic aid often exceeds athletic aid — especially at DIII and NAIA schools. Always compare net cost across all offers.
Athletes by sport & division
Roster spots in each sport, and how they split across divisions — a quick way to see where the opportunities are.
Source: college athletic participation counts (EADA) and IPEDS, across the 2,026 colleges in this database. Refreshed yearly, based on availability. “Juco” combines NJCAA and California (CCCAA) two-year colleges.
Please note: these are roster / participation spots, not unique athletes. An athlete who plays more than one sport (for example indoor and outdoor track) is counted in each, so totals can double-count some individuals. Figures cover the colleges in this database, not every U.S. college. Confirm specifics with each program.
Please note: these are roster / participation spots, not unique athletes. An athlete who plays more than one sport (for example indoor and outdoor track) is counted in each, so totals can double-count some individuals. Figures cover the colleges in this database, not every U.S. college. Confirm specifics with each program.
Sport roadmap — what it takes to play in college
Pick a sport to see the grade-by-grade plan from middle school to a college roster — what to do each year, what coaches look for by division, the time, the cost, and the realistic odds. Every athlete’s path is different; this is the common shape of it.
💸 What this sport typically costs (ages 6–18)
How this is estimated: annual figures reflect typical club/travel costs for this sport; the ages 6–18 total assumes lighter recreational years early and competitive club/travel years through middle and high school. National per-sport averages are from the Aspen Institute Project Play / Utah State survey (2024). Real spending varies a lot by level, region and travel — treat these as ballparks, not quotes.
Find a coach or club near you
Starting a sport, or ready to move from rec to the competitive track? These are trusted, national places to find a club, program or coach for your sport. We point you to the sport’s own governing body and reputable directories — we don’t list individual coaches.
A note on safety & neutrality. We don’t list, vet, or endorse individual coaches or programs, and we’re not paid to feature anyone — these are starting points for your own research. Always check a coach’s or club’s credentials and SafeSport status (uscenterforsafesport.org), keep training in supervised settings, and never have a minor train one-on-one with an unvetted adult.