The American college system is extremely different to the UK’s. The American college system is very well broadcasted and financially high. Coaches will have set scholarship budgets depending on how big the college is. This is where the coaches will distribute the money where they see fit on what they need and also how good of a player they believe you are. Scholarships can vary from minimal contributions, to a full ride which includes full tuition, housing, meals and even money for books. Most student-athletes are offered a scholarship somewhere in between minimal to a full ride.

NCAA – Division 1 and 2 – Large public universities

NCAA – Division 3 – Usually small private college (Cannot provide athletic scholarship)

NAIA – Usually small private colleges

NJCAA – Community colleges

NCAA Division 1

• There’re a lot of rules and regulations on how many international players they’re allowed on the team.
• It is very difficult academically to play at this level. Your grades have to be above average.
• Division 1 is very physical; the play is very different. The players in the division have usually played at academies at a younger age but have been released and are ready to play at the next level.
• Many players go pro.

NCAA Division 2

• Lower academic barriers.
• Less rules and regulations.
• Can have more international players.
• Universities are usually a lot smaller. This means that you will be in smaller classes which makes it easier for learning.
• Many players go pro.

NCAA Division 3

• Can’t offer athletic scholarships but can offer academic scholarships.
• Universities can vary from small to big.
• Standard isn’t great.

NAIA

• The level of football in the NAIA is very similar to what you would get at NCAA Division 2.
• The university sizes are similar to NCAA Division 2. This means that you will be able to study in smaller environments which should help with your learning as you will be known to your teacher who can also help you as they’re not focused on hundreds of students at the same time.
• Not many rules and regulations regarding international players so many NAIA teams have a lot of players internationally which makes the style of football great and the standard fantastic.
• Many players go pro.

NJCAA

• NJCAA is a 2-year college.
• NJCAA Division 1 can offer you scholarships.
• NJCAA Division 3 can’t offer you athletic scholarships, however, there’re academic scholarships that you can apply for.
• NJCAA gives you the opportunity to showcase your talent to bigger universities in the 2 years that you’re there. This gives you a huge opportunity to go further within football and get a huge scholarship offer after 2 years.
• You can transfer after 1 year. However, you would need to get your main classes out of the way and have earned enough college credits to transfer.
• You need to earn an associate degree at the 2-year college before you’re eligible to play at a 4-year university. If your classes remain on track with no fails, you will be on track to graduate with an associate degree after 2 years.
• The level of football is usually the same as what you would get at the NAIA and NCAA Division 2 level.

No. You’re able to transfer once after you have committed. So, this could mean you don’t like your university or coach, or you believe you’re too good for the team you are at and even maybe you’re not getting too much playing time so want to go down a division or even move to a new team in the same division. However, if you move to a new university in the same division and conference you will have to sit out a year as that’s a rule and regulation of the NCAA.

Key tip for transferring universities – It becomes easier for universities to be interested in you if you’re performing on the pitch and also in the classroom.

The top NCAA universities play in front of huge crowds’ week in, week out. The record attendance for a game was 22,000 fans. This is astonishing! However, they average around 2,000 fans a game.

These universities get the most attention from scouts and professional clubs not only around America but around the world. However, on average attendances for universities, you’re looking at anywhere between 50-500 fans.

Usually, the best players go to Division 1 as that’s where the big crowds are at and what’s classed as the best division and which gets the most attention. Other divisions and leagues can be just as strong and can get just as much notice if you or your team is performing extremely well – however, on paper, Division 1 is the best division.

A lot of international players end up committing to universities in either Division 2 or NAIA because they have less rules and regulations and usually the universities are much cheaper so getting a scholarship at this level means a lot would be covered financially.

If you enter the draft before your graduation date, you will lose your eligibility to play at university level. It is a risk to take it, however, if you and your coach think that you’re ready to take that jump if it’s offered then it’s an opportunity which you should take with both hands, but your coach will give you the best advice on that.