For many athletes the NAIA is the best combination of athletic aid, playing time and a small-school experience. It runs on its own rules, so here is what is different.
NAIA eligibility
An entering freshman qualifies in one of two ways:
- A final high-school GPA of at least 2.3 on its own, or
- Two of three: a final GPA of 2.0 or higher; a top-50% class rank; an 18 ACT or 970 SAT (critical reading and math only).
Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center
Every NAIA athlete registers with the NAIA Eligibility Center (PlayNAIA). It is separate from the NCAA Eligibility Center, so if you are considering both, you register with both. SAT superscores are not accepted, and a test must be taken before the term in which you want to compete.
NAIA scholarships
NAIA schools offer athletic scholarships under the NAIA’s own limits, and coaches often combine them with academic aid. The 2025 House settlement applied to NCAA Division I only.
Contacting NAIA coaches
NCAA contact dates do not apply to NAIA schools, so NAIA coaches can be among the first to reply. Email them the same way you would any coach — graduation year, position, film, grades and schedule — and ask each one how their recruiting process and timeline work.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to register with the NAIA Eligibility Center because you registered with the NCAA’s.
- Assuming NCAA contact dates apply.
- Leaving NAIA programs off a list that is mostly D1 and D2.