Understanding Divisions of Colleges

I've been seeing a lot about 'divisions' of colleges, like Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, etc. What exactly does that mean? How does it impact college life, especially as a potential student-athlete?

The terms "Division 1", "Division 2", and "Division 3" refer to classifications provided by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and they are primarily related to athletics. The essence of these divisions is the degree of emphasis given to sports within the institution's broad range of activities.

Division 1 (D1) schools have the largest athletic budgets, advanced sports facilities, and offer the most athletic scholarships. Being a D1 student-athlete is almost like having a full-time job, considering the time commitment it requires for practices, competitions, travel time, fitness training, and meeting with coaches. Examples of D1 schools are big-name universities like Stanford University, Duke University, and Ohio State University.

Division 2 (D2) operates at an intermediate level, with smaller athletic budgets, fewer scholarships (also offering partial scholarships unlike the full ride at D1 schools), and less media attention compared to D1. The balancing of athletics and academics might be a bit easier here as the rigors are less intense than D1. Examples of D2 schools include Grand Valley State University and University of Central Missouri.

Division 3 (D3) is the largest division and it includes many small private schools. D3 colleges do not offer athletic scholarships, hence, the focus is more on the academic achievement of students. Student-athletes often spend more time on academics than athletics and the sports season is shorter to make room for studying. Examples of D3 schools include Amherst College and the University of Chicago.

As a potential student-athlete, the division of your school can greatly impact your college experience; for example, the amount of time you spend on your sport, the level of competition, and the scholarships available could differ depending on the division. Hence, it's important to evaluate what you value most in your prospective college experience — an intense focus on sport, a balance between sport and academics, or a major focus on academics with sport as a minor commitment.