NCAA Division 1 (D1) schools are the best colleges for sports. Today, there are 365 D1 schools across 49 states in the U.S. These schools have more student-athletes and bigger athletic budgets than D2 and D3 colleges. They also offer some of the best scholarships for your student-athlete.
Players in D1 schools are competitive when it comes to scholarship money. They also go head-to-head with the most talented college athletes in the country. Is your student-athlete thinking about playing for a D1 college? They might need to consider several schools because of how competitive they are.
Sports scholarships are typically available at NCAA D1 schools with large athletic programs. Keep in mind that not all D1 programs offer scholarship money, though. It’s also important to remember that D1 coaches award scholarship money to players. This means your student-athlete should contact coaches at their favorite schools early and often.
Find out more about athletic scholarships at D1 colleges.
D1 sports are the most regulated by the NCAA. This includes regulations for D1 football teams, D1 basketball teams, and D1 baseball teams.
The NCAA has strict rules for the D1 recruiting process. These rules limit when and how often a D1 coach can reach out to potential players. But your student-athlete can talk with coaches as early and as much as they want if they contact a coach first.
The NCAA must also declare your D1 athlete eligible through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Learn more about D1 NCAA eligibility requirements for your student-athlete.
Unsure which D1 school is the best fit for your student-athlete? NCSA Power Rankings took an in-depth look at more than 300 NCAA D1 schools to help you narrow down the best D1 schools for student-athletes across the country.
There are 365 NCAA Division 1 colleges across 49 states in the U.S.
NCAA Division 1 schools typically have more student-athletes and bigger athletic budgets than D2 and D3 colleges. They also offer some of the best scholarships to student-athletes.
California, Texas, New York and Florida have the most Division 1 schools. California: 26, Texas: 25, New York: 22, and Florida: 12.