NAIA Basketball Scholarships

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics was formed in 1953 and includes nearly three hundred colleges and universities as active members. Member institutions that participate in men's and women's basketball are allowed to award a limited number of scholarships to their players.

  1. NAIA Division I

    • NAIA Division I institutions can award up to 11 full scholarships for players on their men's and women's basketball teams. This often means that almost every player on the team is receiving a full scholarship. Division I NAIA schools can pay for the majority of costs for their basketball players such as tuition, board, and housing.

    NAIA Division II

    • NAIA Division II institutions can offer a maximum of six full scholarships per team. Each full scholarship can be divided, so 12 players could each receive a half scholarship, for example. How well you play and how long you have been on the team will play a role in how much scholarship money you will receive from an NAIA Division II institution. Ultimately, the coach is responsible for deciding how much scholarship money each player will receive.

    Eligibility Rules

    • Unlike the NCAA, the NAIA does not have a clearinghouse that you must pass through in order to receive a basketball scholarship. In order to be eligible under NAIA rules, a basketball player must be a high school graduate and meet two of these three requirements: have an SAT of at least 860 or an ACT of at least 18; have a grade-point average of at least 2.0; finish in the top half of his or her high school class.