Do you want to run in college? If so, you will need to choose a division. 

There are three divisions (not including NAIA), each with pros and cons. Ultimately, the “best” option varies depending on individual needs. 

I asked a group of incoming freshmen why they chose Division 3 schools. Here are the top ten reasons they cited. 

Balance. 

Unsurprisingly, most athletes noted balance as a primary reason they chose a D3 college. For these athletes, “balance” mainly refers to the importance placed on academics and athletics. 

Athletes want a “healthy” balance between each aspect of their college experience to be successful in all areas. 

Many D3 programs have this balance due to the team culture and expectations of coaches. With no scholarships at the D3 level, athletes can choose their priorities, whether they are academics, athletics, or other extracurriculars like internships and study abroad.  

Sophia Reynolds chose Worcester Polytechnic Institute because she “wanted to go to school somewhere where academics and athletics were at least close in value, even though academics are always above athletics.” She noted that the coaches at many schools she visited didn’t seem to care about her academic aspirations.  

Coaches and teammates often decide if the team culture will prioritize academics. Parker Max noted that “at the D3 level, you are not just a runner: At every school I visited, the coaching staff stressed that you are there to learn first.” 

When asked “why D3,” Mackenzie Kelley summarized it well: “I get to have the college athlete experience without it consuming my whole experience.”  

The School. 

In Choose a College, Not a Division, I recommend finding a program where you will be successful regardless of division. Many of the athletes we asked listened to my advice. 

Whether it was the location of the college, the campus, or the academic programs offered, many athletes cited the specific school as a reason for going D3. 

Some athletes chose colleges near their hometowns so their families could watch them compete. Others enjoyed the atmosphere of the town and campus. 

Lucas LiaBraaten chose Hamline University because of the location. Being from the area, he views running for Hamline as an extension of his high school career. He thinks joining the MIAC conference will benefit him since he will continue competing against his past teammates. 

Luke Zanuck was impressed with every aspect of Williams College. He said, “The academics are top tier, the cross country program is probably one of the best in D3, and I loved the campus and vibe I got when I visited.” 

Generally, choosing a school that fits your specific needs—or vibe—as a student-athlete is more important than choosing a school based on division. 

Small School Size. 

Attending a small school has many benefits, including smaller class sizes and a stronger sense of community. Small colleges are a great choice for athletes for similar reasons. 

While D3 schools can be large, D1 schools tend to be larger. Many of the athletes we asked mentioned small school size as a top reason they chose D3 schools. 

Kyle Stengel chose William Peace University because it is “small but not too small.” He wants to focus on being a student-athlete in a smaller program with more one-on-one attention. He also believes that a small school creates an environment where students can be close to the community. 

Nicolo Caminiti was similarly attracted to the small school atmosphere. He said, “I really wanted to be in classrooms and not lecture halls, and be viewed as a student, not a number.” Ramapo College and the other D3 schools he visited emphasized this benefit. 

Smaller teams and class sizes ultimately result in a more individualized athletic and academic experience. If you are looking for a small school experience—D3 might be for you. 

Competition. 

Maybe you aren’t fast enough to attend a D1 or D2 school but want to run in college. Or maybe you are fast enough, but you want to compete at nationals. 

No matter what level you are running at, you can find a college team where you will be successful. 

Many athletes are drawn to D3 programs for the level of competition. You don’t have to be an elite athlete to travel or make it to nationals. 

This was the case for Chasen Hunt, who chose to go D3 for a chance to join the travel team and compete at nationals. Other than that, Hunt doesn’t think there are many differences between the divisions. 

For Parker Max, D3 is a chance to continue running. He admits he isn’t fast enough to run competitively at the D1 level, despite being contacted by a few D1 and D2 schools. He says, “D3 gives me a chance to compete that I probably wouldn't have otherwise.”

While Luke Zanuck could have run for a small D1 college, he chose not to. At Williams College, he will have the opportunity to train at a high level and compete beyond conference meets. He stated, “I didn’t want to go D1 just to go D1.” 

Team Culture. 

“Team culture” is thrown around a lot when talking about the differences between divisions, so it’s not surprising that many athletes pointed to team culture as a reason for going to D3 colleges. 

Division doesn’t necessarily determine the team culture. But, since you will likely see your team every day, it is important to find a place you feel like you belong. 

Do you like the size of the team? Do the athletes prioritize academics or athletics? Is it a healthy environment? 

For Sophia Reynolds, the WPI team was very welcoming. She said, “[the girls] went out of their way to talk to me and include me, and it felt like a group I would fit in with.” 

One part of fitting in for Reynolds was the team size. Since the WPI team is smaller, she felt she could connect more with her coach and teammates. 

Chasen Hunt had a similar experienced visiting the University of Lynchburg. Despite never meeting the guys before, he said, “it was like I had known them my whole life.” 

You don’t need love at first sight to join a team. But, if you dislike your teammates, you might be happier at a different school.   

The Coach. 

Athletes tend to perform better at the D1 level, but that doesn’t mean the coaches are better. Although, they are probably paid more. 

Often, the top high school athletes enter D1 programs, so it isn’t surprising that they compete at a higher level in college. 

Like most things, what makes a coach the “best” is specific to the individual. A high school track star running high mileage will need a different coach than an undertrained distance runner who doesn’t know what a GPS watch is. 

In my experience, three things make a good coach: open communication, mutual trust, and belief. I also dislike high-mileage mongers—maybe that’s just me. 

Finding a coach you will work well with is essential when choosing a college, and many of the athletes we asked said that the coaching staff was a top reason for choosing their colleges. 

Emma Mann will attend DePauw University this year, partially because of the coach. She said, “Coach Kori has also been patient with me and showed me through the recruiting process that he values me as an athlete, but even more, he values me as a person, and that makes all the difference!” 

D3 Culture.

It’s our mission to celebrate D3 athletes and redefine D3 culture, so I am excited that so many incoming first-year students chose to go to D3 colleges for this reason. 

As Katelyn tells us in “More than the Competition,” D3 teams create a sense of community that transcends the regional and national levels.

The lack of athletic scholarships is a significant draw for many athletes. Sophia Reynolds believes that scholarships can create problems when athletes stress about performance at all costs.

Reynolds values being on a team without the boundaries created between walk-ons and recruits. She says, “I just wanted to be a part of a team where all the athletes are driven on their own and on the team because they just want to run.” 

Similarly, Dan Anderson thinks that the athletes at UW Whitewater have “less of an ego” compared to the D1 schools he was looking at, and Gwyneth Young thinks that D3 has “tighter knit team cultures and less pressure for everyone to be against each other.” 

Jonah Block summed it up nicely: “The atmosphere of D3 seems super welcoming and fun overall.” 

D3 Glory. 

“Growing up, I heard countless stories from my parents about what it was like to be on a small, tight-knit D3 cross country team of runners who all loved running. It all sounded incredibly special.” These stories are part of why Parker Max and many others chose to go D3. 

Hearing first-hand about D3 culture and specific teams can help athletes choose the college they want to attend. This is what makes celebrating the glory days so important. 

Adrian Archer initially only looked at D1 schools. Concerned with the competition D3 schools could offer, he automatically crossed them off his list. Including Johns Hopkins—the college he wanted to attend. 

But, after seeing athletes like Jared Pangallozzi be successful and the division as a whole get faster, he reconsidered his conception of D3. Archer said, “Whether it was a friend already on the team, talking to the coaches, or hearing about pro runners who didn’t go D1 like David Ribich, they all convinced me on one thing: just have an open mind.” 

Archer advises future recruits: “Reach out to teams and don’t count them out automatically because of their division.”

Jude Helmes agrees that hearing about athletes succeeding in D3 is reassuring. Helmes notes, “Seeing D3 runners run sub-4 miles this year has shown me, and I think a lot of other runners, that the legends of people like Noah Droddy aren’t just legends: they’re becoming the norm. I saw from a lot of runners this year on the D3 scene that you can be a top American collegiate regardless of division.”

Opportunity to Improve. 

You don’t have to be a high school standout to compete in college sports. D3 creates a space for athletes of all levels to continue competing and improving.

Track and field is about improving, but it can often take a while to see improvement after transitioning to a college team. For this reason, many athletes value joining a team where they can develop at their own rate and gradually reach their potential. 

For some athletes, their potential eventually takes them to D1 teams, as Emily discusses in D3 to D1: Taking the Next Step. For others, it takes them to success on their own terms. 

Jude Helmes likes an underdog. After running in the shadow of the best in the state through high school, he decided he enjoyed showing up unknown and leaving an impression. He says, “I feel like running for a small school allows you to have all the resources you need to be fast while flying under the radar.” 

In this way, D3 programs allow athletes to compete with less pressure to perform. 

Emma Mann chose to go D3 due to the injuries and illnesses she had during her senior year. She believes running for DePauw will allow her to take time to recover and focus on her health. Even if she doesn’t compete in her first season, she says, “[running D3] allows me to continue the sport I love—happily and healthily!” 

Make an Impact. 

One of the most gratifying experiences of being on a college team is helping your team succeed at the conference, regional, or national level. 

For this reason, many athletes value the ability to make an impact early in their careers. Athletes often have this chance on D3 teams. 

James Snyder wants to help his team at Grinnell College succeed this year. He said, “I didn’t want to wait until junior or senior year to race in big meets. I want to make a positive impact right away.” 

Sierra Doody will be attending SUNY Geneseo in the fall. She said, “I wanted to be able to make an impact starting from freshman year, and I wanted to have the opportunity to race on a nationally ranked team.” 

Whether you want to fly under the radar or make an impact, there are many reasons to go D3. 

I’ll say it again for the people in the back. Running D3 is a valid first choice, not an alternative or last resort.