How Fast Do You Need to Be for College Swimming?

Oct 18, 2025

A competitive swimmer in the pool kicking.
A competitive swimmer in the pool kicking.
A competitive swimmer in the pool kicking.
A competitive swimmer in the pool kicking.


Updated NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA Standards for 2025–26

🧭 Why Time Standards Matter

Swimming recruiting is brutally objective — every hundredth of a second counts.
Your personal bests (PBs) tell coaches exactly where you fit among college programs, long before they ever see you race in person.

But college-level times aren’t just about speed — they’re about fit.
Some D1 programs recruit only athletes near NCAA B cuts, while D2 and NAIA coaches may value versatility and steady improvement.

Understanding where your times fall on the national scale helps you:

  • Target realistic schools,

  • Time your outreach emails effectively, and

  • Create more competitive highlight videos.

💡 Resource: NCAA Swimming & Diving Recruiting Resource (2025–26)

🏅 NCAA Division I Standards (2025–26)

In Division I, the 30-athlete roster model gives coaches flexibility — but top programs still recruit athletes near national qualifying levels.
The tables below show typical NCAA B-cut standards (used by most major-conference teams) as a baseline for recruitability.


Men’s Division I (SCY)

Event

B-Cut Time

Top-Program Target

50 Freestyle

19.82

Sub-19.5

100 Freestyle

43.59

42-low

200 Freestyle

1:35.99

1:34

500 Freestyle

4:20.19

4:15

100 Backstroke

47.77

46-mid

200 Backstroke

1:44.04

1:41

100 Breaststroke

53.87

52-high

200 Breaststroke

1:57.29

1:54

100 Butterfly

46.29

45-low

200 Butterfly

1:44.37

1:42

200 IM

1:46.77

1:44

400 IM

3:48.99

3:46


Women’s Division I (SCY)

Event

B-Cut Time

Top-Program Target

50 Freestyle

22.76

Sub-22.3

100 Freestyle

49.49

48-mid

200 Freestyle

1:47.08

1:45

500 Freestyle

4:46.49

4:42

100 Backstroke

54.01

52-mid

200 Backstroke

1:56.32

1:53

100 Breaststroke

1:00.21

59-low

200 Breaststroke

2:11.77

2:09

100 Butterfly

53.76

52-low

200 Butterfly

1:58.43

1:56

200 IM

1:59.65

1:57

400 IM

4:17.29

4:12

📘 Sources: NCAA Division I Qualifying Standards (Men’s & Women’s Swimming, 2024–25 Season).
These standards are expected to carry forward for 2025–26 pending NCAA technical committee confirmation.

🏊 NCAA Division II Standards (2025–26)

Division II programs remain equivalency sports — 8.1 total scholarships per team, typically split among multiple athletes.
Coaches focus on steady development and multi-event contribution.

Men’s DII (SCY)

Event

Typical Nationals B-Cut

50 Free

20.4

100 Free

44.8

200 Free

1:37.6

500 Free

4:26.2

100 Back

48.6

100 Fly

47.8

200 IM

1:48.7


Women’s DII (SCY)


Event

Typical Nationals B-Cut

50 Free

23.7

100 Free

51.4

200 Free

1:50.9

500 Free

4:56.8

100 Back

55.8

100 Fly

55.4

200 IM

2:03.4

📚 Source: 2025 NCAA DII Qualifying Standards.

🎓 NCAA Division III Standards

While D3 programs can’t offer athletic aid, many of them (especially top academic schools) recruit athletes with D2-level times and reward them with academic or merit aid.


Event

Men’s Recruit Range

Women’s Recruit Range

50 Free

20.9–21.8

23.9–24.8

100 Free

45.9–47.9

52.5–54.5

200 Free

1:39–1:42

1:51–1:55

500 Free

4:35–4:45

4:58–5:10

100 Fly

48.8–51.5

56.2–58.8

🏫 Top D3 programs: Kenyon, Emory, Denison, Johns Hopkins, Williams.

🥇 NAIA Standards (2025–26)

NAIA programs use official national qualifying times — and many offer a balance between strong competition and generous aid flexibility.

Men’s NAIA (SCY)


Event

“A” Standard

“B” Standard

50 Free

20.64

21.64

100 Free

45.40

47.40

200 Free

1:40.15

1:43.15

500 Free

4:36.43

4:45.43

100 Fly

49.25

51.25

200 IM

1:51.60

1:54.60

Women’s NAIA (SCY)


Event

“A” Standard

“B” Standard

50 Free

24.03

25.03

100 Free

52.51

54.51

200 Free

1:53.68

1:56.68

500 Free

5:07.91

5:14.91

100 Fly

56.76

58.76

200 IM

2:08.37

2:11.37

📖 Source: 2025 NAIA Swimming & Diving Championships Qualifying Standards.

🤿 NJCAA Standards (2025–26)

Junior college (JUCO) programs are an excellent entry path for athletes still developing times or looking for cost-effective starts.


Event

Men’s Nationals Cut

Women’s Nationals Cut

50 Free

21.8

25.2

100 Free

47.8

55.0

200 Free

1:44.0

1:59.5

500 Free

4:50.0

5:25.0

100 Fly

52.5

1:00.5

200 IM

1:57.5

2:14.5

🏊 Source: NJCAA Swimming & Diving Championships Qualifying Standards 2025.

🤸 Diving Standards

Diving recruits are evaluated by consistency and difficulty, not just raw score — but these ranges represent typical national averages:


Division

Men (1M)

Women (1M)

Notes

D1

275–325 pts

260–310 pts

Consistent optional dives with high DD required

D2

250–300 pts

230–280 pts

Consistency prioritized over difficulty

NAIA

225–275 pts

200–250 pts

Often fewer dive lists required

NJCAA

200+ pts

180+ pts

Developmental but competitive

📚 Source: NCAA / NAIA Diving Scoring Guidelines, 2025 updates.

📊 How to Use These Times in Recruiting

  1. Benchmark yourself: Compare your current best times to each division’s standards.

  2. Track your improvement: Update after every sanctioned meet — progress signals development to coaches.

  3. Add data to outreach: Include your verified meet times in all coach emails and SwimCloud links.

  4. Use time overlays: In your highlight video, display verified splits and PBs to reinforce credibility.

🎥 Resource: The Ultimate Parent Guide to Creating Highlight Videos for Coaches

🎯 Next Step: Build Your Recruiting System

Knowing the times is just step one — organizing them and connecting strategically with coaches is what leads to offers.

That’s why we created the Swimming & Diving Scholarship Playbook, your complete recruiting toolkit built from verified NCAA and NAIA data.

Inside, you’ll find:

  • 📅 Year-by-Year Recruiting Checklist

  • 🕒 Time Tracking & Progress Templates

  • 🧭 Coach Contact & Visit Trackers

  • 🎥 Highlight Video Guide & Examples

  • 💰 Scholarship & Aid Stacking Workbook

  • 🗂️ Academic & Eligibility Planner

All resources match official NCAA and NAIA recruiting standards — ensuring every step you take aligns with verified rules and real coach expectations.

👉 Download the Swimming & Diving Scholarship Playbook
and turn your times into a scholarship roadmap.


Updated NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA Standards for 2025–26

🧭 Why Time Standards Matter

Swimming recruiting is brutally objective — every hundredth of a second counts.
Your personal bests (PBs) tell coaches exactly where you fit among college programs, long before they ever see you race in person.

But college-level times aren’t just about speed — they’re about fit.
Some D1 programs recruit only athletes near NCAA B cuts, while D2 and NAIA coaches may value versatility and steady improvement.

Understanding where your times fall on the national scale helps you:

  • Target realistic schools,

  • Time your outreach emails effectively, and

  • Create more competitive highlight videos.

💡 Resource: NCAA Swimming & Diving Recruiting Resource (2025–26)

🏅 NCAA Division I Standards (2025–26)

In Division I, the 30-athlete roster model gives coaches flexibility — but top programs still recruit athletes near national qualifying levels.
The tables below show typical NCAA B-cut standards (used by most major-conference teams) as a baseline for recruitability.


Men’s Division I (SCY)

Event

B-Cut Time

Top-Program Target

50 Freestyle

19.82

Sub-19.5

100 Freestyle

43.59

42-low

200 Freestyle

1:35.99

1:34

500 Freestyle

4:20.19

4:15

100 Backstroke

47.77

46-mid

200 Backstroke

1:44.04

1:41

100 Breaststroke

53.87

52-high

200 Breaststroke

1:57.29

1:54

100 Butterfly

46.29

45-low

200 Butterfly

1:44.37

1:42

200 IM

1:46.77

1:44

400 IM

3:48.99

3:46


Women’s Division I (SCY)

Event

B-Cut Time

Top-Program Target

50 Freestyle

22.76

Sub-22.3

100 Freestyle

49.49

48-mid

200 Freestyle

1:47.08

1:45

500 Freestyle

4:46.49

4:42

100 Backstroke

54.01

52-mid

200 Backstroke

1:56.32

1:53

100 Breaststroke

1:00.21

59-low

200 Breaststroke

2:11.77

2:09

100 Butterfly

53.76

52-low

200 Butterfly

1:58.43

1:56

200 IM

1:59.65

1:57

400 IM

4:17.29

4:12

📘 Sources: NCAA Division I Qualifying Standards (Men’s & Women’s Swimming, 2024–25 Season).
These standards are expected to carry forward for 2025–26 pending NCAA technical committee confirmation.

🏊 NCAA Division II Standards (2025–26)

Division II programs remain equivalency sports — 8.1 total scholarships per team, typically split among multiple athletes.
Coaches focus on steady development and multi-event contribution.

Men’s DII (SCY)

Event

Typical Nationals B-Cut

50 Free

20.4

100 Free

44.8

200 Free

1:37.6

500 Free

4:26.2

100 Back

48.6

100 Fly

47.8

200 IM

1:48.7


Women’s DII (SCY)


Event

Typical Nationals B-Cut

50 Free

23.7

100 Free

51.4

200 Free

1:50.9

500 Free

4:56.8

100 Back

55.8

100 Fly

55.4

200 IM

2:03.4

📚 Source: 2025 NCAA DII Qualifying Standards.

🎓 NCAA Division III Standards

While D3 programs can’t offer athletic aid, many of them (especially top academic schools) recruit athletes with D2-level times and reward them with academic or merit aid.


Event

Men’s Recruit Range

Women’s Recruit Range

50 Free

20.9–21.8

23.9–24.8

100 Free

45.9–47.9

52.5–54.5

200 Free

1:39–1:42

1:51–1:55

500 Free

4:35–4:45

4:58–5:10

100 Fly

48.8–51.5

56.2–58.8

🏫 Top D3 programs: Kenyon, Emory, Denison, Johns Hopkins, Williams.

🥇 NAIA Standards (2025–26)

NAIA programs use official national qualifying times — and many offer a balance between strong competition and generous aid flexibility.

Men’s NAIA (SCY)


Event

“A” Standard

“B” Standard

50 Free

20.64

21.64

100 Free

45.40

47.40

200 Free

1:40.15

1:43.15

500 Free

4:36.43

4:45.43

100 Fly

49.25

51.25

200 IM

1:51.60

1:54.60

Women’s NAIA (SCY)


Event

“A” Standard

“B” Standard

50 Free

24.03

25.03

100 Free

52.51

54.51

200 Free

1:53.68

1:56.68

500 Free

5:07.91

5:14.91

100 Fly

56.76

58.76

200 IM

2:08.37

2:11.37

📖 Source: 2025 NAIA Swimming & Diving Championships Qualifying Standards.

🤿 NJCAA Standards (2025–26)

Junior college (JUCO) programs are an excellent entry path for athletes still developing times or looking for cost-effective starts.


Event

Men’s Nationals Cut

Women’s Nationals Cut

50 Free

21.8

25.2

100 Free

47.8

55.0

200 Free

1:44.0

1:59.5

500 Free

4:50.0

5:25.0

100 Fly

52.5

1:00.5

200 IM

1:57.5

2:14.5

🏊 Source: NJCAA Swimming & Diving Championships Qualifying Standards 2025.

🤸 Diving Standards

Diving recruits are evaluated by consistency and difficulty, not just raw score — but these ranges represent typical national averages:


Division

Men (1M)

Women (1M)

Notes

D1

275–325 pts

260–310 pts

Consistent optional dives with high DD required

D2

250–300 pts

230–280 pts

Consistency prioritized over difficulty

NAIA

225–275 pts

200–250 pts

Often fewer dive lists required

NJCAA

200+ pts

180+ pts

Developmental but competitive

📚 Source: NCAA / NAIA Diving Scoring Guidelines, 2025 updates.

📊 How to Use These Times in Recruiting

  1. Benchmark yourself: Compare your current best times to each division’s standards.

  2. Track your improvement: Update after every sanctioned meet — progress signals development to coaches.

  3. Add data to outreach: Include your verified meet times in all coach emails and SwimCloud links.

  4. Use time overlays: In your highlight video, display verified splits and PBs to reinforce credibility.

🎥 Resource: The Ultimate Parent Guide to Creating Highlight Videos for Coaches

🎯 Next Step: Build Your Recruiting System

Knowing the times is just step one — organizing them and connecting strategically with coaches is what leads to offers.

That’s why we created the Swimming & Diving Scholarship Playbook, your complete recruiting toolkit built from verified NCAA and NAIA data.

Inside, you’ll find:

  • 📅 Year-by-Year Recruiting Checklist

  • 🕒 Time Tracking & Progress Templates

  • 🧭 Coach Contact & Visit Trackers

  • 🎥 Highlight Video Guide & Examples

  • 💰 Scholarship & Aid Stacking Workbook

  • 🗂️ Academic & Eligibility Planner

All resources match official NCAA and NAIA recruiting standards — ensuring every step you take aligns with verified rules and real coach expectations.

👉 Download the Swimming & Diving Scholarship Playbook
and turn your times into a scholarship roadmap.


Updated NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA Standards for 2025–26

🧭 Why Time Standards Matter

Swimming recruiting is brutally objective — every hundredth of a second counts.
Your personal bests (PBs) tell coaches exactly where you fit among college programs, long before they ever see you race in person.

But college-level times aren’t just about speed — they’re about fit.
Some D1 programs recruit only athletes near NCAA B cuts, while D2 and NAIA coaches may value versatility and steady improvement.

Understanding where your times fall on the national scale helps you:

  • Target realistic schools,

  • Time your outreach emails effectively, and

  • Create more competitive highlight videos.

💡 Resource: NCAA Swimming & Diving Recruiting Resource (2025–26)

🏅 NCAA Division I Standards (2025–26)

In Division I, the 30-athlete roster model gives coaches flexibility — but top programs still recruit athletes near national qualifying levels.
The tables below show typical NCAA B-cut standards (used by most major-conference teams) as a baseline for recruitability.


Men’s Division I (SCY)

Event

B-Cut Time

Top-Program Target

50 Freestyle

19.82

Sub-19.5

100 Freestyle

43.59

42-low

200 Freestyle

1:35.99

1:34

500 Freestyle

4:20.19

4:15

100 Backstroke

47.77

46-mid

200 Backstroke

1:44.04

1:41

100 Breaststroke

53.87

52-high

200 Breaststroke

1:57.29

1:54

100 Butterfly

46.29

45-low

200 Butterfly

1:44.37

1:42

200 IM

1:46.77

1:44

400 IM

3:48.99

3:46


Women’s Division I (SCY)

Event

B-Cut Time

Top-Program Target

50 Freestyle

22.76

Sub-22.3

100 Freestyle

49.49

48-mid

200 Freestyle

1:47.08

1:45

500 Freestyle

4:46.49

4:42

100 Backstroke

54.01

52-mid

200 Backstroke

1:56.32

1:53

100 Breaststroke

1:00.21

59-low

200 Breaststroke

2:11.77

2:09

100 Butterfly

53.76

52-low

200 Butterfly

1:58.43

1:56

200 IM

1:59.65

1:57

400 IM

4:17.29

4:12

📘 Sources: NCAA Division I Qualifying Standards (Men’s & Women’s Swimming, 2024–25 Season).
These standards are expected to carry forward for 2025–26 pending NCAA technical committee confirmation.

🏊 NCAA Division II Standards (2025–26)

Division II programs remain equivalency sports — 8.1 total scholarships per team, typically split among multiple athletes.
Coaches focus on steady development and multi-event contribution.

Men’s DII (SCY)

Event

Typical Nationals B-Cut

50 Free

20.4

100 Free

44.8

200 Free

1:37.6

500 Free

4:26.2

100 Back

48.6

100 Fly

47.8

200 IM

1:48.7


Women’s DII (SCY)


Event

Typical Nationals B-Cut

50 Free

23.7

100 Free

51.4

200 Free

1:50.9

500 Free

4:56.8

100 Back

55.8

100 Fly

55.4

200 IM

2:03.4

📚 Source: 2025 NCAA DII Qualifying Standards.

🎓 NCAA Division III Standards

While D3 programs can’t offer athletic aid, many of them (especially top academic schools) recruit athletes with D2-level times and reward them with academic or merit aid.


Event

Men’s Recruit Range

Women’s Recruit Range

50 Free

20.9–21.8

23.9–24.8

100 Free

45.9–47.9

52.5–54.5

200 Free

1:39–1:42

1:51–1:55

500 Free

4:35–4:45

4:58–5:10

100 Fly

48.8–51.5

56.2–58.8

🏫 Top D3 programs: Kenyon, Emory, Denison, Johns Hopkins, Williams.

🥇 NAIA Standards (2025–26)

NAIA programs use official national qualifying times — and many offer a balance between strong competition and generous aid flexibility.

Men’s NAIA (SCY)


Event

“A” Standard

“B” Standard

50 Free

20.64

21.64

100 Free

45.40

47.40

200 Free

1:40.15

1:43.15

500 Free

4:36.43

4:45.43

100 Fly

49.25

51.25

200 IM

1:51.60

1:54.60

Women’s NAIA (SCY)


Event

“A” Standard

“B” Standard

50 Free

24.03

25.03

100 Free

52.51

54.51

200 Free

1:53.68

1:56.68

500 Free

5:07.91

5:14.91

100 Fly

56.76

58.76

200 IM

2:08.37

2:11.37

📖 Source: 2025 NAIA Swimming & Diving Championships Qualifying Standards.

🤿 NJCAA Standards (2025–26)

Junior college (JUCO) programs are an excellent entry path for athletes still developing times or looking for cost-effective starts.


Event

Men’s Nationals Cut

Women’s Nationals Cut

50 Free

21.8

25.2

100 Free

47.8

55.0

200 Free

1:44.0

1:59.5

500 Free

4:50.0

5:25.0

100 Fly

52.5

1:00.5

200 IM

1:57.5

2:14.5

🏊 Source: NJCAA Swimming & Diving Championships Qualifying Standards 2025.

🤸 Diving Standards

Diving recruits are evaluated by consistency and difficulty, not just raw score — but these ranges represent typical national averages:


Division

Men (1M)

Women (1M)

Notes

D1

275–325 pts

260–310 pts

Consistent optional dives with high DD required

D2

250–300 pts

230–280 pts

Consistency prioritized over difficulty

NAIA

225–275 pts

200–250 pts

Often fewer dive lists required

NJCAA

200+ pts

180+ pts

Developmental but competitive

📚 Source: NCAA / NAIA Diving Scoring Guidelines, 2025 updates.

📊 How to Use These Times in Recruiting

  1. Benchmark yourself: Compare your current best times to each division’s standards.

  2. Track your improvement: Update after every sanctioned meet — progress signals development to coaches.

  3. Add data to outreach: Include your verified meet times in all coach emails and SwimCloud links.

  4. Use time overlays: In your highlight video, display verified splits and PBs to reinforce credibility.

🎥 Resource: The Ultimate Parent Guide to Creating Highlight Videos for Coaches

🎯 Next Step: Build Your Recruiting System

Knowing the times is just step one — organizing them and connecting strategically with coaches is what leads to offers.

That’s why we created the Swimming & Diving Scholarship Playbook, your complete recruiting toolkit built from verified NCAA and NAIA data.

Inside, you’ll find:

  • 📅 Year-by-Year Recruiting Checklist

  • 🕒 Time Tracking & Progress Templates

  • 🧭 Coach Contact & Visit Trackers

  • 🎥 Highlight Video Guide & Examples

  • 💰 Scholarship & Aid Stacking Workbook

  • 🗂️ Academic & Eligibility Planner

All resources match official NCAA and NAIA recruiting standards — ensuring every step you take aligns with verified rules and real coach expectations.

👉 Download the Swimming & Diving Scholarship Playbook
and turn your times into a scholarship roadmap.

Stay Ahead of the Game — Join our Parent Insider List

Get expert tips, NCAA recruiting insights, and early access to new guides — straight to your inbox.

Your privacy is important to us. You'll only receive valuable content and updates from us.

Stay Ahead of the Game — Join our Parent Insider List

Get expert tips, NCAA recruiting insights, and early access to new guides — straight to your inbox.

Your privacy is important to us. You'll only receive valuable content and updates from us.

Stay Ahead of the Game — Join our Parent Insider List

Get expert tips, NCAA recruiting insights, and early access to new guides — straight to your inbox.

Your privacy is important to us. You'll only receive valuable content and updates from us.

Stay Ahead of the Game — Join our Parent Insider List

Get expert tips, NCAA recruiting insights, and early access to new guides — straight to your inbox.

Your privacy is important to us. You'll only receive valuable content and updates from us.