Gmtm Logo
SIGN UP
Gmtm Logo

Recruiting: How Division-III Recruitment Differs From Division-I

ByAria Modirmassihai

2 min read

Recruiting: How Division-III Recruitment Differs From Division-I

College sports range across a wide spectrum, from Baseball and Basketball, all the way to Bass Fishing and Squash. These sports are played on 3 different levels, Divisions I, II, and III.

Despite more media coverage going to Division I and II schools, most college athletes actually compete at the Division III level. Which means that for most recruits coming out of high school the recruitment process is a little different than how most of us think it is.

According to official NCAA records, there are exactly 351 Division I schools, 308 Division II schools, and 443 Division III schools. There are currently around 176,000 current Division I athletes, just over 118,000 Division II athletes, and just under 188,000 Division III athletes currently enrolled.

In addition to the 3 NCAA divisions, there is also the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics with more than 250 campuses and even more options at the junior college level for high school recruits. So no matter what level you decide to compete at, there will  be many options to choose from.

Right now, there are over a dozen Division-III schools using GMTM to find undiscovered athletes


Let's quickly break down the differences between a Division III school compared to a Division I or II school.

Division I schools have much larger student bodies and athletic budgets compared to their Division III counterparts. They give out more athletic scholarships every year as well. Division I schools also have more practice hours and travel across the country significantly more than Division III teams who focus more on local competition.

Both divisions are full of motivated student-athletes who  have spent years working on their craft and want to  take their talents to the next level while also receiving an education.

Division III recruitment is governed by a completely different set of rules than Division I. Division III schools are not required to uphold the strict NCAA guidelines that are placed on Division I programs. This allows for more freedom but can also limit some capabilities.

Division III schools are allowed to send athletes recruiting materials, such as brochures or invitations at any time, unlike Division I. DIII schools can also contact recruits via phone call or any other method at any time with no restrictions. DIII coaches can even begin engaging with athletes off-campus after their sophomore year of high school.

Athletes are allowed to officially visit as many DIII campuses as they would like starting their Junior year, but can only visit a campus once. Unofficial visits however are completely unrestricted. Division III schools are also given the right to determine minimum GPA requirements themselves, whereas both Division I and II schools are subject to NCAA minimum GPA requirements.


If you are interested in attending a DIII program it is important to be aware of the more relaxed recruiting rules. Athletes should begin communicating with coaches as early as possible to help maximize not only their options, but also their time to find the program that fits their needs the best.



Are you an Athlete?

Create a free profile to access the largest network specifically designed to connect athletes to opportunities. Get started.

RELATED ARTICLES
College Basketball: Four Coaches Who Could Switch Jobs After March Madness

College Basketball: Four Coaches Who Could Switch Jobs After March Madness

While the games from November through February certainly count in the standings, the tilts that...

ByAndrew Pistone | Wed Mar 15 2023
Name, Image, & Likeness: March Madness Offers Rare NIL Opportunities

Name, Image, & Likeness: March Madness Offers Rare NIL Opportunities

For college basketball fans around the country, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year....

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Mar 07 2023
When Values Clash: Tackling the Alignment Problem for Sports Organizations and Athletes

When Values Clash: Tackling the Alignment Problem for Sports Organizations and Athletes

More than a century ago, Teddy Roosevelt Jr's injury during an amateur football game resulted in...

ByJoey Grant | Thu Mar 02 2023
How Many Scholarships Does Each Collegiate Sport Offer?

How Many Scholarships Does Each Collegiate Sport Offer?

It's time to start applying for schools and begin your recruiting process. You have been working...

ByJohnathan Wright | Tue Feb 21 2023
Five Reasons Why College Basketball Coaches Rescind Scholarship Offers

Five Reasons Why College Basketball Coaches Rescind Scholarship Offers

It’s what you have dreamed of, worked for, and waited on your whole life - a coveted college...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Feb 13 2023
Sports Injuries and Insurance: Four Facts Parents & Recruits Should Know

Sports Injuries and Insurance: Four Facts Parents & Recruits Should Know

Injuries are a major part of athletics, and a high percentage of student-athletes competing in NCAA...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Feb 07 2023
New XFL Draft Picks use GMTM to be seen by coaches and fans

New XFL Draft Picks use GMTM to be seen by coaches and fans

In just under a month, the XFL will be taking yet another crack at creating a competing...

ByScotty Jenkins | Fri Jan 20 2023
Unlocking Billions: How World-Class Sports Organizations Manage Talent for Success

Unlocking Billions: How World-Class Sports Organizations Manage Talent for Success

What is the thing that has driven the $90 billion Sports industry? Talent Without talent, Sports...

ByJoey Grant | Thu Jan 19 2023
Recruiting Rankings: Should I Be Worried If I’m Not A Ranked Basketball Player?

Recruiting Rankings: Should I Be Worried If I’m Not A Ranked Basketball Player?

Getting ranked - it’s the ultimate goal and source of motivation for many basketball players across...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sun Dec 04 2022
How similar is the NCAA Transfer Portal to free agency in professional sports?

How similar is the NCAA Transfer Portal to free agency in professional sports?

The NCAA Transfer Portal is a great platform that is beneficial to student-athletes. It allows...

ByScotty Jenkins | Fri Dec 02 2022
"What Is A 5-Star Recruit?": Explaining how high school basketball prospect rankings work

"What Is A 5-Star Recruit?": Explaining how high school basketball prospect rankings work

High School basketball players like Bronny James are all over TV and social media nowadays, with...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Dec 01 2022
College Soccer: What is the difference between NCAA Division-I & NAIA?

College Soccer: What is the difference between NCAA Division-I & NAIA?

Many soccer athletes across the United States aspire to play their sport at the college level, and...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 26 2022
College Volleyball: What Is The Timeline For A High School Recruit

College Volleyball: What Is The Timeline For A High School Recruit

Playing volleyball at the collegiate level is almost every single player's dream as a young...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Nov 24 2022
Baseball Recruiting: Tips For How To Find A Showcase Team

Baseball Recruiting: Tips For How To Find A Showcase Team

It isn’t always easy to find a team that’s the right fit for you. It wasn’t easy for me. Some guys...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Nov 23 2022
How To Improve Your Golf Game With A New Workout Routine

How To Improve Your Golf Game With A New Workout Routine

The potency of preparedness in winning all battles, from the most ferocious to the most trivial of...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 22 2022
Which College Sports Mascots Are The Most Polarizing?

Which College Sports Mascots Are The Most Polarizing?

They’re one of the most crucial aspects to a college sports viewing experience. The players?...

ByAndrew Pistone | Mon Nov 21 2022
Five Ways To Boost Your Basketball Recruiting with Social Media

Five Ways To Boost Your Basketball Recruiting with Social Media

Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, GMTM, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook... Social media is a...

ByKeiwaine Hicks | Sat Nov 19 2022
Which High Schools In America Produce The Most Female College Athletes?

Which High Schools In America Produce The Most Female College Athletes?

It may come as no surprise to hear parents want what is best for their children. If parents have...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 15 2022
How To Play Division-I College Football: Four Requirements For Every Athlete

How To Play Division-I College Football: Four Requirements For Every Athlete

It is no secret that it is often a young football athlete's dream to play their favorite sport at...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Nov 14 2022
Is playing Division-II college sports worth it?

Is playing Division-II college sports worth it?

Being a Division II collegiate athlete was one of the best experiences of my entire life. Having...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 08 2022
Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Part two of some of the best division 1 college football game day traditions throughout the United...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

One of the best parts about college football are the traditions that have been around for decades....

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
Five major benefits of playing at a large high school for hopeful recruits

Five major benefits of playing at a large high school for hopeful recruits

Quality of Competition Large high schools tend to have bigger athletic departments and budgets....

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Nov 02 2022
Eight Football Athletes Using GMTM To Find Opportunities To Play

Eight Football Athletes Using GMTM To Find Opportunities To Play

There doesn't seem to be a clear start and finish to the football season anymore. In today’s day...

ByScotty Jenkins | Fri Oct 28 2022
College Volleyball Recruiting: How Athletes Can Get Ahead Before High School

College Volleyball Recruiting: How Athletes Can Get Ahead Before High School

The first step in getting recruited by a college volleyball team is to take advantage of the...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sun Oct 23 2022
Transfer Portal: Does Every Athlete Who Transfers Find A New College To Play For?

Transfer Portal: Does Every Athlete Who Transfers Find A New College To Play For?

On the 15th of October, 2018 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) introduced a...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Oct 19 2022
Will Universities And Gambling Platforms Ever Join Forces?

Will Universities And Gambling Platforms Ever Join Forces?

There’s an interesting dichotomy between sports and gambling. They’re natural partners, and...

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Oct 18 2022
The Four Best Quarterbacks Turned Wide Receivers in NFL History

The Four Best Quarterbacks Turned Wide Receivers in NFL History

Playing quarterback may be the toughest job in professional sports, with just thirty-two jobs in...

ByBryan Armetta | Sun Oct 16 2022
Three Tell-Tale Signs You Are Ready For College Sports

Three Tell-Tale Signs You Are Ready For College Sports

Plenty of high school athletes think they have what it takes to play sports in college. However,...

ByBryan Armetta | Thu Oct 13 2022
How Athletic Scholarships Work: A Quick Guide To Paying For College

How Athletic Scholarships Work: A Quick Guide To Paying For College

It is no secret that college is expensive, and as time goes on, the price continues to increase....

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Oct 11 2022
How to Handle College Media As a Mid-Major Athlete

How to Handle College Media As a Mid-Major Athlete

Generally speaking playing at a mid-major Division I school means not having to worry about seeing...

ByJamison White | Sun Oct 09 2022
Johnson V NCAA: The Next Case That Can ReShape the future of the NCAA

Johnson V NCAA: The Next Case That Can ReShape the future of the NCAA

By now we are all familiar with the Alston case that shifted the dynamics of college sports, as...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Oct 06 2022
Think you can play college football? Here’s what to expect in the recruiting process

Think you can play college football? Here’s what to expect in the recruiting process

Playing college football is a dream for many high schoolers but the recruiting process can be...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Oct 06 2022
How To Run Faster: Five Best Strength Training Workouts For Track Athletes

How To Run Faster: Five Best Strength Training Workouts For Track Athletes

In order to be successful in track, athletes should devote a considerable amount of time to lifting...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Oct 05 2022
Soccer Recruiting: What College Coaches Look For In High School Recruits

Soccer Recruiting: What College Coaches Look For In High School Recruits

Realistically, soccer coaches and managers look out for different things in soccer players during...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Sep 28 2022
Volleyball Recruiting: Nine Questions For Recruits To Ask Volleyball Coaches

Volleyball Recruiting: Nine Questions For Recruits To Ask Volleyball Coaches

Finding a good college, team, coach, and place to spend four years of your life is important and...

ByRebekah Morris | Mon Sep 26 2022
College Football: Five Stars Who Could Have Benefitted Most from NIL Ruling

College Football: Five Stars Who Could Have Benefitted Most from NIL Ruling

The NCAA's Division I Board of Directors announced a new...

ByBryan Armetta | Sat Sep 24 2022
College Sports: How To Pick The Right School To Attend

College Sports: How To Pick The Right School To Attend

Picking the right college can be a tough task for any high school senior, but it can be a unique...

ByAlexis Peltzer-Harding | Fri Sep 23 2022
Where Is The Sport Of Lacrosse Most Popular?

Where Is The Sport Of Lacrosse Most Popular?

Lacrosse has long been known as an east coast sport in the United States, but has seen growth...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Sep 22 2022
What Does Redshirt Mean? And The Reasons Why Players Do It?

What Does Redshirt Mean? And The Reasons Why Players Do It?

Any athlete with a love for competition hates sitting on the sideline, but once he or she gets to...

ByCorey Roepken | Mon Sep 19 2022
What Every College Athlete Should Know Before Freshman Year Starts

What Every College Athlete Should Know Before Freshman Year Starts

The shift from high school to college is a big one. Throw playing a collegiate sport in and it can...

ByLily Ford | Sun Sep 18 2022
College Basketball: What Is The NCAA Transfer Portal And How Does It Work

College Basketball: What Is The NCAA Transfer Portal And How Does It Work

With the ever-changing NCAA and college athletics scene, transfer athletes have become more and...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Sep 15 2022
The Positives of Playing Club Volleyball For College Recruits

The Positives of Playing Club Volleyball For College Recruits

Do you aspire to step into your next level as a collegiate volleyball player? Are you unsure if...

ByGrace White | Thu Sep 08 2022
Top Five Skills Every Defensive Back Prospect Needs to Develop

Top Five Skills Every Defensive Back Prospect Needs to Develop

Quarterbacks and offensive player command a lot of attention on recruiting websites, and rightfully...

ByJordan Rinard | Tue Sep 06 2022
How High School Recruits Can Use Twitter To Engage With College Coaches

How High School Recruits Can Use Twitter To Engage With College Coaches

National Signing Day is right around the corner (February 3, for the uninitiated), and now is good...

ByJordan Rinard | Mon Sep 05 2022
College Sports: What To Expect When You Arrive On Campus

College Sports: What To Expect When You Arrive On Campus

College is an exciting transition to go through for any student, athlete or not. And there is no...

ByJacob Rimmer | Thu Sep 01 2022
How Parents Can Help You Get Recruited To Play College Football

How Parents Can Help You Get Recruited To Play College Football

While performance and execution are a fundamental necessity for the child when it comes to getting...

ByDJ Cadden | Tue Aug 30 2022
Basketball Recruiting: Four Ways To Improve Your Chances Of Getting A Scholarship

Basketball Recruiting: Four Ways To Improve Your Chances Of Getting A Scholarship

College basketball recruiting is structured in a time-sensitive and fast-paced manner:...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Aug 29 2022
5 Tips To Help Get Recruited To Play College Soccer

5 Tips To Help Get Recruited To Play College Soccer

The college soccer recruiting process can be extremely competitive, and unfortunately, it does not...

ByJohnathan Wright | Mon Aug 29 2022
College Football: Three Transfer Portal Players to Watch in 2022

College Football: Three Transfer Portal Players to Watch in 2022

It's not even four years old, but it's hard to even remember what college football was like before...

ByBryan Armetta | Sun Aug 28 2022