NCAA Division 3 Baseball Schools
Delve into the division 3 baseball schools listed below for comprehensive information about their teams, coaches, achievements, admission requirements, expenses, and student demographics. Additionally, easily access recruiting forms, clinic/camp schedules, statistics, and additional resources!
Things to consider about Division 3 Baseball
The NCAA structure includes a division called D3, which is the lowest ranking of the three divisions. Despite this, D3 schools still offer fantastic chances for student-athletes to play baseball in college. If you haven’t had any luck with D1 or D2 programs, you should consider the option of playing for a Division 3 baseball team.
A lot of prospective student-athletes brush these schools off due to concerns about the level of play. The competition across the division is pretty solid and provides for a satisfactory experience as a student-athlete. Every division has its low performers, and Division 3 is no different. While these institutions are commonly known for their academics, many are still able to field a very competitive baseball team year in and year out.
Division 3 boasts the highest number of baseball schools in the NCAA, nearly 400 in total. Consequently, it offers the most number of available spots for freshman on the roster every year. However, players may have to alter their recruitment strategies at this level as D3 athletic programs usually have limited budgets. Instead of waiting for coaches to reach out, players must take the initiative to contact D3 programs themselves. Our observation reveals that players who adopt this approach often experience success. Additionally, D3 programs cannot offer athletic scholarships but make up for it through their academic aid packages.
Additionally, from a geographic standpoint, D3 baseball schools are primarily concentrated on the east coast. Half of the schools are located specifically in the northeast. The western portion of the US contains very few D3 programs, but players can expand their search to NAIA programs in that region.
From an overall student-athlete experience, D3 baseball players typically have more time and freedom to explore other activities outside of their sport. Other divisions tend to have a more rigorous schedule, which can hinder a player’s ability to experience the typical life of a college student.
A player’s chances of getting drafted out of a Division 3 program are pretty slim. In the 2019 draft, out of 1,217 total picks, only 10 were from Division 3 institutions. To provide a frame of reference, D1 schools were 686 of those picks, and 95 were from the Division 2 level. If you plan on attending a Division 3 baseball school with the end goal of getting drafted, just know that it can happen, but it’ll be a long shot.