NAIA stands for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. There are 204 NAIA Men's Soccer Programs and 202 Women's Programs. In Oregon, 6 schools compete at the NAIA level including Corban University, Eastern Oregon, Northwest Christian, Oregon Tech, Southern Oregon and Warner Pacific College. These schools fit the mold of many NAIA schools in that they are smaller schools. There are athletic scholarships at the NAIA level.

The level of play at the NAIA level is quite high. Similar to the other divisions, NAIA athletes have often competed at the highest levels of club soccer. There is also a large international influence with NAIA programs, with many team's rosters featuring players from all over the world.

NAIA schools are allowed to host players in a tryout scenario. Not all schools take advantage of this opportunity but they are free to do so. It's also worth mentioning that the recruiting regulations are much less restrictive for NAIA programs.