How many institutions and conferences does the NCAA regulate?

The NCAA regulates a total of 1,281 institutions and conferences. This number is significant because it reflects the extensive scope of the NCAA’s oversight in college athletics across the United States. The NCAA includes a diverse range of member institutions, from large universities to smaller colleges, and encompasses various conferences that organize and promote college sports.

Understanding this figure is important as it highlights the NCAA’s role in setting rules, standards, and regulations that impact a large number of athletes and programs across different levels of competition. This regulation helps maintain fairness and integrity in college sports, ensuring that institutions comply with established guidelines.

The other options present different numerical values that do not accurately represent the current count of NCAA member institutions and conferences, which means they fail to convey a correct understanding of the NCAA's regulatory landscape.