D3 “Offers” Explained
(No, It’s Not an Athletic Scholarship)
👋 Hey future D3 student-athlete (and D3 parents),
So a coach just told you they’re “offering you a spot.”
Sounds exciting, right?
But here’s the truth: in Division III, that word can mean a lot of different things depending on the school.
So today we are breaking down what a D3 “offer” actually is (and what it isn’t), including insights from current D3 coaches.
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First, the Facts
D3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships.
None. Zero. Ever.
It's against NCAA rules for the D3 athletic team you’re being recruited by to give you money.
That means when a D3 coach says, “We want to offer you,” here’s what they actually mean:
🎯 “We’re interested in you. We’d like you to apply (likely in the early window). We’ll support your application with admissions — and maybe help you find academic or merit-based aid.”
We asked our followers on Twitter (X) what a D3 “offer” was and got some great responses - including from a number of college coaches [Read more here]. We’ll also add in some of the best ones below for additional context.
What D3 Coaches Can Offer
✅ Admissions support
At many schools, coaches have “slots” or “tips” — meaning they can boost your application with admissions, especially if you’re on the edge academically.
Coaches also have a limited number of “pre-reads” or “early reads” they can use to give the player an advanced notice on their admissibility.
Erin Reeves, who coaches tennis at Colby College in the NESCAC, shared this about her team’s offer process 👇
✅ Merit aid guidance
Coaches can flag scholarships or awards you might qualify for - but they cannot guarantee that you will get anything. Most D3 schools offer big merit money to strong students, athletes included, which is just one more reason to have as good of grades as possible.
✅ Rosters spots & role info
If they’re serious, they’ll be clear about how you fit, when you’d play, and what the program expects.
In our recent D3 Coach Q&A with Hamilton College’s Mahogany Green, we asked how recruits can get a better sense of this from their conversations with coaches.
She gave an example of the perfect question a recruit can ask - and how you can impress coaches in the process. In her opinion, when recruits do this, it makes her more likely to offer them.
What D3 Coaches Can’t Offer
❌ Athletic money
D3 recruiting doesn’t include scholarships tied to your athletics performance.
However, we thing this is actually an advantage of going D3.
Why?
In the event you get hurt and can’t play your sport anymore, your ability to pay for your education is not in jeopardy. We wrote more about this idea, as well as other comparisons between D3 & D1 in this post:
❌ Guaranteed admission
Even with coach support, you still have to meet the school’s standards — and apply on time.
Make sure you research each school’s application requirements as they are often slightly different at the D3 level.
Some coaches won’t even offer until recruits have a full understanding of what it will entail to go to their school.
❌ Official “letters of intent”
There’s no NLI (National Letter of Intent) in D3. Any commitment is verbal and non-binding.
This also gives you flexibility to decide where to go based on the best financial aid package and overall fit.
How to Handle a D3 “Offer”
Say thank you — and ask questions
What does “offer” mean at your school? What’s the admissions process? Will you support my application and financial aid process?
Request a financial aid estimate
Check if the school has a Net Price Calculator on their website to get a ballpark estimate. Then, ask the financial aid department if you could be eligible for merit aid. They will likely say that they need to see the results of your FAFSA application, which is just another reason to get that completed as soon as it opens in October.
Keep your options open
Until you get in — and see the numbers — it’s not a done deal.
This means don’t burn bridges and rule options out before you know a D3 school will admit you and the quoted tuition number fits your family’s budget.
Remember: You can use the financial aid package from one school to negotiate your effective rate of tuition down at your first choice school. Here’s a guide we wrote on how to successfully appeal for more financial aid.
Bottom Line
D3 “offers” are real — but they’re not about athletic money.
They’re about fit, opportunity, and a coach investing in your future - and if you receive one it means you’re very fortunate (as Coach Biancardi points out above)!
During your recruiting process, ask smart questions. Read between the lines of what a coach is telling you. And don’t give up because the financial aid number isn’t quite there the first time.
See you next week!
—D3Direct
Helping recruits replace guesswork with a game plan