Which statement about NCAA scholarships is true?

The statement that only a small percentage of student-athletes receive scholarships accurately reflects the reality of NCAA athletics. In general, while the NCAA comprises a large number of student-athletes across various sports and divisions, the availability of scholarships is limited, especially at the NCAA Division I level where only a fraction of athletes receive full ride scholarships.

Many student-athletes are walk-ons or may receive partial scholarships that cover only a portion of their educational costs. This is particularly true in sports where there are more athletes than available scholarships, such as track and field or cross country.

The other options present misconceptions. For example, not all student-athletes receive full scholarships, as many do not receive any scholarship support at all. Scholarships are not mandatory across all NCAA divisions, as some divisions do not offer athletic scholarships at all. Lastly, scholarship amounts are typically based on the sport, athlete performance, and program funding rather than solely on GPA, which also plays a role in academic scholarships but is not a determining factor for athletic aid specifically.