The college landscape by Division
NCAA Division I
This division is comprised mostly of big schools that attract more media attention. They have the largest softball budgets and generally recruit players on a more national level. The NCAA allows a maximum of 12 full scholarships in Division I.
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NCAA Division II
This division is comprised mainly of medium size schools and recruit on a smaller scale. The NCAA allows a maximum of 7.2 full scholarships in Division II.
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NCAA Division III
These schools tend to recruit regionally but have some of the most prestigious academic schools in the country. D-III schools offer no softball scholarships though many offer generous academic and financial aid.
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NAIA
The NAIA is an association of nearly 300 mostly smaller schools that is separate from the NCAA. They are able to offer softball scholarships but the amounts vary.
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NJCAA
Consists of two-year programs representing three separate divisions (I, II and II). D-I schools may offer full grant in aids which include tuition, fees, room, board, books and course related material, D-II are limited to awarding tuition, fees and books and Division III institutions may provide no athletically related financial assistance. However, NJCAA colleges that do not offer athletic aid may choose to participate at the Division I or II level if they so desire.
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If you want the “typical college experience” of living in a dorm, cheering at football games, you should choose a 4 year school. What a junior college can offer is an economical way to attend college for two years then transfer to a 4 year school. The NJCAA does have a letter of intent program to commit athletes to scholarships but even if an athlete has signed with a junior college she can still accept a scholarship and attend a four year school.
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