College students, including student athletes and nonathletes, experience significant stress from factors such as academic demands, transition to adulthood, social pressure, and the expectation of obtaining a college degree. High levels of stress can have negative impacts on mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being. At the extreme, stress can even lead to dropouts or unhealthy behavioral patterns. Student athletes also have additional challenges, balancing athletes, and academics, managing their limited time, coping with injuries, and handling team dynamics, which may further contribute to stress levels. The main aims of this study are to explore stress and coping strategies among NCAA Division III (DIII) student athletes, expanding on the limited research which has mainly focused on NCAA Division I (DI) athletes. A total of 49 participants of DIII athletes and nonathletes completed surveys aimed at assessing perceived stress levels and coping style. Results showed that there were no significant differences in stress levels between the athletes and nonathletes, even though athletes spent significantly more time on extracurricular activities (i.e., their sport) as compared to nonathletes. Non-significant differences in coping styles were found revealing that student athletes tended to use more active coping styles, Problem-Focused and Emotion-Focused coping, while nonathletes tended to use Avoidant coping methods. A better understanding of student athletes and nonathlete coping styles is necessary to develop targeted preventative programming and interventions aimed at enhancing adaptive coping strategies. This study provides valuable insights and directions for future research, emphasizing the need for larger sample sizes, diverse populations, and longitudinal studies to further explore the unique experiences of DIII student athletes. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]