The Division III experience provides for passionate participation in a competitive athletics environment, in which student-athletes push themselves to excellence and build upon their academic success with new challenges and life skills. Student-athletes are encouraged to pursue their passions and find their full potential through a comprehensive educational experience.
 
More than 200,000 student-athletes — equal to about 40% of all NCAA student-athletes — choose to pursue athletics alongside academics without the financial incentive of an athletics scholarship. Division III student-athletes still have equal opportunity and access as the general student body to financial aid based on merit and need, and about 80% receive some form of a grant or nonathletics scholarship.
 
In Division III, student-athletes make up the largest percentage of the general student body of any division. About 1 in 4 students on a Division III campus are also athletes. Division III student-athletes are subject to the same admission and academic standards, housing policies and support services as the general student body. Data shows that DIII student-athletes graduate at a rate approximately 5% higher than that of the general student body.
 
There is an intentional balance between academics and athletics for Division III student-athletes, who are encouraged to be active members on campus and participate in other co-curricular activities. Data shows that a quarter of Division III student-athletes will study abroad during their collegiate career; almost half have a job and work a median of eight hours per week; and approximately three-quarters do an internship or externship. Division III student-athletes also report significantly greater gains in time management when compared with the general student body, show greater involvement in volunteering and are more likely to report that they see themselves as part of the campus community.