Are you looking for the best NAIA schools in Arizona?
The National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is actually the oldest college athletics governing body, founded in 1937.
This organization mostly governs smaller, private colleges, and student-athletes have an opportunity to earn an athletic scholarship in 27 different sports at more than 250 NAIA schools across the country.
In this article, we have listed some of the best NAIA universities in Arizona to help you make a more informed decision.
But before we go down to business, we shall answer a few related questions and also do well to check out our previous articles on NAIA schools below;
Why study in Arizona?
The state of Arizona is home to some of the best universities in the country. In addition to its large public university system, Arizona is also home to a number of smaller private colleges and universities.
These schools offer students a more intimate educational experience, and oftentimes, a more affordable one as well.
If you’re looking for a top-notch education at an affordable price, look no further than the best NAIA schools in Arizona.
But before we get into the top NAIA colleges in Arizona, let’s first talk about what NAIA even means and why it matters when selecting a school in Arizona.
What does the NAIA do?
The NAIA offers many sports teams and sporting events to choose from, the NAIA schools in Arizona often have strong programs in the following sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track & Field, and
- Volleyball
Some of the reasons student-athletes consider going to an NAIA school is that you will get the same opportunities as going to a Division I or Division II school but with less financial commitment on your part.
What’s the difference between Divisions 1, 2, and 3?
The NAIA, NCAA, and NJCAA are some of the notable college sports divisions, the NAIA is a smaller association than the NCAA, with just over 60,000 students.
The NAIA includes two divisions (Division I and II) and Division I in the NAIA is comparable to Division II in the NCAA.
The divisions are based on capabilities, for example, Division I tends to give out full scholarships to athletes.
Over 90% of schools in the NAIA offer scholarships, and NAIA athletes receive an average of $7,000 of financial aid, while Division III schools are not allowed to award any athletic scholarships.
Most of the largest universities and colleges are in Division 1, whereas Division II and Division III member schools are smaller in size.
So if you are looking for affordable athletic colleges in Arizona to play your favorite sport look no further than the NAIA.
Let’s take a look at some of the best NAIA schools in Arizona.
Top NAIA Universities in Arizona
- Ottawa University Arizona
- Benedictine University Mesa
- Arizona Christian University
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Park University Gilbert
Ottawa University Arizona
The University of Ottawa is a private Christian school with campuses in Kansas City, Phoenix, and Milwaukee, and adult campuses in Kansas City, Surprise, and Kansas.
This institution was founded in 1865 and is linked to the American Baptist Churches, it is also one of the top NAIA schools in Arizona.
Its campus in Surprise has more than 900 students and the college athletic team competes in various sports such as;
- Baseball and basketball
- Cross country
- Soccer and football
- Golf
- Swimming, water polo, and diving
- Tennis
- Track and field
- Volleyball and weightlifting.
The school has an amazing student life with about 30 student groups, clubs, and organizations, the athletic team is called the Spirit.
Other than just competing in athletic programs, Surprise Campus at Ottawa University participates in:
- Drama
- Music
- Fraternities and sororities
- Campus ministry opportunities, etc.
There are also bowling, lacrosse, and outdoor adventure teams on campus in Surprise.
Contact details:
Address: 15950 N Civic Center Plaza, Surprise, AZ 85374, United States.
Phone: +1 855-546-1342.
Benedictine University Mesa
Benedictine University at Mesa is one of the top universities in Arizona that offers excellence to its students in a well-rounded liberal arts environment.
This institution is religiously affiliated with the Catholic church and shares the Benedictine tradition.
Founded in 2012, Benedictine University Mesa is also one of the athletic schools in Arizona and a member of the NAIA.
The athletic team is called the Redhawks and represents the University at the Mesa campus in the California Pacific Conference (CalPac) since the 2015-16 academic year.
The team competes in 15 different intercollegiate sports:
For men, these include:
- Baseball and basketball
- Golf
- Soccer, and volleyball
For women, these include:
- Basketball
- Beach volleyball
- Golf
- Soccer, softball, and volleyball.
The campus offers intramurals, group fitness classes, and club sports including badminton, bowling, eSports, and cheerleading.
Contact details:
Address: 225 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201, United States.
Phone: +1 602-888-5500.
Arizona Christian University
Arizona Christian University is one of the best private universities in Arizona that was established in 1960, it is ranked #13 among the best regional colleges according to US News of World Report.
This is also one of the athletic schools in Arizona and a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competes mainly in the Golden State Athletic Conference.
The Athletic team at Arizona Christian University is called the Firestorm and competes in the following sports:
- Baseball and basketball
- Cross country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and field, and volleyball
Arizona Christian University Baseball:
The baseball at Arizona Christian University started in 2012 and the Firestorm athletic team has seen nine students taken in the Major League draft.
Arizona Christian University Football:
Football was added to the Arizona Christian University in 2014 which makes the school one of the four-year universities in Arizona that offers the sport.
During the 2015 season, the college athletic team, Firestorm began competition in Central States Football League (CSFL) and went undefeated to win the conference championship.
In the Spring of 2021, Arizona Christian Univerisity went 9–2, and won its first SAC Championship, and made its first appearance in the NAIA National Championship Playoffs.
Contact details:
Address: 1 W. Firestorm Way, Glendale, AZ 85306, United States.
Phone: +1 602-489-5300.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Prescott is a private university that was established in 1925, as of 2020 the total undergraduate enrollment was 2,961 with a campus size of about 539 acres.
This institution has been ranked #2 in the list of the Best Regional Colleges West by the US News of World Reports.
It is also one of the best athletic colleges in Arizona and a member of the NAIA, the college’s athletics team is called the Eagles and competes primarily in the California Pacific Conference.
The Eagles compete in different sports programs such as;
Men’s sports:
- Baseball and basketball
- Cross country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Track and field, and wrestling.
Women’s sports:
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Cross country
- Golf
- Soccer and softball
- Track and field (indoors)
- Volleyball, and yoga.
Contact details:
Address: 3700 Willow Creek Rd, Prescott, AZ 86301, United States.
Phone: +1 928-777-6600.
Park University Gilbert
Park University is one of the top NAIA schools in Arizona, the athletic team is called the Buccaneers.
Some of the reasons students choose this school are because of the nice and supportive staff, the wonderful college experience, accreditation, and the school’s facility.
Park University Gilbert is a private, non-profit accredited institution that competes in about 15 different sports at the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac).
Some of the sports programs that the Buccaneers compete in include:
- Baseball and basketball
- Cross country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Track and field
- Indoor and outdoor and volleyball
Contact details:
Address: 92 W Vaughn Ave #101, Gilbert, AZ 85233, United States.
Phone: +1 480-214-2100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arizona Christian University a Division I school?
Yes, Arizona Christian University is a Division I school, and the sports team (Firestorm) participates in the NAIA events.
What division is Embry-Riddle Prescott in?
The Prescott Campus competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as a member of the California Pacific Athletic Conference (Cal Pac).
Is Ottawa University Arizona Division I?
Yes, the Ottawa University sports team (Arizona Spirits) primarily competes as an independent in the West Region of the Division I level.
Previous Articles
- 12 Best NAIA Schools in California: A Comprehensive Guide
- The 5 Best NAIA Schools in Alabama
- The 7 Best NAIA Schools in Ohio
- 17 Best Party Schools In California To Get Into
- The 12 Best Safety Schools in California To Choose From
Conclusion
Overall, there are many great athletic schools in Arizona that are members of the NAIA. Each school has its own unique programs and advantages.
All of these schools have great programs that can help you succeed in your career.
So if you’re looking for a great school to attend, be sure to select from these NAIA schools in Arizona.
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