About the NAIA

The association that would become the NAIA started in 1937 with the organization of a basketball tournament for small colleges. In 1940, tournament officials formally organized as the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB). In 1952, the addition of three other sports prompted a name change to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

The NAIA has always been a trailblazing organization – from racial integration to athletic opportunities for women. A strong focus on character development and academics is apparent in the organization’s programming and standards. The NAIA's legacy of innovation continues, with the development of the Champions of Character program, which teaches key values in sports.   NAIA academic standards require a minimum 2.0 G.P.A. on a 4.0 scale for all student-athletes. Our Champions of Character program, which was launched in 2000, addresses character issues more comprehensively than any other national program for youth.

Today, the Champions of Character program reaches 650,000 students in nearly 300 NAIA member colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. Hundreds of NAIA students are recognized each year as All-America Scholar-Athletes, and thousands more are recognized at the conference level. The NAIA offers 23 championships in 13 sports – and helps all students prepare to be champions in life.