The very simple answer to this questions is that those are three different governing bodies who each run their own divisions. The NCAA is the oldest one of the three and also the one with the most amount of teams. The NCAA has three divisions, each with its own set of rules and its own scholarship limits. While teams are allowed to give out sports scholarships in division 1 and division 2, division 3 colleges are not allowed to give out any type of athletic scholarships. The NCAA also has its own set of rules for amateurism and to be academically eligible.
Just like the NCAA, the NAIA also has its own strict rules in order for athletes to be able to compete for one of its teams. Each athlete will have to register and be cleared by the NAIA eligibility center before they can compete or participate in team practice.
The NJCAA on the other hand is arguably the “least regulated“ of the three governing bodies. While there are still some rules here as well, you do not need to go through the same centralized process in order to gain eligibility. While the rules in each division are slightly different, the athletic level remains very high no matter what division and league you play in. Of course, at Sports & Study USA, we will guide you through this process and make sure you always know exactly what you need to do in order to be eligible and to get everything done prior to your arrival in the United States!