Athletic scholarships are financial awards offered by colleges and universities to student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional athletic ability. They are available at NCAA Division I and Division II schools, NAIA institutions, and junior colleges, but not at NCAA Division III schools (which do not offer athletic scholarships).
10 steps across 1 sections
1. Steps Process
- Understand the landscape. Key facts about athletic scholarships:
- NCAA Division I offers the most scholarship money; Division II offers less; Division III offers none
- NAIA schools also offer athletic scholarships
- Most scholarships are partial; full-ride scholarships are rare outside of revenue sports
- Scholarship availability varies by sport, gender, and division
- Maintain academic eligibility. NCAA academic requirements include:
- Complete 16 NCAA-approved core courses in high school
- The "10/7 rule" (D1): Complete 10 of 16 core courses before senior year; 7 must be in English, Math, or Science
- Maintain minimum NCAA core GPA (sliding scale depending on test scores; test score requirement was removed in 2023)
- Graduate from high school
Common Mistakes
- Waiting for coaches to find you
- Overestimating your recruiting level
- Neglecting academics
- Not registering with the Eligibility Center early enough
- Assuming a verbal commitment is binding
Pro Tips
- Attend camps and combines at target schools
- Create a high-quality highlight video
- Cast a wide net
- Leverage NAIA schools
- Understand scholarship renewal