College Scholarships for Student Athletes

Most high school student athletes (98%) do not receive scholarships to play sports in college, according to the NCAA. Consequently, high school athletes may not receive enough financial support to cover all costs associated with college.

The average NCAA scholarship falls just short of $9,000. Scholarships for sports like baseball can be as low as $2,000. For sports with the highest scholarships factored in, namely football and basketball, the average award amount only increases to between $10,000-$11,000. Tuition and other college costs at NCAA colleges and universities range from $20,000-$50,000 annually.

Most student athletes do not receive a full scholarship for college and rely on other school-sponsored or private funding. Outside of school-sponsored athletic scholarships, student athletes may qualify for sports scholarships from private companies and sports organizations. Athletes can receive scholarships based on their sport, overall performance in high school, or community service.

Colleges and universities offer academic scholarships to student athletes with strong educational backgrounds. They may also provide scholarships to students in certain fields of study or from specific high schools and backgrounds. Additionally, private scholarships, available through corporations, agencies, institutions, or other autonomous entities, offer student athletes financial support for their academic achievements.

The NCAA includes three divisions of college sports. Division I and Division II colleges and universities, mostly large public institutions, offer athletic scholarships. Division III schools, primarily small colleges, do not provide financial assistance to student athletes.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), includes smaller public and private colleges and universities. The NAIA holds less stringent academic and athletic standards than the NCAA, offering students increased opportunities to play sports but with less exposure and financial support.

Students who play junior college sports participate in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Schools in the NJCAA, two-year community colleges, provide moderate amounts of funding to student athletes.

In addition to athletic scholarships through schools in the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA, student athletes may qualify for additional scholarships and funds through the associations themselves. The NCAA offers awards to student athletes pursuing a graduate degree or completing their undergraduate degree after exhausting all other athletic funding. The NCAA also provides support to Division I schools through its Accelerated Student Access Program to help student athletes succeed academically.

Advance research can help college-bound athletes clarify their goals, make informed decisions, and focus on the best opportunities for their unique circumstances.

NCAA Division I schools typically maintain sizable athletics budgets. These institutions may offer full-ride headcount scholarships for revenue-generating sports, including men’s football and basketball and women’s basketball, tennis, volleyball, and gymnastics. Equivalency scholarships—typically for partial tuition—apply to other Division I sports and all Division II sports. Division III institutions do not offer athletic scholarships, but may award non-athletics aid.

Division I and II students receiving athletic scholarships must meet NCAA eligibility requirements. The NAIA and the NJCAA maintain their own eligibility rules.

Regardless of the strength of students’ athletic achievements, they may not translate into a college athletic scholarship unless scholarship decision-makers can hear about them. Thoughtful networking practices can help students get the word out and form beneficial relationships with recruiting college coaches.

Students can email coaches with their athletic resume, a link to their highlight or skills video, and an engaging note describing their interest in the college’s program. A follow-up call may help cement the connection. Social media provides an additional forum to showcase accomplishments and help recruiters get a more holistic view of an athlete’s character and personality.

Athletic scholarships provide many students a route to earning a college degree. While competing in athletics demands time and attention, student athletes should not neglect their academic success. 

Eligibility requirements for NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA athletic programs include academic standards such as minimum GPA and SAT or ACT scores. The NCAA requires student athletes to complete a series of specific core courses in high school. 

Students must meet these requirements to enter athletic programs. They must also demonstrate satisfactory academic progress to continue in their sports. Poor scholastic performance can result in losing scholarships.

Students can increase their chances of winning a college athletic scholarship by building their athletic, academic, and extracurricular profiles during the recruitment period. They should remain engaged with the recruitment process by visiting colleges and reaching out to coaches. Participating in community service and leadership activities allows them to demonstrate character and motivation.

Attending camps and combines—performance skills assessment events—shows student athletes’ commitment to their sports. Recruiters often attend these events to discover and assess potential players. Athletes can also keep themselves on coaches’ recruitment radars by reaching out when they generate new stats or achievements through camps and combines.