When people talk about playing in the United States, almost everyone pictures NCAA Division I — packed arenas, full scholarships, TV coverage. But Division I is the narrowest, most competitive tip of a much bigger system. Understanding the whole map is what separates the athletes who email the right places from the ones who only dream about the wrong ones.
In Sportis data, most Brazilian volleyball players in the US are not in NCAA D1 — they are in the NAIA and at junior colleges (NJCAA). That is the real market for athletes from Brazil: what is called the mid-major level. This guide explains why, division by division.
Three associations, not one
The US does not have a single governing body. There are three major associations that run college sports, and each one has its own scholarship and eligibility rules:
- NCAA — the largest and best known. Split into three levels: Division I, II and III.
- NAIA — smaller schools, very open to international students. This is where the largest group of Brazilian athletes in our database plays.
- NJCAA — the junior colleges (two-year colleges). An entry point and a place to transfer from to the NCAA or NAIA later.
There is also the CCCAA (California community colleges), similar to the NJCAA but limited to that state. For most athletes from Brazil, the decision comes down to the NCAA, the NAIA and the NJCAA.
NCAA: D1, D2 and D3 — and the D3 catch
The three NCAA divisions do not differ only in level of play. The difference that matters most for your wallet is who can offer athletic scholarships:
- Division I — the most competitive level. Can offer athletic scholarships, including full ones. It is also the hardest to get into and has the fewest spots for international athletes without national-team experience.
- Division II — a partial scholarship model: few athletes get a full scholarship, but most get some athletic aid that is combined with academic scholarships. It is underused by athletes from Brazil and often offers great value for money.
- Division III — offers no athletic scholarships at all. Note: here aid comes only from academic merit or financial need. About 75% of D3 athletes receive some kind of aid — but never athletic.
NAIA: the most open door for athletes from Brazil
The NAIA brings together smaller schools and has historically been the most welcoming to international athletes. It can offer athletic scholarships under an equivalency model: each sport has a limit on aid per school, and the coach splits that total among the athletes however they choose.
Every first-time athlete must register with the NAIA Eligibility Center before they can play. For international students, registration costs US$ 170, and school transcripts must be sent in the original language and with a literal English translation (it does not need to be a sworn translation). Ideally, send everything at least two months before the semester starts.
Junior colleges (NJCAA): the springboard
Junior colleges are two-year colleges. They work as an on-ramp: the athlete plays two seasons, grows academically and athletically, and then transfers to a four-year university (NCAA or NAIA) to finish their degree. The NJCAA has no 'eligibility clock' and no age limit.
As in the NCAA, the scholarship depends on the junior college's division:
- NJCAA D1 — can offer a full scholarship: tuition, fees, books, room and board, and even transportation once a year.
- NJCAA D2 — partial scholarship covering tuition, fees and books — no room or board.
- NJCAA D3 — no athletic scholarships; only academic or need-based aid.
Summary: who offers scholarships, and at what level
| Division | Athletic scholarship? | Level | Access for athletes from Brazil |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D1 | Yes, up to full | Highest | Hard |
| NCAA D2 | Yes, partial | High | Good (underused) |
| NCAA D3 | No (academic only) | Varies | Through academic scholarships |
| NAIA | Yes, equivalency | Mid-major | Very good |
| NJCAA D1 | Yes, up to full | Entry/transfer | Very good |
| NJCAA D2 | Partial (no housing) | Entry/transfer | Good |
| NJCAA D3 | No | Entry | Limited |
Overview. Exact scholarship limits vary by sport, gender and year — confirm with each program.
What this means for you
Aiming only at NCAA D1 is the most common mistake — and the most costly in time. For most athletes from Brazil, the realistic path with the most scholarships available runs through the NAIA, NCAA D2 and the NJCAA. It is not a consolation prize: that is where the spots are, where schools are open to international students and, often, where the best real value for money is.
D3 is not off the table — just don't go in expecting an athletic scholarship. And junior college is not 'less': it is a legitimate springboard that many athletes use to reach D1 two years later, with fluent English and a playing record in the US.