NAIA Basketball Schools: A Complete List (2023)

Men’s basketball athletes who want to play sports at the collegiate level have typically heard of the NCAA and its three division levels. However, many families often overlook another regulatory body—the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics. NAIA basketball colleges are in good company—not only is the NAIA the oldest college athletics governing body in the U.S., it’s also growing in popularity and size. Most men’s basketball programs at the NAIA level are made up of smaller, private colleges, though don’t let that deter you—student-athletes on NAIA basketball teams share similar experiences and levels of competition as those who compete at NCAA D3 basketball colleges. 

Perhaps the biggest draw of playing NAIA men’s basketball is that unlike their NCAA D3 counterparts, NAIA basketball colleges do offer athletic scholarships. Each year, NAIA basketball schools offer NAIA basketball scholarships at both the NAIA D1 and NAIA D2 levels. There are typically 11 scholarships per team allotted at the D1 level, while NAIA basketball teams at the D2 levels are given a maximum of 6 scholarships per team. NAIA basketball coaches can split up these scholarships any way they see fit—that means that while it’s possible for some elite athletes to receive full rides to NAIA basketball schools, it’s also likely that coaches will split up one scholarship among a few recruits.

Men’s basketball athletes interested in competing at the collegiate level shouldn’t limit their college lists to NCAA D1, D2 and D3 schools. Instead, they should also consider adding a few NAIA basketball schools to their target lists too. Not only are NAIA coaches more accessible to recruits than those who coach at the NCAA level—who must follow NCAA basketball recruiting rules and contact periods—they’re also allowed to communicate with potential recruits at any time in the recruiting process.

Men’s basketball recruits who have a high academic and athletic caliber, match NAIA basketball recruiting guidelines and want a similar experience to their NCAA D3 counterparts—with the bonus of a potential athletic scholarship—should look at our full list of NAIA basketball colleges below.

How many NAIA basketball schools are there?

Student-athletes who want to compete at some of the most selective academic levels should pursue opportunities at NAIA basketball schools. But just how many NAIA basketball schools are there? There are currently over 200 NAIA basketball colleges to explore—these 213 NAIA basketball teams are comprised of elite players both on and off the court. Potential recruits who want to secure a coveted roster spot at one of these top NAIA basketball schools should be prepared to work hard not only on developing their athletic skills but also their overall GPA and test scores.

When creating a target list of schools, it’s important to explore a complete list of NAIA basketball schools, consider NAIA basketball rankings and be prepared to size up the competition of NAIA basketball teams in terms of physical measurables, like height, and position-specific stats. It’s also essential to start communicating with coaches, as NAIA coaches can contact basketball recruits at any high-school grade level. For a complete list of NAIA basketball colleges, including their conference, location and NAIA division level, look at our NAIA basketball rankings and complete list of NAIA basketball schools below.

Men’s NAIA basketball rankings and top NAIA basketball schools

Here are the top NAIA basketball schools, according to the NCSA Power Rankings.

While the NCSA Power Rankings offer a good overview of top NAIA basketball schools, student-athletes who want to compete at NAIA basketball colleges shouldn’t limit their search to only the most elite schools who regularly appear at the top of the NAIA basketball rankings, but also explore opportunities at all of the 200+ NAIA basketball schools as well as the NCAA and junior college levels, too. When creating a target list, consider a school’s athletic and academic caliber—and whether they match your own athletic skills, physical measurables, and grades/test scores—along with your personal preferences, too.

Full list of NAIA men's basketball colleges

School

City and State

Type

Conference

Division

Pippa Passes, Kentucky

Private

River States Conference

NAIA

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Private

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

NAIA

Phoenix, Arizona

Private

Golden State Athletic Conference

NAIA

Little Rock, Arkansas

Private

NAIA – Associate Member

NAIA

Ave Maria, Florida

Private

Sun Conference

NAIA

Kansas City, Missouri

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Muskogee, Oklahoma

Private

Continental Athletic Conference (Independent)

NAIA

Baldwin City, Kansas

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Bellevue, Nebraska

Private

North Star Athletic Association

NAIA

Atchison, Kansas

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Mesa, Arizona

Private

California Pacific Conference

NAIA

Lindsborg, Kansas

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

North Newton, Kansas

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Mishawaka, Indiana

Private

Crossroads League

NAIA

McKenzie, Tennessee

Private

Mid-South Conference

NAIA

Blue Mountain, Mississippi

Private

Southern States Athletic Conference

NAIA

Bluefield, Virginia

Private

Apalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Owensboro, Kentucky

Private

River States Conference

NAIA

Mount Vernon, Georgia

Private

Southern States Athletic Conference

NAIA

Sioux City, Iowa

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

Dayton, Tennessee

Private

Appalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Eugene, Oregon

Private

Cascade Collegiate Conference

NAIA

Vallejo, California

Public

California Pacific Conference

NAIA

Whiting, Indiana

Private

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Campbellsville, Kentucky

Private

Mid-South Conference

NAIA

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Private

River States Conference

NAIA

Helena, Montana

Private

Frontier Conference

NAIA

Conway, Arkansas

Private

American Midwest Conference

NAIA

McPherson, Kansas

Private

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Fayette, Missouri

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Dubuque, Iowa

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Brunswick, Georgia

Public

Sun Conference

NAIA

Columbia, Missouri

Private

American Midwest Conference

NAIA

Columbia, South Carolina

Private

Appalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

Seward, Nebraska

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

Salem, Oregon

Private

Cascade Collegiate Conference

NAIA

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Private

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

NAIA

Paragould, Arkansas

Private

Continental Athletic Conference (Independent)

NAIA

Canton, Missouri

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Lebanon, Tennessee

Private

Mid-South Conference

NAIA

Madison, South Dakota

Public

North Star Athletic Association

NAIA

Mitchell, South Dakota

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

Dickinson, North Dakota

Public

North Star Athletic Association

NAIA

New Orleans, Louisiana

Private

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference

NAIA

Crete, Nebraska

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

Sioux Center, Iowa

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

La Grande, Oregon

Public

Frontier Conference

NAIA

Prescott, Arizona

Private

California Pacific Conference

NAIA

Springfield, Missouri

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Olympia, Washington

Public

Cascade Collegiate Conference

NAIA

Montgomery, Alabama

Private

Southern States Athletic Conference

NAIA

Boston, Massachusetts

Private

Continental Athletic Conference (Independent)

NAIA

Nashville, Tennessee

Private

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference

NAIA

Temple Terrace, Florida

Private

Continental Athletic Conference (Independent)

NAIA

Miami Gardens, Florida

Private

Sun Conference

NAIA

Henderson, Tennessee

Private

Mid-South Conference

NAIA

Wichita, Kansas

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Georgetown, Kentucky

Private

Mid-South Conference

NAIA

Goshen, Indiana

Private

Crossroads League

NAIA

Winona Lake, Indiana

Private

Crossroads League

NAIA

Lamoni, Iowa

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Des Moines, Iowa

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Hannibal, Missouri

Private

American Midwest Conference

NAIA

Saint Louis, Missouri

Public

American Midwest Conference

NAIA

Hastings, Nebraska

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

Fullerton, California

Private

Golden State Athletic Conference

NAIA

Huntington, Indiana

Private

Crossroads League

NAIA

Austin, Texas

Private

Red River Athletic Conference

NAIA

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Private

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

NAIA

Richmond, Indiana

Public

River States Conference

NAIA

Kokomo, Indiana

Public

River States Conference

NAIA

Gary, Indiana

Public

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

South Bend, Indiana

Public

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

New Albany, Indiana

Public

River States Conference

NAIA

Marion, Indiana

Private

Crossroads League

NAIA

Hawkins, Texas

Private

Red River Athletic Conference

NAIA

Siloam Springs, Arkansas

Private

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Knoxville, Tennessee

Private

Appalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Elgin, Illinois

Private

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Salina, Kansas

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

West Palm Beach, Florida

Public

The Sun Conference

NAIA

Grayson, Kentucky

Private

Apalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Riverside, California

Private

California Pacific Conference

NAIA

Langston, Oklahoma

Public

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Southfield, Michigan

Private

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

NAIA

Lewiston, Idaho

Public

Cascade Collegiate Conference

NAIA

San Dimas, California

Private

Golden State Athletic Conference

NAIA

Marietta, Georgia

Private

Southern States Athletic Conference

NAIA

Columbia, Kentucky

Private

Mid-South Conference

NAIA

Pineville, Louisiana

Private

Red River Athletic Conference

NAIA

Alexandria, Louisiana

Public

Red River Athletic Conference

NAIA

Shreveport, Louisiana

Public

Red River Athletic Conference

NAIA

Sylvania, Ohio

Private

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

NAIA

New Orleans, Louisiana

Private

Southern States Athletic Conference

NAIA

Batesville, Arkansas

Private

American Midwest Conference

NAIA

Livonia, Michigan

Private

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

NAIA

Indianapolis, Indiana

Private

Crossroads League

NAIA

Mayville, North Dakota

Public

North Star Athletic Association

NAIA

McPherson, Kansas

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Atherton, California

Private

Golden State Athletic Conference

NAIA

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Private

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Olathe, Kansas

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Macon, Georgia

Public

Southern States Athletic Conference

NAIA

Fremont, Nebraska

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

Midway, Kentucky

Private

River States Conference

NAIA

Milligan University, Tennessee

Private

Appalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Saint Louis, Missouri

Private

American Midwest Conference

NAIA

Marshall, Missouri

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Havre, Montana

Public

Frontier Conference

NAIA

Butte, Montana

Public

Frontier Conference

NAIA

Montreat, North Carolina

Private

Appalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Sioux City, Iowa

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

Sumter, South Carolina

Private

Continental Athletic Conference (Independent)

NAIA

Yankton, South Dakota

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Mount Vernon, Ohio

Private

Crossroads League

NAIA

Portland, Oregon

Private

Cascade Collegiate Conference

NAIA

Stafford, Texas

Private

Continental Athletic Conference (Independent)

NAIA

Espanola, New Mexico

Public

Continental Athletic Conference (Independent)

NAIA

Kirkland, Washington

Private

Cascade Collegiate Conference

NAIA

Orange City, Iowa

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

Oakland City, Indiana

Private

River States Conference

NAIA

Circleville, Ohio

Private

River States Conference

NAIA

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Private

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Goodwell, Oklahoma

Public

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Private

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Klamath Falls, Oregon

Public

Cascade Collegiate Conference

NAIA

Ottawa, Kansas

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Phoenix, Arizona

Private

Golden State Athletic Conference

NAIA

San Antonio, Texas

Private

Red River Athletic Conference

NAIA

Angwin, California

Private

California Pacific Conference

NAIA

Parkville, Missouri

Private

California Pacific Conference

NAIA

Dallas, Texas

Private

Red River Athletic Conference

NAIA

Peru, Nebraska

Public

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Private

River States Conference

NAIA

West Point, Georgia

Private

Apalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Waleska, Georgia

Private

Apalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Private

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

NAIA

Billings, Montana

Private

Frontier Conference

NAIA

Chicago, Illinois

Private

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Chicago, Illinois

Private

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Santee, California

Private

Golden State Athletic Conference

NAIA

Portsmouth, Ohio

Public

Mid-South Conference

NAIA

Adrian, Michigan

Private

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

NAIA

Redding, California

Private

California Pacific Conference

NAIA

Lakeland, Florida

Private

Sun Conference

NAIA

Ashland, Oregon

Public

Cascade Collegiate Conference

NAIA

New Orleans, Louisiana

Public

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference

NAIA

Waxahachie, Texas

Private

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Bethany, Oklahoma

Private

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Winfield, Kansas

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Spring Arbor, Michigan

Private

Crossroads League

NAIA

Davenport, Iowa

Private

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Laurinburg, North Carolina

Private

Apalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Miami, Florida

Private

The Sun Conference

NAIA

Sterling, Kansas

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Private

Southern States Athletic Conference

NAIA

Hillsboro, Kansas

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Talladega, Alabama

Private

Southern States Athletic Conference

NAIA

Upland, Indiana

Private

Crossroads League

NAIA

Athens, Tennessee

Private

Appalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Tyler, Texas

Private

Red River Athletic Conference

NAIA

Fort Worth, Texas

Private

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Caldwell, Idaho

Private

Cascade Collegiate Conference

NAIA

Santa Clarita, California

Private

Golden State Athletic Conference

NAIA

Thomasville, Georgia

Private

Sun Conference

NAIA

Tougaloo, Mississippi

Private

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference

NAIA

Palos Heights, Illinois

Private

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Cleveland, Georgia

Private

Appalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Barbourville, Kentucky

Private

Apalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA

Lancaster, California

Public

California Pacific Conference

NAIA

Merced, California

Public

California Pacific Conference

NAIA

Saint Louis, Missouri

Private

American Midwest Conference

NAIA

Jamestown, North Dakota

Private

Great Plains Athletic Conference

NAIA

Dearborn, Michigan

Public

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

NAIA

Mobile, Alabama

Private

Southern States Athletic Conference

NAIA

Dillon, Montana

Public

Frontier Conference

NAIA

Texas

Public

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Lima, Ohio

Private

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

NAIA

Pikeville, Kentucky

Private

Mid-South Conference

NAIA

Great Falls, Montana

Private

Frontier Conference

NAIA

Rio Grande, Ohio

Private

River States Conference

NAIA

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Private

Crossroads League

NAIA

San Marcos, California

Private

California Pacific Conference

NAIA

Leavenworth, Kansas

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Chickasha, Oklahoma

Public

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Joliet, Illinois

Private

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA

Williamsburg, Kentucky

Private

Mid-South Conference

NAIA

Hobbs, New Mexico

Private

Red River Athletic Conference

NAIA

Valley City, North Dakota

Public

North Star Athletic Association

NAIA

Costa Mesa, California

Private

Golden State Athletic Conference

NAIA

La Crosse, Wisconsin

Private

North Star Athletic Association

NAIA

Denmark, South Carolina

Private

Continental Athletic Conference (Independent)

NAIA

Forest City, Iowa

Private

North Star Athletic Conference

NAIA

Portland, Oregon

Private

Cascade Collegiate Conference

NAIA

Lake Wales, Florida

Private

The Sun Conference

NAIA

Takoma Park, Maryland

Private

Continental Athletic Conference (Independent)

NAIA

Plainview, Texas

Private

Sooner Athletic Conference

NAIA

Babson Park, Florida

Private

Sun Conference

NAIA

Beckley, West Virginia

Public

River States Conference

NAIA

Irvine, California

Private

California Pacific Conference

NAIA

Santa Barbara, California

Private

Golden State Athletic Conference

NAIA

Wilberforce, Ohio

Private

Mid-South Conference

NAIA

Marshall, Texas

Private

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference

NAIA

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Private

Southern States Athletic Conference

NAIA

Rocklin, California

Private

Golden State Athletic Conference

NAIA

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Private

Heart of America Athletic Conference

NAIA

Fulton, Missouri

Private

American Midwest Conference

NAIA

Walnut Ridge, Arkansas

Private

American Midwest Conference

NAIA

New Orleans, Louisiana

Private

Red River Athletic Conference

NAIA

York, Nebraska

Private

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

NAIA