There are three major governing bodies for college basketball: the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics comprise four-year schools, and the National Junior College Athletic Association is for two-year schools. Each has its own rules setting limits on college basketball scholarships, but even within the governing bodies, there are separate limits with distinct rules for each division -- sometimes with differences for men's and women's basketball.
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division I teams have the most funding. These are the teams you see on TV during March Madness. Each is permitted 13 men's scholarships and 15 women's scholarships a year. Most Division I basketball scholarships are full rides, because the NCAA regards Division I basketball as a "head count" sport. A team member receiving any kind of institutional or athletic department aid is counted against the basketball team's head count limit, even if the player primarily was recruited to play another sport -- unless it's football. Even noninstitutional financial programs -- federal Pell Grants, for example -- cannot be used to give the athlete aid beyond what the NCAA defines as a full scholarship which includes tuition and fees, room and board including 21 meals a week, books and supplies; other permitted expenses related to attending the school, including medical care and insurance would also be included. For all NCAA schools, the cost of a "full" scholarship cannot exceed the amount listed in official school publications as the cost for attending the school.
NCAA Division II
NCAA Division II schools are allowed the equivalent of 10 full scholarships for both men's and women's teams. "Equivalent" means the scholarships can be split among team members. For example, one player might receive a full ride, but another scholarship may be split with one player receiving tuition, fees, books and supplies and another player getting the room and board along with ancillary permitted expenses portions. In Division II, if a player participates in more than one sport, the scholarship money can be split against the limits for each sport.
NCAA Division III
Athletic scholarships are not allowed in Division III. However, athletes can receive academic scholarships or need-based financial grants or loans as long as they meet the criteria used to give aid to other students. In addition, the school can direct the athletes toward outside financial aid for which they might qualify, including grants from federal and state programs.
NAIA Division I
Both men's and women's teams are allowed 11 scholarships, but athletes receiving academic or need-based grants from outside sources are not counted against the limit. Athletic scholarships can cover only tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board; partial scholarships are common.
NAIA Division II
The rules regarding scholarships are the same as those for NAIA Division I except each team is limited to six scholarships.
NJCAA Division I
Scholarships at the top junior college level can be full rides, with tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board included. However, schools can provide partial scholarships, too. The limit is 15 scholarships for both men's and women's teams.
NJCAA Division II
Men's and women's teams in Division II also get 15 scholarships, but room and board can't be included -- only tuition, fees and books.
NJCAA Division III
As with NCAA Division III, there are no athletic scholarships available for this group of two-year schools. Athletes can qualify for academic or need-based aid.
Scholarship Terms
Athletic scholarships are year-by-year. They are typically renewed each year, but a high school basketball player getting a scholarship offer is not guaranteed four years of aid.
Tags: NCAA Division, room board, tuition fees, books supplies, fees books