Laura Berlinsky-Schine March 28, 2021 8 Clubs and Organizations,College Lists

Complete List of D3 Football Schools by State

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Many students who are passionate about football dream of playing at the college level. For many of those who live and breathe their sport, the NCAA Division I (DI) is the goal. It’s an extremely competitive and selective division, however, as DI provides high visibility for those looking to pursue their sport professionally, as well as generous scholarship funding for a select few recruits each year.

But Division I isn’t the only option for talented student athletes. Division III (DIII) is another path. Though less competitive, DIII isn’t solely for those who can’t get recruited by DI or Division II (DII) schools; many student-athletes who prefer the balance of academic rigor with a competitive football career at the college level choose to play in DIII programs.

What Makes Division 3 Different?

DIII programs differ from DI and DII programs in a number of ways. For one, in DIII, eligibility requirements are up to the school itself, while the NCAA sets requirements for DI and DII athletes. Moreover, DIII schools don’t offer athletic scholarships, although a vast majority of participating students receive academic or need-based scholarships and aid.

There are also several differences when it comes to actually playing in each division. For a DI athlete, their sport is their life. DI players must be willing to commit weekends, off-seasons, vacations, and any other time away from the classroom to practicing and playing. DII, meanwhile, offers a bit more balance; student-athletes must still be very committed to the sport, but they will find it less demanding than DI.

For those who want to focus on academics and have athletics take a backseat to their education, DIII could be the answer. While student-athletes will still need to be committed to practicing and playing, they’re often more immersed in a much more varied collegiate experience than their DI and DII counterparts.

List of D3 Football Schools

School	Nickname	State	Acceptance Rate
Adrian College	Bulldogs	Adrian, MI	65%
Albion College	Britons	Albion, MI	68%
Albright College	Lions	Reading, PA	62%
Alfred State College	Pioneers	Alfred, NY	63%
Alfred University	Saxons	Alfred, NY	63%
Allegheny College	Gators	Meadville, PA	64%
Alma College	Scots	Alma, MI	64%
Alvernia University	Golden Wolves	Reading, PA	68%
Amherst College	Mammoths	Amherst, MA	13%
Anderson University	Ravens	Anderson, IN	65%
Anna Maria College	Amcats	Paxton, MA	74%
Augsburg University	Auggies	Minneapolis, MN	69%
Augustana College	Vikings	Rock Island, IL	64%
Aurora University	Spartans	Aurora, IL	81%
Austin College	Kangaroos	Sherman, TX	55%
Averett University	Cougars	Danville, VA	61%
Baldwin Wallace University	Yellow Jackets	Berea, OH	74%
Bates College	Bobcats	Lewiston, ME	18%
Becker College	Hawks	Leicester, MA	66%
Belhaven University	Blazers	Jackson, MS	52%
Beloit College	Buccaneers	Beloit, WI	56%
Benedictine College	Eagles	Lisle, IL	93%
Berry College	Vikings	Mount Berry, GA	66%
Bethany College	Bison	Bethany, WV	91%
Bethel University	Royals	Arden Hills, MN	71%
Birmingham-Southern College	Panthers	Birmingham, AL	54%
Bluffton University	Beavers	Bluffton, OH	42%
Bowdoin College	Polar Bears	Brunswick, ME	10%
Brevard College	Tornados	Brevard, NC	46%
Bridgewater State University	Bears	Bridgewater, MA	90%
Bridgewater College	Eagles	Bridgewater, VA	66%
The College at Brockport, State University of New York	Golden Eagles	Brockport, NY	53%
The College of New Jersey	Lions	Ewing, NJ	50%
The College of St. Scholastica	Saints	Duluth, MN	66%
College of Wooster	Scots	Wooster, OH	54%
Buena Vista University	Beavers	Storm Lake, IA	57%
Buffalo State College	Bengals	Buffalo, NY	67%
California Lutheran University	Kingsmen	Thousand Oaks, CA	71%
Capital University	Crusaders	Columbus, OH	73%
Carleton College	Knights	Northfield, MN	20%
Carnegie Mellon University	Tartans	Pittsburgh, PA	17%
Carroll University	Pioneers	Waukesha, WI	69%
Carthage College	Red Men	Kenosha, WI	68%
Case Western Reserve University	Spartans	Cleveland, OH	29%
Castleton University	Spartans	Castleton, VT	85%
Catholic University	Cardinals	Washington, DC	84%
Central College	Dutch	Pella, IA	79%
Centre College	Colonels	Danville, KY	73%
Chapman University	Panthers	Orange, CA	54%
Christopher Newport University	Captains	Newport News, VA	68%
Claremont Colleges (Claremont Mudd Scripps)	Stags	Claremont, CA	9% (Claremont McKenna)
Coast Guard Academy	Bears	New London, CT	19%
Coe College	Kohawks	Cedar Rapids, IA	67%
Colby College	Mules	Waterville, ME	13%
Concordia University	Falcons	Mequon, WI	65%
Concordia University Chicago	Cougars	River Forest, IL	76%
Concordia College	Cobbers	Moorhead, MN	61%
Cornell College	Rams	Mount Vernon, IA	61%
Crown College	Storm	St. Bonifacius, MN	55%
Curry College	Colonels	Milton, MA	93%
Dean College	Bulldogs	Franklin, MA	83%
Defiance University	Yellow Jackets	Defiance, OH	52%
Delaware Valley University	Aggies	Doylestown, PA	66%
Denison University	Big Red	Granville, OH	34%
DePauw University	Tigers	Greencastle, IN	63%
Dickinson College	Red Devils	Carlisle, PA	49%
University of Dubuque	Spartans	Dubuque, IA	73%
East Texas Baptist University	Tigers	Marshall, TX	54%
Elmhurst University	Bluejays	Elmhurst, IL	68%
Emory and Henry College	Wasps	Emory, VA	70%
Endicott College	Gulls	Beverly, MA	80%
Eureka College	Red Devils	Eureka, IL	57%
Fairleigh Dickinson University	Devils	Madison, NJ	89%
Ferrum College	Panthers	Ferrum, VA	75%
Finlandia University	Lions	Hancock, MI	32%
Fitchburg State University	Falcons	Fitchburg, MA	87%
Framingham State University	Rams	Framingham, MA	73%
Franklin and Marshall College	Diplomats	Lancaster, PA	35%
Franklin College	Grizzlies	Franklin, IN	75%
Gallaudet University	Bison	Washington, DC	57%
Geneva College	Golden Tornadoes	Beaver Falls, PA	63%
George Fox University	Bruins	Newberg, OR	82%
Gettysburg College	Bullets	Gettysburg, PA	45%
Greensboro College	Pride	Greensboro, NC	44%
Greenville University	Panthers	Greenville, IL	48%
Grinnell College	Pioneers	Grinnell, IA	24%
Grove City College	Wolverines	Grove City, PA	79%
Guilford College	Quakers	Greensboro, NC	64%
Gustavus Adolphus College	Gusties	St. Peter, MN	66%
Hamilton College	Continentals	Clinton, NY	21%
Hamline University	Pipers	St. Paul, MN	67%
Hampden-Sydney College	Tigers	Hampden-Sydney, VA	59%
Hanover College	Panthers	Hanover, IN	79%
Hardin-Simmons University	Cowboys	Abilene, TX	84%
Hartwick College	Hawks	Oneonta, NY	83%
Heidelberg University	Student Princes	Tiffin, OH	73%
Hendrix College	Warriors	Conway, AR	72%
Hiram College	Terriers	Hiram, OH	58%
Hobart and William Smith Colleges	Statesmen	Geneva, NY	57%
Hope College	Flying Dutchmen	Holland, MI	76%
Howard Payne University	Yellow Jackets	Brownwood, TX	58%
Huntingdon College	Hawks	Montgomery, AL	58%
Husson University	Eagles	Bangor, ME	83%
Illinois College	Blueboys	Jacksonville, IL	76%
Illinois Wesleyan University	Titans	Bloomington, IL	59%
Iowa Wesleyan University	Tigers	Mount Pleasant, IL	58%
Ithaca College	Bombers	Ithaca, NY	69%
John Carroll University	Blue Streaks	University Heights, OH	83%
Johns Hopkins University	Blue Jays	Baltimore, MD	11%
Juniata College	Eagles	Huntingdon, PA	70%
Kalamazoo College	Hornets	Kalamazoo, MI	73%
Kean University	Cougars	Union, NJ	86%
Kenyon College	Lords	Gambier, OH	36%
Keystone College	Giants	La Plume, PA	71%
Kings College	Monarchs	Wilkes-Barre, PA	81%
Knox College	Prairie Fire	Galesburg, IL	74%
LaGrange College	Panthers	LaGrange, GA	48%
Lake Forest College	Foresters	Lake Forest, IL	58%
Lakeland University	Muskies	Sheboygan, WI	52%
Lawrence University	Vikings	Appleton, WI	62%
Lebanon Valley College	Flying Dutchmen	Annville, PA	78%
Lewis and Clark College	Pioneers	Portland, OR	74%
Linfield College	McMinnville, OR	Wildcats	81%
Loras College	Duhawks	Dubuque, IA	93%
Louisiana College	Wildcats	Pineville, LA	78%
Luther College	Norse	Decorah, IA	63%
Lycoming College	Warriors	Williamsport, PA	66%
Macalester College	Scots	St. Paul, MN	41%
Maine Maritime Academy	Mariners	Castine, ME	55%
Manchester University	Spartans	N. Manchester, IN	59%
Marietta College	Pioneers	Marietta, OH	69%
Martin Luther College	Knights	New Ulm, MN	89%
Maryville College	Scots	Maryville, TN	55%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Engineers	Cambridge, MA	7%
Massachusetts Maritime Academy	Buccaneers	Buzzards Bay, MA	89%
McDaniel College	Green Terror	Westminster, MD	64%
McMurry College	War Hawks	Abilene, TX	41%
Methodist University	Monarchs	Fayetteville, NC	55%
Middlebury College	Panthers	Middlebury, VT	17%
Millikin University	Big Blue	Decatur, IL	61%
Millsaps College	Majors	Jackson, MS	59%
Misericordia University	Cougars	Dallas, PA	83%
Monmouth College	Scots	Monmouth, IL	69%
Montclair State University	Red Hawks	Upper Montclair, NJ	71%
Moravian College	Greyhounds	Bethlehem, PA	73%
Morrisville State College	Mustangs	Morrisville, NY	72%
Mount St. Joseph University	Lions	Cincinnati, OH	60%
Muhlenberg College	Mules	Allentown, PA	62%
Muskingum University	Muskies	New Concord, OH	72%
Nebraska Wesleyan University	Prairie Wolves	Lincoln, NE	72%
Nichols College	Bison	Dudley, MA	82%
North Carolina Wesleyan College	Battling Bishops	Rocky Mount, NC	63%
North Central College	Cardinals	Naperville, IL	56%
North Park University	Vikings	Chicago, IL	47%
Norwich University	Cadet	Northfield, VT	66%
Oberlin College	Yeomen	Oberlin, OH	36%
Occidental College	Tigers	Los Angeles, CA	37%
Ohio Northern University	Polar Bears	Ada, OH	68%
Ohio Wesleyan University	Battling Bishops	Delaware, OH	69%
Olivet College	Comets	Olivet, MI	71%
Otterbein University	Cardinals	Westerville, OH	81%
Pacific Lutheran University	Lutes	Tacoma, WA	80%
Pacific University	Boxers	Forest Grove, OR	85%
Plymouth State University	Panthers	Plymouth, NH	82%
Pomona-Pitzer	Sagehens	Claremont, CA	8% (Pomona)
Randolph-Macon College	Yellow Jackets	Ashland, VA	67%
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Engineers	Troy, NY	43%
Rhodes College	Lynx	Memphis, TN	45%
Ripon College	Red Hawks	Ripon, WI	69%
Rockford University	Regents	Rockford, IL	49%
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	Engineers	Terre Haute, IN	68%
Rowan University	Profs	Glassboro, NJ	73%
Salisbury University	Sea Gulls	Salisbury, MD	62%
Salve Regina University	Seahawks	Newport, RI	76%
Sewanee: The University of the South	Tigers	Sewanee, TN	65%
Shenandoah University	Hornets	Winchester, VA	70%
Simpson College	Storm	Indianola, IA	84%
Southern Virginia University	Knights	Buena Vista, VA	69%
Southwestern University	Pirates	Georgetown, TX	45%
Springfield College	Pride	Springfield, MA	63%
St. John Fisher College	Cardinals	Pittsford, NY	64%
St. John’s University	Johnnies	Collegeville, MN	73%
St. Lawrence University	Saints	Canton, NY	46%
St. Norbert College	Green Knights	De Pere, WI	78%
St. Olaf College	Oles	Northfield, MN	50%
Saint Vincent College	Bearcats	Latrobe, PA	68%
The State University of New York College at Cortland	Red Dragons	Cortland, NY	44%
Stevenson University	Mustangs	Stevenson, MD	73%
Sul Ross State University	Lobos	Alpine, TX	99%
SUNY-Maritime	Privateers	Throggs Neck, NY	72%
Susquehanna University	River Hawks	Selinsgrove, PA	85%
Texas Lutheran University	Bulldogs	Seguin, TX	54%
Thiel College	Tomcats	Greenville, PA	76%
Trine University	Thunder	Angola, IN	73%
Trinity College	Bantams	Hartford, CT	34%
Trinity University	Tigers	San Antonio, TX	34%
Tufts University	Jumbos	Medford, MA	15%
United States Merchant Marine Academy	Mariners	Kings Point, NY	22%
University of Chicago	Maroons	Chicago, IL	7%
University of La Verne	Leopards	La Verne, CA	51%
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor	Crusaders	Belton, TX	87%
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	Corsairs	North Dartmouth, MA	78%
University of Minnesota, Morris	Cougars	Morris, MN	63%
University of Mount Union	Purple Raiders	Alliance, OH	96%
University of New England	Nor’easters	Biddeford, ME	80%
University of Northwestern	Eagles	Roseville, MN	93%
University of Puget Sound	Loggers	Tacoma, WA	88%
University of Redlands	Bulldogs	Redlands, CA	75%
University of Rochester	Yellowjackets	Rochester, NY	29%
University of St. Thomas	Tommies	St. Paul, MN	80%
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire	Blugolds	Eau Claire, WI	78%
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	Eagles	La Crosse, WI	71%
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh	Titans	Oshkosh, WI	71%
University of Wisconsin-Plateville	Pioneers	Platteville, WI	82%
University of Wisconsin-River Falls	Falcons	River Falls, WI	75%
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point	Pointers	Stevens Point, WI	83%
University of Wisconsin-Stout	Blue Devils	Menomonie, WI	90%
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	Warhawks	Whitwater, WI	76%
Union College	Dutchmen	Schenectady, NY	39%
Ursinus College	Bears	Collegeville, PA	71%
Utica College	Pioneers	Utica, NY	84%
Wabash College	Little Giants	Crawfordsville, IN	65%
Wartburg College	Knights	Waverly, IA	76%
Washington and Jefferson College	Presidents	Washington, PA	82%
Washington and Lee University	Generals	Lexington, VA	21%
Washington University in St. Louis	Bears	St. Louis, MO	15%
Waynesburg University	Yellow Jacket	Waynesburg, PA	91%
Wesley College	Wolverines	Dover, DE	62%
Wesleyan University	Cardinals	Middletown, CT	17%
Western Connecticut State University	Colonials	Danbury, CT	79%
Western New England University	Golden Bears	Springfield, MA	85%
Westfield State University	Owls	Westfield, MA	86%
Westminster College	Blue Jays	Fulton, MO	94%
Westminster College	Titans	New Wilmington, PA	66%
Wheaton College	Thunder	Wheaton, IL	83%
Whittier College	Poets	Whittier, CA	76%
Whitworth University	Pirates	Spokane, WA	91%
Widener University	Pride	Chester, PA	69%
Wilkes University	Colonels	Wilkes-Barre, PA	75%
Willamette University	Bearcats	Salem, OR	84%
William Paterson University	Pioneers	Wayne, NJ	93%
Williams College	Ephs	Williamstown, MA	13%
Wilmington College	Quakers	Wilmington, OH	85%
Wisconsin Lutheran College	Warriors	Milwaukee, WI	80%
Wittenberg University	Tigers	Springfield, OH	74%
Worcester State University	Lancers	Worcester, MA	78%
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	Engineers	Worcester, MA	42%

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How to Get Recruited to Play D3 Football

Unlike DI and DII coaches, DIII coaches don’t have to follow specific rules about when and how they can contact recruits, except in-person. Typically, however, they’ll begin reaching out in the recruit’s junior year of high school. There’s also no limit on when and how frequently students can receive recruiting materials, calls, emails, and other communications. However, coaches may not initiate off-campus in-person contact, such as high school visits, until after sophomore year.

In the meantime, you should be initiating contact and demonstrating your interest in the college and playing for the team. You should be reaching out to coaches and working on your own branding and self-promotion by emphasizing your highlights and achievements. Moreover, if you receive any type of communication from a coach, respond with enthusiasm if that school interests you!

You should also bear in mind that your grades will need to be high when applying to top-tier DIII schools, even if you’re being recruited. Many selective schools use the Admissions Index (AI) to weed out academically unqualified candidates even before considering other qualifications. However, coaches may be permitted to accept a certain number of recruits who fall below that threshold, depending on the school and football program.

You’re allowed to accept official visit invitations from coaches after January 1st of your junior year of high school, but you can visit “unofficially” at any point. During these visits, you should be evaluating more than the football program— consider the student body, academic programs, campus life, and additional opportunities.

After submitting your application, you may receive a “likely letter,” indicating that you will almost definitely be accepted. Likely letters aren’t limited to athletic recruits, but they are still part of the recruiting process because they’re meant to drum up enthusiasm for the school and encourage the student to attend. Don’t be concerned if you don’t receive one—colleges only send a certain number of likely letters, and you could very well still be admitted.

After you’ve received an offer of admission, the school might ask you to sign a non-binding celebratory signing form, indicating your commitment to the college. Colleges may not publicize this until they’ve received a financial deposit.

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

Will you be recruited to play football? What are your chances of getting into a top-tier school? Find out with our chancing engine. This free tool will estimate your odds of admission to hundreds of colleges and universities across the county based on your real statistics and profile, plus give you free tips on how to improve your chances.

Laura Berlinsky-Schine

Senior Blogger

Short Bio

Laura Berlinsky-Schine is a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn with her demigod/lab mix Hercules. She specializes in education, technology and career development. She also writes satire and humor, which has appeared in Slackjaw, Points in Case, Little Old Lady Comedy, Jane Austen’s Wastebasket, and Funny-ish. View her work and get in touch at: www.lauraberlinskyschine.com.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance

16%

27%

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars

Complete List of D3 Football Schools by State

Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications?

What’s Covered:

What Makes Division 3 Different?

List of D3 Football Schools

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

How to Get Recruited to Play D3 Football

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance

16%

27%

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars

Complete List of D3 Football Schools by State

Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications?

What’s Covered:

What Makes Division 3 Different?

List of D3 Football Schools

How to Get Recruited to Play D3 Football

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

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