What is National Signing Day?
National Signing Day marks the start of an official signing period, where high school student-athletes and college transfers formally commit to their chosen college or university. On this day, student-athletes committing to NCAA Division I and Division II programs can sign an Athletic Aid Agreement provided by the program they commit to. It also serves as a celebratory day for those student-athletes, families, clubs, and high schools celebrating the commitments of their high school seniors who verbally commit to NCAA Division III, NJCAA, and NAIA schools. Each program, sport, and governing body has its own traditions regarding committing to college. While the specific date varies by sport and division, National Signing Day represents the first opportunity for student-athletes and those who supported them to celebrate their official commitment to their future program.
The Removal of the National Letter of Intent
Since 1964, the binding agreement used by many NCAA Division I and Division II programs has been known as the National Letter of Intent (NLI). Once student-athletes signed their NLI, they were officially committed to attending an institution for one academic year in return for athletic financial aid provided by that institution. Once the agreement was signed, the NLI prohibited other schools from recruiting student-athletes.
As the NCAA continues to make changes in preparation for a new age of college athletics, it was decided that schools will provide a written offer of athletic aid directly to student-athletes to streamline the commitment process. The written offers of athletic aid will work very similarly to how the NLI program operated, as other schools will be prohibited from communicating with student-athletes once it is signed.
One potential change associated with removing the NLI program is increased flexibility for athletes. The written offers of athletic aid agreements could have less rigid parameters, such as a one-year commitment requirement, and leave room for NLI opportunities to be negotiated in these agreements.
The NCAA Division I Council officially removed the use of the NLI on October 8th, 2024, whereas the NCAA Division II Management Council made it official on October 23rd, 2024.
When is National Signing Day in Different Sports and Divisions?
NCAA Division I
What is Signed for NCAA Division I?
A prospective NCAA Division I student-athlete will sign an Athletic Financial Aid Agreement. This binding agreement will outline the program's financial aid offerings, including athletic scholarships, academic scholarships, merit aid, and need-based aid. Some student-athletes will also have a revenue share outlined in this agreement.
NCAA Division I Signing Dates
The signing periods for NCAA Division I high school student-athletes are as follows:
- NCAA DI Basketball (Early Signing Period): The second Wednesday in November through the following Wednesday. For 2024, that will be November 13th-November 20th.
- NCAA DI Basketball (Regular Signing Period): Begins on the Wednesday in April, one week after the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships. In 2025, that will be April 14th and will run through high school graduation.
- NCAA DI Football (Early Signing Period): The Wednesday following the final FBS regular-season contest through the immediately following Friday. In 2024, that will be December 18th-December 20th.
- NCAA DI Football (Regular Signing Period): Starts on the first Wednesday in February. In 2025, that will be February 5th through high school graduation.
- NCAA DI Other Sports(Regular Signing Period): The signing period begins on the second Wednesday in November. In 2024, that will be November 13th and run through high school graduation.
NCAA Division I Transfers
For NCAA Division I transfer athletes, signing their Financial Aid Agreement with the school aligns with the NCAA transfer portal windows. Once their name is entered into the NCAA Transfer Portal, transfer athletes can sign a financial aid agreement with a new institution. The specific dates for entering the portal vary by sport and are set by the NCAA. Take a look at our NCAA Transfer Portal article to review the specific transfer windows by sport.
NCAA Division II
What is Signed for NCAA Division II?
The NCAA Division II Council announced on October 23rd, 2024, that DII schools will transition from using the National Letter of Intent Program to providing written offers of athletics aid directly to the schools.
NCAA Division II National Signing Day Dates
Below are the signing dates for Division II high school student-athletes:
- NCAA DII Football (Regular Period): The initial signing date is February 5th, 2025, and the final signing date is August 1st, 2025.
- All other NCAA DII sports: The initial signing date starts November 13th, 2024. The final signing date is August 1st, 2025.
NCAA Division II Transfers
Student-athletes transferring to an NCAA Division II program can sign their Athletic Aid Agreement once they have entered the transfer portal. This NCAA Transfer Portal article reviews the specific transfer windows by sport.
NCAA DIII Signing Dates
NCAA Division III schools do not require prospective student-athletes to sign a binding agreement. Once a student-athlete is accepted into the college or university they have verbally committed to, they may sign a “Letter of Intent” or a “Celebratory Signing Form.” Because of this, there is no specific signing day for NCAA Division III student-athletes. However, many high schools and clubs celebrate these commitments during the NCAA Division I signing periods. Before celebrating this accomplishment, we encourage student-athletes to complete an academic pre-read.
NAIA Signing Dates
NAIA programs do not require prospective student-athletes to sign a binding agreement. Therefore, there is no official signing day. Depending on the program and the conference, some prospective student-athletes may need to sign a “Letter of Intent” for that program. However, that does not mean they have to attend that institution. We recommend contacting the coaching staff directly to learn more about what is required for the specific NAIA program. Similar to NCAA DIII commits, many student-athletes will choose to celebrate their commitment to an NAIA institution during NCAA Division I signing periods.
NJCAA Signing Dates
Prospective student-athletes who commit to an NJCAA program may be asked to sign a “Letter of Intent” applicable for one academic year. By signing a Letter of Intent, a student-athlete commits to that NJCAA program and cannot be recruited by any other member within the NJCAA.
NJCAA Division I and Division II programs can provide athletic scholarships. If a student-athlete is receiving an athletic scholarship, it will be outlined in the “Letter of Intent.” Below are the signing dates for NJCAA:
- NJCAA Football - The start of the signing period is February 5th.
- NJCAA Other sports - The start of the signing period is November 1st.
Not all NJCAA programs will require a student-athlete to sign a “Letter of Intent”. Therefore, many NJCAA prospective student-athletes will choose to celebrate their commitment during NCAA DI signing periods.
What is an Early Signing Period?
An Early Signing Period is a time for prospective student-athletes to sign their agreements early. It usually takes place in December. Prospect student-athletes who wish to solidify their choice and lock in their commitment are most likely to sign during this time.
What are the Agreements Signed on National Signing Day?
The type of agreement an athlete signs depends on the program they commit to, whether it’s an NLI or an Athletic Financial Aid Agreement created by the school. Many student-athletes can sign their agreements on National Signing Day. However, this only signifies the beginning of when student-athletes can officially commit. Student-athletes have the ability, depending on their sport and division, to sign their agreement up until high school graduation.
What is an Athletic Financial Aid Agreement?
An athletic financial aid agreement is binding between prospective student-athletes and NCAA DI colleges or universities. This written offer outlines the financial aid the student-athlete will receive. This can include athletic or academic scholarships, merit aid, or need-based aid. Some student-athletes will even have a revenue share agreement included. For student-athletes to officially qualify for their financial agreement, they must abide by the parameters provided by the NCAA, the school they are attending, and the school's athletic conference.
What to Consider Before Signing a Financial Agreement
As stated earlier, a financial agreement is binding; therefore, a student-athlete should only sign it if they’re 100% sure they want to attend that school. Below, we break down exactly what to consider before signing:
- Understanding Financial Parameters: Review the agreement thoroughly to understand what could cause you to lose or affect your financial aid package.
- Cost of College: You and your family must review the agreement to determine if there will be any leftover costs that you will need to cover as a family. If anything written in the agreement is unclear, reach out to your financial aid counselor at the college or your high school counselor to see if they can clarify any of your questions.
What is a Letter of Intent?
A Letter of Intent is a non-binding form mainly used for NCAA DIII programs. It is often referred to as a “celebratory signing form,” as student-athletes mostly sign it after they have been accepted to the college.
What to Consider Before Signing a Letter of Intent
While a Letter of Intent is not binding, the student-athlete should be confident they will attend the school. Similar to a verbal commitment, signing a “Letter of Intent” signifies to the program that the student-athlete is committed to attending. Below, we break down what to consider before signing:
- Financial Aid: A Letter of Intent does not include information about financial aid, such as academic scholarships, merit-based scholarships, loans, etc. Learn more about these other forms of financial aid here.
College Admissions: Signing a Letter of Intent does not mean you are automatically admitted to that school. You will still need to go through the admissions process like any other student. Keep in mind, most of the time, student-athletes will sign a Letter of Intent once they are accepted.