Recruiting research
Data-driven recruiting research
Long-form research articles sourced from NCAA, NCES, and recruiting industry data, with sources listed for every claim.
Recruiting Data and Planning
Eligibility account timeline: register before senior-year pressure
Three checkpoints keep NCAA certification work visible before enrollment. Review the source, limits, and practical recruiting use of this benchmark.
Recruiting Data and Planning
Junior college recruiting path: eligibility and transfer planning
Three rule sets can affect a junior-college athlete’s next move. Review the source, limits, and practical recruiting use of this benchmark.
Recruiting Data and Planning
NAIA vs NCAA eligibility: two systems, two accounts
Athletes considering both associations may need two separate eligibility records. Review the source, limits, and practical recruiting use of this benchmark.
Recruiting Data and Planning
NCAA scholarship availability: awards are usually partial
NCAA schools award more than $3.6 billion in athletics scholarships each year. Review the source, limits, and practical recruiting use of this benchmark.
Recruiting Data and Planning
Recruiting list size benchmark: build beyond one dream school
A 20-school working list spreads recruiting risk across realistic options. Review the source, limits, and practical recruiting use of this benchmark.
Recruiting Data and Planning
Recruiting source quality: a five-level evidence check
A five-level source check keeps recruiting claims tied to evidence. Review the source, limits, and practical recruiting use of this benchmark.
Coach Outreach
How Many Coaches Do Signed Athletes Contact Before Committing?
Survey data shows signed athletes contact an average of 20 to 30 college coaches before committing. Here is how that breaks down by sport and division.
Tournament and Exposure Events
Recruiting Showcase Coach Attendance: What the Data Shows
ECNL Boys logged 3,000-plus college scout registrations in 2023-24. See what coach attendance data shows across soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and softball.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
D1 vs D3 Net Cost of Attendance: What Your Family Actually Pays After All Aid
D1 equivalency scholarships cover only 54% of COA on average. See what student-athletes pay at D1 vs D3 schools using NCES net price data and the 2025 settlement update.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
D3 Academic Aid vs D2 Equivalency Scholarships: What Your Family Actually Pays
NCES data shows private nonprofit net price averages $29,700, often lower than the $31,000-$33,000 families pay after a typical D2 partial athletic scholarship.
Recruiting Timelines
Early Commitment Statistics by Sport: What D1 Data Shows
50% of D1 lacrosse players had a verbal offer by their sophomore year. See the sport-by-sport breakdown from the NCAA's survey of 15,454 D1 athletes.
Eligibility and Compliance
NCAA Academic Eligibility Problems: How Many Student-Athletes Are Affected
1 in 3 U.S. high schools lack cleared NCAA Eligibility Center portal status. Here is what the data shows about academic eligibility problems and who bears the cost.