



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
Benchmark yourself: Compare your current best times to each division’s standards.
Track your improvement: Update after every sanctioned meet — progress signals development to coaches.
Add data to outreach: Include your verified meet times in all coach emails and SwimCloud links.
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
Benchmark yourself: Compare your current best times to each division’s standards.
Track your improvement: Update after every sanctioned meet — progress signals development to coaches.
Add data to outreach: Include your verified meet times in all coach emails and SwimCloud links.
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
Benchmark yourself: Compare your current best times to each division’s standards.
Track your improvement: Update after every sanctioned meet — progress signals development to coaches.
Add data to outreach: Include your verified meet times in all coach emails and SwimCloud links.
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.