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 over 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^®

$4MM
Average athletics
department net return

17%
Spend 17% less per student-athlete than NCAA peers

$8,200
Average net return
per student-athlete

13.71%
Growth in NAIA student-athlete enrollment from 2019 to 2023
(compared to 8.04% for DII and 9.17% for DIII)

18
Average NAIA member sponsors
18 sports

90%
NAIA athletics departments
produce a positive net return
for their institution

“We moved back to the NAIA after 22 years in the NCAA. It’s been a great fit for us, our student-athletes, and the institution as a whole. We already have seen a significant bump in athletic participation and our bottom-line has benefitted as well.”

Tim Faltyn
Former President
Oklahoma Panhandle State