Virtually all colleges that sponsor a sport that competes on the
intercollegiate level want that sport program to be successful
(to be a winning program). To enjoy the benefits of a winning
program, some level of recruiting is required. The level, inten-
sity, directness, and operation of collegiate recruiting by any
particular school is affected by a number of factors.
As you have learned, NCAA Division I and II offer designated
athletic scholarships of some monetary value applied toward
the cost of the tuition and/or fees of the institution award-
ing the financial aid. Division I schools often offer full rides,
although they sometimes split some athletic scholarships up
and offer partial rides. Division II programs offer full rides much
less often than does Division I. They split up their athletic
scholarships more often than Division I. As you now know,
NCAA rules restrict the number of athletic scholarships in each
sport for both Division I and II. And Division II is allowed fewer
athletic scholarships in nearly every sport than Division I.
When you are being recruited by a Division I or II college,
the recruiters and coaches will discuss financial aid in terms of
athletic scholarships. Usually Division II coaches will discuss
additional financial aid opportunities in other terms, as well,
like: need-based, academic, special-talent, minority, merit,
chapter 16
Awarding of Athletic
Financial Aid