The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulates student athletics, including scholarship and eligibility requirements, at many North American academic institutions and conferences. Some colleges and universities are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). These schools are typically smaller than schools in the NCAA, but may also have the ability to offer financial aid in the sense of athletic scholarships.
Additional opportunities for intercollegiate athletic participation and scholarships are available at Junior Colleges across the nation. Junior College athletics is regulated by the National Junior College Athletic Association.