NCAA Scholarships by Sport & Division – Post House v. NCAA
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The landmark House v. NCAA settlement, approved in 2025, is set to dramatically reshape Division I college athletics by allowing schools to fund scholarships for every rostered athlete, not just a limited number. But what does this mean for Divisions II and III?
Let’s break it down.
Division I – Big Changes Post-House Ruling
Division I schools that opt in to the settlement can now:
Fund scholarships for every rostered player, up to new roster caps (e.g., 105 for FBS football).
No longer be restricted by scholarship “head-count” or “equivalency” rules.
Participate in future revenue sharing, which could reach $20+ million per school annually.
Note: Only D-I programs are eligible for these changes. Divisions II and III are not included in the settlement.
In the table below, we break down the roster changes that will be made to every D1 sport for schools that do opt in.
Sport* | Current | New | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
Tumbling (W) | 14 | 55 | 41 |
Baseball (M) | 11.7 | 34 | 22.3 |
Basketball (M) | 13 | 15 | 2 |
Basketball (W) | 15 | 15 | 0 |
Beach volleyball (W) | 6 | 19 | 13 |
Cross country (M) | 5 | 17 | 12 |
Cross country (W) | 6 | 17 | 11 |
Field hockey (W) | 12 | 27 | 15 |
Football (M) | 85 | 105 | 20 |
Golf (M) | 4.5 | 9 | 4.5 |
Golf (W) | 6 | 9 | 3 |
Gymnastics (M) | 6.3 | 20 | 13.7 |
Gymnastics (W) | 12 | 20 | 8 |
Ice hockey (M) | 18 | 26 | 8 |
Ice hockey (W) | 18 | 26 | 8 |
Track (M) | 12.6 | 45 | 35.4 |
Track (W) | 18 | 45 | 27 |
Lacrosse (M) | 12.6 | 48 | 35.4 |
Lacrosse (W) | 12 | 38 | 26 |
Rowing (W) | 20 | 68 | 48 |
Soccer (M) | 9.9 | 28 | 18.1 |
Soccer (W) | 14 | 28 | 14 |
Softball (W) | 12 | 25 | 13 |
Stunt (M/W) | 14 | 65 | 51 |
Swim (M) | 9.9 | 30 | 20.1 |
Swim (W) | 14 | 30 | 16 |
Tennis (M) | 4.5 | 10 | 5.5 |
Tennis (W) | 8 | 10 | 2 |
Triathlon (W) | 6.5 | 14 | 7.5 |
Volleyball (M) | 4.5 | 18 | 13.5 |
Volleyball (W) | 12 | 18 | 6 |
Water polo (M) | 4.5 | 24 | 19.5 |
Water polo (W) | 8 | 24 | 16 |
Wrestling (M) | 9.9 | 30 | 20.1 |
Wrestling (W) | 10 | 30 | 20 |
Division II – Still Uses Equivalency Model
Division II offers partial athletic scholarships using the equivalency model — meaning coaches divide a set number of scholarships across their rosters.
Here’s what’s allowed in D-II:
Sport | D-II Scholarship Limit |
Football | 36 |
Men's Basketball | 10 |
Women's Basketball | 10 |
Baseball | 9 |
Men's Soccer | 9 |
Women's Soccer | 9.9 |
Women's Volleyball | 8 |
Men's Lacrosse | 10.8 |
Women's Lacrosse | 9.9 |
Track & Field/XC | 12.6 (combined) |
These are maximum team limits, not full-ride counts. Most athletes in D-II receive partial scholarships.
D-II Takeaway: The House ruling does not apply to D-II. Scholarship rules remain unchanged for now.
Division III – No Athletic Scholarships
Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships at all — and that hasn’t changed.
However:
Many D-III athletes receive academic or need-based aid.
D-III athletics are highly competitive, and over 80% of D-III student-athletes receive some form of institutional financial aid.
D-III Takeaway: No change post-House ruling. D-III maintains a strict separation between athletics and financial aid.
Conclusion:
Only D-I programs are affected by the House v. NCAA settlement — D-II and D-III remain under their existing scholarship models.
While D-I athletes may now see more full-ride offers and expanded access to financial support, D-II and D-III student-athletes should continue to focus on academic strength, athletic fit, and scholarship stacking.