D3 vs. D1 - What You Need to Know
In this post we compare the experience at the NCAA D1 and D3 levels to give you a closer look at what each offers.
Our Goal: Help you make an informed decision about what college to attend for both your sport and academics.
We spoke to a former D1 athlete who transferred to a D3 school & summarized his insights for you. Want to listen to our full interview with the athlete? Listen here.
Thinking about playing college sports?
Tons of high school athletes dream of playing at the next level, but few make it.
Out of the nearly eight million high school athletes in the United States, only ~6.6% or 530,000 end up playing their sport in one of the NCAA’s three divisions (D1, D2, or D3) (Source: NCAA Stats)
So when you set out to decide what level is right for you, think hard about all of your options and don’t rule out a level before you do your research.
We sat down with someone who has played at both the D1 and D3 level, Luke Chicone, to help you decipher which may be a better fit.
Luke started his college athletics career playing basketball at Youngstown State (D1) before transferring to John Carroll (D3) where he has earned All-American honors.
We hit him with a lightning round of D3 vs. D1 questions to determine where each level excels. Here’s what he had to say!
D3 vs. D1 Lightning Round ⚡️
Academics
"Division 3, no question." - Luke
We’re biased, but we tend to agree with Luke here. This isn’t to say that all D1 schools have bad academics (think Ivy’s & Patriot League), but more that the vast majority of D3’s give you more space to be a student alongside an athlete.
In our opinion, this is what’s really important. When you look at the current state of the P4 and NCAA D1 athletics, there really isn’t much emphasis on “student” anymore. Instead, NIL has given players the opportunity to earn money (long overdue), but that has caused the model to become more professional.
Want to learn more about top academic D3 schools? Check out our recent ranking of The Top 25 D3 Schools in 2025
Balance & Flexibility
"I had my graduation party… and then the day after, I was down at workouts the very next day, five days a week. So I didn't really have a summer after my senior year of high school… Whereas at D3, most of my team, including myself, had internships, worked 9 to 5, and then hit open gym and lift afterward.
Definitely more flexibility at the D3 level." - Luke
This one is easy and goes hand in hand with the academics question above. Plain and simple, playing your sport at a D3 school means you are more than an athlete.
You have space not only for your school work, but also any clubs, internships, or events that you want to pursue. Obviously when you are in-season you will have to be more selective, but as Luke points out you’ll have a chance to get valuable work experience that D1 athletes can’t get to prepare yourself for life after college.
Playing Time
"D1 is a little more talented, but people at the D3 level can really play… If you're a senior in high school looking to play more, then I think D3 would be the route." - Luke
Luke contributed some at Youngstown State, but has thrived at JCU earning NABC All-American Honors. When it comes to playing time, it is really hard to get on the court at the D1 level.
That is not to say you shouldn’t try if you have the opportunity, but to realize that if you want to play your sport you should likely look elsewhere.
Paying for School
"It all comes down to the type of person and student you are. Schools reward good grades and involvement in clubs. Try to expand yourself as a human being—colleges notice that." - Luke
This one is tough because D1’s are able to give out athletic scholarships. However, as we have covered extensively in this newsletter, there are a ton of options out there to help lower your effective tuition rate at D3 schools.
We’re building a page of resources on our website: d3-direct.com/scholarships
Check it out and let us know what you think!
Community & Relationships
"From a relationship standpoint, I have to say D3… We're already planning our golf trips for years to come."
We’ll let Luke’s testimony speak for itself here 🤷♂️
The Bottom Line
D1 gives out athletics scholarships, but the schedule can be a grind and you have less space for your studies & other interests. On the other hand, going D3 gives you sport + balance and sets you up for life after college.
Ultimately, pick the level that fits YOU best and you can always use the transfer portal to adjust like Luke did.