High School Athlete
How to Land a College Scholarship
A practical, honest guide to maximizing your scholarship opportunities — from athletic to academic to need-based aid.
The Reality of Athletic Scholarships
Most athletic scholarships are partial — not full rides. Only a handful of sports at Division I are "headcount" sports (where every scholarship is full), including women's gymnastics, women's volleyball, basketball, football at the FBS level, and tennis. In all other sports, coaches split a limited pool of scholarship equivalencies among multiple athletes.
How to Maximize Your Athletic Scholarship
Target the right programs for your ability level. A 75% scholarship at a Division II school where you start may be more valuable than a 10% offer at a Division I school where you ride the bench. Compete at the highest level possible in showcase events. Contact coaches proactively — the athletes who get the best scholarship packages are rarely the ones who waited to be found.
Stack Athletic and Academic Aid
Even a partial athletic scholarship can be dramatically increased by combining it with academic merit aid. Many schools offer merit scholarships based on GPA and test scores that stack on top of athletic money. Run the math: a 40% athletic scholarship plus a $10,000 academic merit award can rival a full scholarship at a less expensive school.
Apply for the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is submitted beginning October 1 of your senior year. It determines your eligibility for federal grants, loans, and work-study — plus institutional need-based aid. Even families who assume they will not qualify should complete the FAFSA. Many schools use it to determine all forms of institutional aid, not just need-based awards.
Don't Overlook Division III
Division III schools offer no athletic scholarships, but many DIII institutions offer substantial academic merit and need-based financial aid packages. The net cost of attendance at a well-funded DIII school can be lower than at a Division I school offering a partial athletic scholarship. Always compare net cost, not sticker price.
Negotiate Your Offer
Athletic scholarship offers are negotiable. If you have competing offers from other programs, it is appropriate to share them with coaches and ask if there is any flexibility. Be professional and grateful, but do not leave money on the table out of politeness.