The NAIA, or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, sets the athletic rules for its 300+ member colleges and its 212 baseball programs. The NAIA is characterized by its smaller, close-knit campuses, competitive teams and well-rounded college experience for athletes. Also, a distinction from the NCAA is that there are no recruiting restrictions when it comes to coach and student-athlete communications. For student-athletes who want to study abroad, participate in extracurricular activities and enjoy a more traditional college experience, the NAIA might be a great fit.
Does the NAIA award baseball scholarships?
Yes. Unlike NCAA Division 3 schools, the NAIA does offer athletic scholarship opportunities. The amount of money athletes can receive as part of their NAIA baseball scholarship will depend on the school, coach, talent level and position. Each program is allowed to offer up to 12 scholarships, which is more than any other NCAA four-year school. NAIA schools also have other financial aid opportunities outside of athletic scholarships. Potential recruits should look into academic, merit and need-based scholarships to bring down the overall cost of tuition.
What is the Avista NAIA World Series?
Played in Lewiston, Idaho, the Avista NAIA World Series originated in 1957 and is the championship tournament of the NAIA. The double-elimination tournament has been held at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewsiton, Idaho since 2000. Westmont College won its first championship title in 2023.
NAIA baseball rankings
The NAIA polls ask baseball coaches across each conference to rank the top NAIA baseball programs. Below is a list of the top NAIA baseball colleges according to NCSA’s own Power Rankings.
- Dordt University
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- Oklahoma City University
- University of Michigan – Dearborn
- Marian University – Indiana
- Madonna University
- Northwestern College – Iowa
- Taylor University
- St. Ambrose University
- Southeastern University
Full list of NAIA baseball colleges
School
City and State
Type
Conference
Division
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Private
Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
NAIA
Phoenix, Arizona
Private
Golden State Athletic Conference
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
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
Whiting, Indiana
Private
Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
NAIA
Campbellsville, Kentucky
Private
Mid-South 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
Howell, Michigan
Private
Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
NAIA
Columbia, Missouri
Private
American Midwest 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
Cascade Collegiate Conference
NAIA
Prescott, Arizona
Private
California Pacific Conference
NAIA
Springfield, Missouri
Private
Heart of America Athletic Conference
NAIA
Montgomery, Alabama
Private
Southern States Athletic Conference
NAIA
Boston, Massachusetts
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
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Public
Continental Athletic Conference (Independent)
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
Kokomo, Indiana
Public
River States 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
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
Southfield, Michigan
Private
Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
NAIA
Lewiston, Idaho
Public
Cascade Collegiate 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
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
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
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
Parkville, Missouri
Private
California Pacific 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
Pasadena, California
Private
California Pacific Conference
NAIA
Waleska, Georgia
Private
Apalachian Athletic Conference
NAIA
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Private
Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic 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
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
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
Lima, Ohio
Private
Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
NAIA
Pikeville, Kentucky
Private
Mid-South 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
Lake Wales, Florida
Private
The Sun Conference
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
