NCAA Division III
Thank you for your interest in the American Southwest Conference and its member institutions. We are proud to be a member of the NCAA and Division III, and believe in a college education in which athletics are conducted as an integral part of the academic and cultural campus experience.
As a Division III member, our member institutions do not award financial aid or scholarships based on a student's athletic skill. While student-athletes at Division III colleges and universities receive no financial aid on the basis of athletic merit, substantial financial aid and academic merit scholarships are available to those who qualify.
Division III colleges and universities do not use a "letter-of-intent" or any form of a commitment letter in the recruitment of athletic program participants. Students should contact his or her Division III college or university regarding its policies on admission, financial aid, practice and competition.
Athletics in Division III is highly competitive. There are over 180,000 student-athletes at more than 450 Division III colleges and universities and each one is studying to earn a valuable college degree in preparation for the workplace while participating in the sport and other activities that he or she loves.
Several resources are available from the NCAA and its member institutions to assist in determining the best educational fit for the student-athlete. The ASC membership encourages students and parents to read materials and explore academic, athletic and campus life options that fit your goals for the future.
Incoming Freshmen -- NCAA Guide for College-Bound Student-Athletes (
2017-18)
NCAA Eligibility Center
The NCAA Eligibility Center registration process and a Division III option is available for use. The new Eligibility Center site provides two registration options for all prospective student-athletes (PSAs) considering intercollegiate athletics at any of the three NCAA divisions.
Division III or Undecided PSAs: Create a free profile page, or
Divisions I or II PSAs: Create a certification account.
Establishing a profile page with the Eligibility Center allows Division III PSAs to receive education and information on being an NCAA student-athlete during the recruiting process. The educational resource provides additional information about the two different accounts and explains which account a PSA should choose when registering with the EC. Registration also provides each PSA with an NCAA ID prior to enrollment at a member institution.
Click here for a general flyer with Division III information about Eligibility Center registration.
Click here for a direct link to the Eligibility Center registration page.
Questions to ask as you consider colleges
You may want to ask your prospective college admissions or coaching staff the following questions as you consider colleges. Remember, the ideal is to choose a college or university that will provide you with both the educational, student life and athletics opportunities you want.
- Is there a major course of study within my areas of interest?
- What are the requirements for graduation?
- How many students are in the department?
- What credentials do faculty members hold?
- What careers are graduates of the program pursuing?
- What academic support programs are available to students?
- Are there opportunities for internships, study abroad, lectures and seminars?
- What is a typical day for a student?
- What are the residence halls like? Are students required to live on-campus?
- How involved are students outside of their majors? What extracurricular activities could I get involved with?
- How much financial aid is available? What is typically included in a financial aid package?
- What are my opportunities for employment while I am a student?
- Under what circumstances would my financial aid package be reduced or canceled? Are there academic criteria tied to maintaining financial aid eligibility?