Solving the Division III Athletic Financial Aid Mystery 137
officers, can interpret that term to fit certain needs), and spe-
cial skills. Hey! We need takedowns.
A confidential study by the National Association of College
and University Business Officers Director of Research Robin
Jenkins says, “The price warfare is beginning to resemble the
frequent-flier programs in the airline industry.”
As recently as August 2004, the NCAA’s Executive Committee
has approved a rule requiring institutions to file, by December
2004, with the NCAA their individual and conference recruiting
regulations in an additional attempt to force colleges to comply
with the recruiting rules. Violators would face NCAA sanctions.
After receiving a profile from one of my clients, a Division
III state university contacted him to ask if he would come
in for a visit to discuss playing football at the school. As it
was a relatively small college with an unremarkable football
program, I encouraged visiting because he might be able to
start as a freshman, which was important to him. He had
mediocre grades and a 17 on the ACT and would have been
unable to attend any Division I or II institution, yet was told
by the coach that that wouldn’t be a problem. I called the
school and had a catalog sent to him. We met before he and
his mom went on the visit, that was to a neighboring state. It
was no surprise to me, although it was a shock to his mother
and him, that according to the catalog he would be required
to pay out-of-state tuition to the tune of $1,965 per semester.
They knew they couldn’t afford that amount; as a matter of
fact, the prospect could only afford to go to a school where a
financial aid package equaled nearly a full ride. The mom was