InkboundCollege Soccer Divisions: D1, D2, D3, NAIA and Junior College
College soccerFive levels2,790 programs2027 recruiting class
College soccer is played at five levels: NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III, the NAIA, and junior college. Our data covers 2,790 programs across all five, and NCAA Division III is the largest with 830 programs. NCAA Division III offers no athletic scholarships; the other four levels can, with rules that differ by association.
Data updated About this data
Programs by division
| Division | Programs | Men's | Women's | Conferences | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA Division I | 561 | 213 | 348 | 34 | 49 |
| NCAA Division II | 455 | 202 | 253 | 25 | 46 |
| NCAA Division III | 830 | 418 | 412 | 51 | 37 |
| NAIA | 368 | 181 | 187 | 23 | 34 |
| Junior College (NJCAA, CCCAA, NWAC) | 576 | 285 | 291 | 64 | 39 |
NCAA Division I
561 programs in 34 conferences across 49 states.
NCAA Division I programs can offer athletic scholarships. Soccer is an equivalency sport, so as of the 2025-26 rules coaches split their available athletic aid across the roster rather than giving every player a full award, and the total each program can offer varies by school. Most Division I soccer players combine a partial athletic award with academic or need based aid.
Division I fits players who are already starting at a high level club team, can commit to a near year round training schedule and are comfortable competing for playing time against transfers and international recruits. Academic standards, roster size and playing time vary widely between the 200 plus schools that sponsor soccer, so compare programs rather than the label.
NCAA Division II
455 programs in 25 conferences across 46 states.
NCAA Division II programs can offer athletic scholarships. Like Division I, soccer is an equivalency sport as of the 2025-26 rules, so aid is divided across the roster and partial awards are the norm. Division II coaches often build packages that combine athletic, academic and need based aid.
Division II fits players who want a competitive schedule and the chance for athletic aid without the time demands and roster turnover typical of Division I. Many Division II schools are regional public universities and mid sized private colleges, which shapes cost, class size and campus life.
NCAA Division III
830 programs in 51 conferences across 37 states.
NCAA Division III does not offer athletic scholarships. Financial aid at Division III schools is academic and need based, and it is awarded by the admissions and financial aid offices rather than the coaching staff. A coach can advocate for a recruit in admissions but cannot promise money tied to soccer.
Division III fits players who want to compete in college while prioritizing academics, cost and campus fit. Because there is no athletic money, the financial conversation is about merit and need based aid, and the recruiting conversation is often as much about admissions as about the roster.
NAIA
368 programs in 23 conferences across 34 states.
NAIA programs can offer athletic scholarships. Award sizes and how aid is stacked with academic scholarships vary by school, and the NAIA sets its own eligibility and scholarship rules separately from the NCAA.
NAIA fits players who want athletic aid and a competitive schedule at a smaller college, often a private school with a strong regional identity. The level of play varies widely between conferences, so look at individual program results rather than assuming a single NAIA standard.
Junior College (NJCAA, CCCAA, NWAC)
576 programs in 64 conferences across 39 states.
Junior college soccer is governed by several associations, mainly the NJCAA, the CCCAA in California and the NWAC in the Pacific Northwest. Many junior college programs can offer athletic aid, but the rules depend on the association and division; as of the 2025-26 rules NJCAA Division III and CCCAA programs do not offer athletic scholarships.
Junior college fits players who need more development time, want a lower cost start, or did not find the right four year fit out of high school. The transfer path is well established in college soccer, and four year coaches actively recruit junior college players who have proven themselves.
See every Junior College (NJCAA, CCCAA, NWAC) soccer program
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Programs by state, programs by conference, or the full program index.
Frequently asked questions
- How many college soccer divisions are there?
- There are five levels of college soccer in our data: NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, and Junior College (NJCAA, CCCAA, NWAC). Together they include 2,790 programs at 1,566 schools.
- Which college soccer division has the most programs?
- NCAA Division III has the most soccer programs with 830 programs: 418 men's teams and 412 women's teams.
- Which college soccer divisions offer athletic scholarships?
- NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and the NAIA can offer athletic scholarships, and many junior college programs can offer athletic aid depending on their association and division. NCAA Division III does not offer athletic scholarships; aid there is academic and need based.
- Is D3 soccer less competitive than D1?
- On average Division I rosters are stronger and deeper, but the ranges overlap. Top Division III and NAIA programs regularly field players who had Division I options. Each program page on Inkbound shows the program's Massey rank within its division and gender so families can compare individual programs rather than labels.
- When does college soccer recruiting start at each level?
- Division I recruiting starts earliest and moves fastest. As of the 2025-26 rules, Division I coaches may not begin recruiting communication with a player until June 15 after the player's sophomore year, and many rosters for a class are largely settled by the end of junior year. Coaches evaluate at club showcases, ID camps and through video, and rosters increasingly include transfers and international players. Division II follows the same contact date. Division III, NAIA and junior college coaches are not bound by that date and often recruit later into senior year.
- Can a player move between divisions after starting college?
- Yes. Transfers between divisions are common in college soccer, and the junior college to four year path is well established. Each division page on Inkbound explains what recruiting looks like at that level and lists every program with its coaching staff.
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