What are your chances of acceptance?

Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Complete List of D3 Football Schools by State

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What’s Covered:

 

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%

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

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.

 



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.