A common question among young athletes considering college sports is the difference between the divisions. While Division 1 is often seen as the top tier in many sports around the world, this isn’t necessarily the case in college athletics. Universities that offer college sports must apply for affiliation with a specific division, and several factors—such as finances, location, and preferences—are taken into account when determining the division. Once a school chooses a division, its other sports teams usually compete in that same division. Being in NCAA Division 1 doesn’t automatically make a program superior. For example, a Division 1 soccer team isn’t inherently better than teams in Division 2, Division 3, or NAIA programs. Additionally, NAIA schools typically have tuition, food, and housing costs ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 annually, without scholarships. For more details, check out our page on Choosing a University.