NAIA vs NCAA

NAIA: The Right Choice for You

When it comes to collegiate athletics associations, how do you know which is the best fit for your institution? It comes down to priorities. If your school wants to be nationally competitive at a reasonable price, while driving enrollment and supporting the school’s bottom line, the NAIA is the best association for you.

NAIA schools measure success not just by game scores, but by their financial bottom lines, too. Their NCAA counterparts spend an average of 60 percent more on athletics.

Regardless of their size, all schools are in competition for students. Student-athlete participation at NAIA schools has increased an average of 40 percent in the last five years. That’s good for the student-athletes and provides vital support and financial stability to our member institutions.

See the Difference

The numbers show that NAIA member schools are maximizing their Return on Athletics^®

Average athletics
department net return

Average net return
per student-athlete

Average net return of Top 100
Directors' Cup schools

Spend 40% less than NCAA counterparts for quality athletic program

Average increase in NAIA student-athlete participation over five years

NAIA’s Top 100 Directors’ Cup schools spend $3MM less than DII Top 100 and $2MM less than DIII Top 100

“Moving from NCAA DIII to NAIA has given our whole athletics department a boost – financially, in recruitment and it’s been a definite step up in competition for all of our student-athletes.”