What is the NAIA?
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body of athletics at smaller U.S. colleges and universities — about 235 member institutions with more than 83,000 student-athletes. It is the principal alternative college sports association to the NCAA.[1]
What does the NAIA govern?
The NAIA sets eligibility, competition and championship rules for its members and stages national championships across more than 25 sports. Its programs award athletic scholarships, and NAIA competition is a recognized pathway into professional and international sport.[1] [2]
When was the NAIA founded and where is it based?
The NAIA traces to 1937 and a national basketball tournament in Kansas City — the longest-running event in college basketball — and remains headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.[1] [3] It was the first college association to admit historically Black institutions and the first to sponsor both men's and women's national championships.[1]
How does the NAIA differ from the NCAA?
The NAIA serves smaller institutions with a lighter regulatory model and its own championships; competition level in several sports overlaps with NCAA Division II. For athletes — including many internationals — it offers scholarship-supported college competition and an established route to national teams and professional leagues.[1] [2]
References
- NAIA — About Us. Accessed August 2026.
- NAIA — Explore NAIA member schools. Accessed August 2026.
- NAIA — Kansas City, home of the NAIA national office. Accessed August 2026.