The National College Athletic Association, or NCAA, was established in 1906 and serves as the athletics governing body for more than 1,280 colleges, universities, conferences and organizations. The national office is in Indianapolis, but the member colleges and universities develop the rules and guidelines for athletics eligibility and athletics competition for each of the three NCAA divisions. The NCAA is committed to the student-athlete and to governing competition in a fair, safe, inclusive and sportsmanlike manner.
The NCAA and intercollegiate athletics are committed to the best interests, education and athletics participation of student-athletes. It is a membership-led association of college and universities with athletics programs committed to:
- Protecting the best interests of student-athletes
- Ensuring a quality education for student-athletes
- Supporting athletics participation opportunities for student-athletes
Through the NCAA, member colleges consider any athletics problem that crosses regional or conference lines and has become national in character. The Association strives to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the educational program and the athlete as an integral part of the student body. The NCAA also stands for good conduct in intercollegiate athletics and serves as the colleges’ national athletics accrediting agency.
The NCAA has grown dramatically in the past 50 years, with more than 900 new members since 1950. Today, the NCAA serves more than 400,000 student-athletes by providing educational opportunities in the classroom and on the field and court that prepare them for future success in life and society.
The NCAA’s membership includes:
- 331 active Division I members
- 291 active Division II members
- 429 active Division III members
One of the differences among the three divisions is that colleges and universities in Divisions I and II may offer athletics scholarships, while Division III colleges and universities may not.
