Official vs. Unofficial D3 Campus Visits
Making sense of official and unofficial college visits at the D3 level
If you’re heading to a D3 college campus for a visit in the next few weeks, first of all congratulations.
You’re clearly doing something right in your college sports recruiting process, so keep it up!
While on campus, you undoubtedly want the full experience: Staying in the dorms with a current D3 athlete, working out or playing in an open gym with the team, maybe even a pregame meal in the dining hall.
But what you are allowed to do under NCAA rules depends on the answer a simple question and something we get asked by D3 recruits A LOT:
“Is my visit an official or unofficial visit?”
Let’s break down the difference…
Official vs. Unofficial Visits
Here are the rules for campus visits at the NCAA D3 level:
D3 Unofficial Visits:
❌ Transportation - You must travel on your own dime for an unofficial visit to a D3 college campus.
❌ Staying with Team - NCAA rules do not allow D3 schools to cover your lodging on an unofficial college visit. Unfortunately that means no overnight stay in the dorms with current D3 athletes.
✅ Food - Schools can cover one meal for a D3 recruit at the dining hall or something off campus if the on-campus dining facility is closed.1
✅ Ticket to a Game - Your hosts can get you into a game for free. For many D3’s this is not an issue because admission is free, but still good to know you don’t have to pay out of pocket for this.
D3 Official Visits:
✅ Transportation - Your trip to and from campus is covered during an official visit.
✅ Staying with Team - This means the D3 school can host you overnight — usually with a current D3 athlete. But schools only get a limited number of official visits, so they’ll be selective about who gets one. So before you assume you have the green light, double check with the coach to ensure you have the invite.
✅ Food - Schools can cover three meals a day for a recruit and those accompanying them, like a parent or guardian.
✅ $40/day + Game Tickets - In addition to tickets, schools can also give you “Up to $40 per person of reasonable entertainment expenses for you and those accompanying you.”2 If you’re unclear on what this means, check with the D3 coach that is inviting you.
The Takeaway
If you’re going on an unofficial visit, plan to book a hotel nearby.
You can still spend time with the team during the day, watch practice, and get a feel for the culture. Just don’t expect to stay in the dorms or eat every meal with them.
If you’re going on an official visit make the most of it, enjoy the time on campus, and know that not many get to have the experience.
Those are the rules…now you know.