Did you know? You can be a college-student athlete placed on scholarship while pursuing your athletic dreams and a degree at the same time. The NAIA schools in Texas make it possible, and in this post, I have highlighted these schools and how you can get in.
If you were an athletic student in high school and want to keep up the passion when you get to college then you should consider applying to an NAIA college. Many students want to keep playing their favorite sports while earning a degree which is a good decision as this gives them a multitude of diversified opportunities after college.
Applying for an NAIA college allows such students to keep playing their favorite sports while studying for their degree program and this is for boys and girls. And that is not all, you can also get scholarships worth up to $7,000 or higher provided by the NAIA to support you.
Before we continue, I’d like to direct you to other blog posts we have published relating to Texan institutions like the one on best colleges in Texas for art for readers interested in art discipline or if your interest lies in taking care of animals, our article on the best veterinary schools in Texas should guide you to choose the best program. Varieties of online nursing programs are offered in Texas if you want to get a nursing degree most conveniently.
Now, what is the NAIA?
NAIA stands for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, a collegiate athletics association for small colleges and universities in North America. The association oversees more than 77,000 student-athletes from over 250 colleges in the US and offers up to $800 million in scholarships annually.
14 sports and 28 annual championships are also sponsored and conducted by the association. You can apply for any of the NAIA schools in Texas or anywhere in the US if you play the following sports:
- Baseball
- Bowling
- Competitive cheer
- Competitive dance
- Cross country
- Football
- Lacrosse
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and diving
- Tennis
- Indoor and outdoor track & field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
The NAIA schools in Texas offer you the opportunity to build a reputable career in the sporting industry that you can fully dive into after graduation and still earn a world-class degree of your choice in case you want to get into the workforce.
The NAIA is so big in the US that major sports channels air the championships on live TV, this presents an opportunity for you to showcase your talents and get signed by big teams immediately after your college education.
The association, as well as, the students and colleges involved live up to five core values which are integrity, respect, responsibilities, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.
How To Get Into NAIA Schools in Texas
There are certain requirements that you must meet to get accepted into any of the NAIA colleges in Texas but first, you must have a track record of playing one of the sports listed above and then satisfy the others below:
- You must have completed high school or be accepted as a regular student in good standing at the enrolling institution.
- Meet two out of three entry-level academic requirements below:
- Test score: minimum score of 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT (critical reading & math section only); or
- Minimum overall high school GPA of 2.0 on a scale of 4.0; or
- Class rank – top 50% of high school graduating class.
- Must be making normal progress towards a bachelor’s degree
- Must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours
- May only compete during four seasons
- May only compete during his/her first 10 semesters/15 quarters
- Must meet transfer eligibility requirements (if applicable)
To learn more and apply, click here.
13 NAIA Colleges in Texas
While there are more than 120 colleges and universities in Texas, only 14 are a member of the NAIA, keep reading to find the best one for you to conveniently pursue your passion for sports and earn a degree at the same time.
The list of NAIA colleges in Texas is:
- Huston-Tillotson University
- Texas A&M University, San Antonio
- Paul Quinn College
- Texas Wesleyan University
- Jarvis Christian College
- Wiley College
- The University of Houston – Victoria
- Our Lady of the Lake University
- Texas A&M University – Texarkana
- Texas College
- Southwestern Assemblies of God University
- The University of North Texas at Dallas
- Wayland Baptist University
Below are details of each of the schools listed above…
1. Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson is one of the NAIA colleges in Texas with 4 scholar-athlete awards. The school aims to provide opportunities for competition in intercollegiate athletics while maintaining academic excellence in its athletes. A total of 13 sports are played here by both men and women. The men’s sports are:
- Baseball
- Men’s basketball
- Men’s cross country
- Men’s indoor track & field
- Men’s outdoor track & field
- Men’s soccer
The sports for women are:
- Women’s basketball
- Women’s cross country
- Women’s indoor track & field
- Women’s outdoor track & field
- Women’s soccer
- Softball
- Women’s volleyball
There are also two co-ed sports in cheerleading and eSports. With many different sports played at HTU, this gives you options to choose from or easily find yours.
2. Texas A&M University, San Antonio
The Texas A&M University at San Antonio is one of the most renowned public universities in the US and is also part of the NAIA schools in Texas. This university has 7 scholar-athlete awards but not many sports are played here unlike at HTU. There are two sports for men, two for women, and two for coed sports.
The sports for men are Men’s Golf and Men’s Soccer, and for women are Women’s Soccer and Softball. The coed sports are Competitive Dance and eSports.
3. Paul Quinn College
The Paul Quinn College at Dallas, Texas is one of the NAIA universities in the state and also a member of the Red River Athletics Conference – just like the other NAIA colleges above – and USCAA Division I. The school colors are purple, black, and gold with Tigers as the Men’s Mascot and Lady Tigers as the Women’s Mascot. The school has won 12 scholar-athlete awards.
Although not many sports are played here they are common ones. The sports for men are:
- Men’s basketball
- Men’s outdoor track & field
- Men’s soccer
The sports for women are:
- Women’s basketball
- Women’s outdoor track & field
- Women’s soccer
- Women’s volleyball
If you are interested in competing in one of these sports and studying for an academic degree at Paul Quinn College, follow the link below to go through the application procedure and contact the coach of your preferred sport.
4. Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Wesleyan University is a prestigious higher institution in Fort Worth, Texas, and a member of the NAIA and Sooner Athletic Conference. The school colors are Blue & Gold with Rams as the mascot for both males and females. It has won 317 scholar-athlete awards and offers many varieties of sports for both men and women.
The sports for men are:
- Men’s Basketball
- Men’s Cross country
- Men’s Golf
- Men’s Indoor track & field
- Men’s Outdoor track & field
- Men’s Soccer
- Men’s Wrestling
- Men’s Tennis
- Men’s Baseball
- Men’s Football
The sports for women are:
- Women’s Basketball
- Women’s Cross Country
- Women’s Golf
- Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
- Women’s Indoor Track & Field
- Women’s Soccer
- Softball
- Women’s Tennis
- Women’s Volleyball
- Women’s Wrestling
There are varieties of sports options here for student-athletes.
5. Jarvis Christian College
Jarvis Christian College at Hawkins, Texas is a member of the NAIA and the Red River Athletic Conference. The JCC Bulldogs have won 28 scholar-athlete awards and offer many varieties of sports for both men and women. The sports for men are:
- Baseball
- Men’s basketball
- Men’s bowling
- Men’s cross country
- Men’s golf
- Men’s outdoor track & field
- Men’s soccer
- Men’s wrestling, and
- Competitive cheer
The women’s sports are:
- Women’s basketball
- Women’s bowling
- Women’s cross country
- Women’s golf
- Women’s outdoor track & field
- Women’s soccer
- Softball
- Women’s volleyball
- Women’s wrestling
- Competitive cheer
The JJC Bulldogs pursue academic excellence alongside athletic aspirations in student-athletes.
6. Wiley College
The Wiley College Wildcats as the team is referred to as a member of the NAIA and Gulf Coat Athletic Conference located in Marshall, TX. The college has won 87 scholar-athlete awards and some of the most popular sports are played here by both men and women.
Both men and women play soccer, cross country, basketball, and track & field. Only men play baseball and only women play volleyball.
7. The University of Houston – Victoria
The athletic teams at the University of Houston, Victoria are called the Jaguars and they have received up to 66 scholar-athlete awards in total. It is one of the NAIA collegiates in Texas where students can pursue their passion for sports and academic excellence in a degree program at the same time.
There are not many sports played here but they are the popular ones and they are for both males and females. The sports are baseball, softball, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s soccer, and women’s soccer. If you want to play any of these sports at a university where you can earn a widely recognized degree, the University of Houston at Victoria should be on your list.
8. Our Lady of the Lake University
Our Lady of the Lake University is one of the top NAIA collegiate members located in San Antonio and also a member of the Red River Athletic Conference with a total of 188 scholar-athlete awards. The college offers varieties of sports in both men, women, and coed categories.
The sports for men are:
- Baseball
- Development baseball
- Men’s basketball
- Development of men’s basketball
- Men’s cross country
- Men’s golf
- Men’s soccer
- Men’s tennis
- Men’s track and field
Sports for women are:
- Women’s basketball
- Women’s cross-country
- Women’s golf
- Women’s soccer
- Softball
- Women’s tennis
- Women’s track and field
- Volleyball
Coed sports are:
- Competitive cheer
- Competitive dance
You can play any of these sports at Our Lady of the Lake University as a student-athlete while pursuing academic excellence in your respective degree.
9. Texas A&M University – Texarkana
The Texas A&M University at Texarkana is one of the NAIA universities in Texas and a member of the Red River Athletic Conference. The athletic team is referred to as the Eagles and has won 78 scholar-athlete awards. Varieties of sports are played in men’s and women’s categories.
The sports for men and women are basketball, soccer, cross country, and tennis. Only men play baseball while only women play softball and volleyball. There are more women’s sports here.
10. Texas College
Texas College at Tyler is one of the NAIA collegiates in the US and a member of the Red River Athletic Conference. The male team is called Steers while the female teams are called Lady Steers and altogether, they have won 60 scholar-athlete awards.
Sports played by men are baseball, basketball, football, outdoor track & field, cross country, and soccer. Women play sports like basketball, soccer, outdoor track & field, softball, cross country, and volleyball. Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine is also on our list of best medical colleges in Texas.
11. Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a Christian university in Waxahachie, Texas, and one of the NAIA collegiates in the country. It is also a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference. The male teams are called Lions and the women are called Lady Lions. The school has won 167 scholar-athlete awards.
If you want to pursue an academic degree and also be part of the Lions or Lady Lions of Southwestern Assemblies of God University, you must be playing one of the following sports listed below:
- Baseball
- Men’s basketball
- Men’s cross country
- Football
- Men’s indoor track & field
- Men’s outdoor track & field
- Men’s soccer
- Women’s basketball
- Women’s cross country
- Women’s indoor track & field
- Women’s outdoor track & field
- Women’s soccer
- Softball
- Women’s volleyball
12. The University of North Texas at Dallas
The University of North Texas at Dallas is a prestigious institution of higher learning in Texas and also a member of the NAIA and Sooner Athletic Conference. Its athletic team, the Trailblazers, plays only three sports in men’s and women’s categories. They are basketball, cross country, and outdoor track & field.
13. Wayland Baptist University
Wayland Baptist University is a Christian university in Plainview, Texas and one of the NAIA universities in the US, and also a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference. Its team, the Pioneers (men) and Pioneers & Flying Queens (women) have won up to 243 scholar-athlete awards. There are also many sports played here which are split into women’s and men’s categories.
If you want to earn a widely recognized degree while pursuing your sporting career, you have to be playing one of the sports below:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross country
- Football (only men)
- Golf
- Indoor track & field
- Outdoor track & field
- Soccer
- Volleyball (only women)
- Wrestling
- Cheer and eSports (coed)
These are the NAIA schools in Texas and their available info. You now know what sports are played by all the schools and where you will like to go to pursue your careers. Meet all the requirements and apply early to be considered for admission into the school and also be accepted into the respective teams.