NCAA vs. NAIA: Explaining the key differences
NCAA vs. NAIA: Explaining the key differences
LSU Shreveport won the NAIA National Championship Friday, 13-7 over Southeastern, the first national title for any sport in school history. The Pilots need their season at 59-0, the first undefeated season in collegiate baseball history.
The NAIA and NCAA are often confused, but they're separate organizations.
The main differences between the two governing bodies are their size, structure and goals. The NCAA, which is significantly larger, has over 1,100 member schools and around 500,000 student-athletes across three divisions — I, II and III. The NAIA is made up of 250 members with around 77,000 student-athletes with one division.
The NCAA, especially at the Division I level, emphasizes high-level competition with large budgets and world-class facilities. The NAIA schools don't have the same spending power.
However, NAIA schools can offer scholarships, much like a D-II college can. The NAIA also grants more flexibility when it comes to admission standards. The NCAA typically maintains stricter academic guidelines that aren't found at the NAIA level.
While both entities encourage fair and healthy competition among its student-athletes, the financial implications and talent levels are what separate the play of NCAA and NAIA institutions.
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