Division I (Tier 1)

Height:

  • Range – 5’0′-5’10’
  • Average – 5’6′

High School Qualifications:

  • #1 Singles, #1 Doubles
  • 4 Years Varsity
  • Awards such as All-County/Conference/Region/State, MVP, Player of the Year,
  • State Champion

USTA & ITA/ITF Qualifications:

  • Zonal Team Experience
  • USTA Sectional Rank – Top 30 in Tier 1 Section, Top 15 in Tier 2 Section

The following rankings are in no particular order (based on the number of participants in the Top 100 USTA National 18’s):

Tier 1 Sections:

  • Florida
  • Southern
  • Southern California
  • Midwest
  • Texas
  • Eastern
  • Northern California

Tier 2 Sections:

  • Mid-Atlantic
  • Middle States
  • New England
  • Missouri Valley
  • Northern
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Intermountain
  • Southwest
  • Caribbean (Puerto Rico)
  • Hawaii Pacific

USTA National Rank – Top 100
ITF – Top 200
Attend National Level Tournaments: National Open, Section Closed, etc.

Tennisrecruiting.net Qualifications:

  • Minimum 4 star recruit, preferred 5 star +
  • National Ranking 250 or below

Private Training Qualifications:

  • Extensive experience & training

For example, attended one of the following Academies:

  • Evert Tennis Academy – FL
  • Saddlebrook Academy – FL
  • Bolletierri Academy – FL, PA
  • John Newcombe Tennis Academy – TX
  • ITA International Tennis Academy Camp – FL
  • Rick Macci Tennis Academy – FL
  • Windward Academy – GA

Division I (Tier 2)

Height:

  • Range – 5’0′-5’10’
  • Average – 5’6′

High School Qualifications:

  • #1 Singles, #1 Doubles
  • 4 Years Varsity
  • Awards such at All-County/Conference/Region/State, MVP, Player of the Year
  • Top 5 State Finish

USTA & ITF Qualifications:

  • Zonal Team Experience
  • USTA Sectional Rank – Top 60 in Tier 1 Section, Top 30 in Tier 2 Section
  • USTA National Rank – Top 300
  • Attend National Level Tournaments: National Open, Section Closed, etc.

Tennisrecruiting.net Qualifications:

  • Minimum 3 star recruit, preferred 4 star +
  • National Ranking 250 or below

Private Training Qualifications:

  • Extensive experience & training

Division II

Height:

  • Range – 5’3′-5’9′
  • Average – 5’5′

High School Qualifications:

  • #1-2 Singles, #1 Doubles
  • 3+ Years Varsity
  • Awards such at All-County, All-Conference,
  • State Qualifier, High Conference or Regional Finish

USTA Qualifications:

  • District Rank – Top 50
  • Sectional Rank highly desired

* USTA experience is strongly preferred at D2, but not necessary

Tennisrecruiting.net Qualifications:

  • Preferred 1 star +
  • National Rank 500 or below

Private Training Qualifications:

  • Experience preferred

Division III

Height:

  • Range – 5’2′-5’9′
  • Average – 5’5′

High School Qualifications:

  • #1-4 Singles, #1-2 Doubles
  • 2+ Years Varsity
  • Preferred Team Captain
  • Conference & or District Finish

USTA & ITA Qualifications:

  • District Rank – preferred Top 50
  • Sectional Rank – preferred
  • Several years experience preferred

Tennisrecruiting.net Qualifications:

  • Preferred 1 star

Private Training Qualifications:

  • Several years experience

Preferred Grades for All Divisions:

3.0 GPA + 24 ACT + 1000 SAT (out of 1600)
(No scores needed for underclassmen)

In order to compile these Recruiting Guidelines, NCSA tracked hundreds of former NCSA student-athletes who have gone on to compete at the collegiate level, polled college coaches across the nation, and analyzed college rosters at all levels of competition.

Tennis by the Numbers

Schools Offering Tennis
Varsity Men Women
NCAA Division I 258 311
NCAA Division II 168 220
NCAA Division III 325 371
NAIA 93 109
Junior College 83 96
Total 927 1,107

Athletic Scholarship Opportunities
Division I(per school) 4.5 8
Division II (per school) 4.5 6
NAIA 5 5
NJCAA (*varies per school) 9 9

Student-Athlete Participation
NCAA Division I 2,584 2,838
NCAA Division II 1,590 2,012
NCAA Division III 3,451 3,934
NAIA 883 959
Junior College 5,088 639
High School 156,944 176,696

Note: Division III schools offer merit, academic, and need-based scholarships.