Student-athletes looking for an all-around college experience may very well find the school of their dreams at one of the many NCAA Division 3 field hockey colleges. With athletics being less demanding than at the NCAA Division 1 or Division 2 levels, there is plenty of time to take part in all a college campus has to offer. Joining clubs or even studying abroad for a semester are far more feasible at a D3 college. There are no athletic scholarships for Division 3 field hockey colleges, but there are other opportunities to lessen college costs through financial aid or academic grants.
At Division 3 field hockey colleges, coaches and potential recruits may begin to communicate on the phone from freshman year on. The caveat is the athlete has to call the coach but it allows both the athlete and recruiting coach to build a rapport. A longer process allows a field hockey athlete to observe the culture of a team, as well as use unofficial visits to get a feel for the student body/campus life.
There are 158 Division 3 field hockey teams, which makes this the largest number of programs in any division of the NCAA. These Division 3 field hockey colleges and their athletic programs differ immensely school by school, so doing research and building a list of target schools is a great first step in finding the right fit.
NCSA’s Power Rankings consider factors that go beyond team performance. The graduation rate is an important factor, as college is supposed to prepare a student-athlete for more than sports. Average cost after financial aid is particularly important to review for Division 3 field hockey colleges, since athletic scholarships are not available. NCSA creates these rankings to give a clear idea of what colleges have to offer beyond what happens on the field of competition. Below are the top D3 field hockey colleges:
The Division 3 Field Hockey NCAA rankings are based on performance on a national level.