Scholarships by Sport: Lacrosse

College lacrosse has experienced explosive growth over the past two decades, and with that growth has come a dramatic expansion in scholarship opportunity. Whether you play men's or women's lacrosse, the landscape today offers more pathways to athletic financial aid than at any point in the sport's history — if you know how to navigate it.

Understanding Athletic Scholarships

Women's lacrosse at NCAA Division I is a headcount sport — every one of the 12 scholarships per program is a full scholarship covering tuition, room, board, and fees. Men's lacrosse is an equivalency sport at Division I, with 12.6 scholarship equivalencies per program that can be split among multiple athletes. This distinction shapes the recruiting experience significantly: women's programs often extend fewer, larger offers while men's programs typically distribute partial scholarships across a larger portion of their roster.

Key Insight: Women's Lacrosse Is One of the Most Generous Headcount Sports

With 12 full scholarships per program and over 115 Division I women's lacrosse programs, the total number of full scholarships available annually is substantial. The growth in women's lacrosse programs over the past 20 years has created real financial opportunity for talented players at every level. For women's recruits who fit a top program's roster needs, a full scholarship offer is genuinely achievable.

Scholarship Numbers at a Glance

LevelScholarshipsPrograms NCAA Division I Men12.6 equivalencies~75 programs NCAA Division I Women12.0 (headcount — all full)~115 programs NCAA Division II Men10.8 equivalencies~60 programs NCAA Division II Women9.9 equivalencies~75 programs NCAA Division IIINo athletic scholarshipsAcademic & need-based aid only NAIAVaries by programGrowing number of programs

NAIA Scholarships

NAIA lacrosse is a growing category, with new programs being added each year as the sport's popularity expands. For athletes who may not fit the profile of an NCAA program, NAIA lacrosse offers a genuine competitive experience with meaningful scholarship support. The level of play is serious and the scholarship money available can make a real difference in the cost of attendance calculation.

NIL — A New Source of Compensation

NIL opportunities in college lacrosse have expanded alongside the sport's growing fan base. Equipment and apparel brands with lacrosse lines, sports technology companies, and lifestyle brands have all engaged college lacrosse athletes in NIL partnerships. Top programs in the ACC, Big Ten, and Ivy League — where the sport has historically been strongest — offer meaningful NIL infrastructure and alumni networks that support athlete brand development.

How to Maximize Your Scholarship Opportunities

• Compete at the highest level of club lacrosse available to you — coaches evaluate tournament performance at national showcases like NGLL, NLF, and Under Armour events
• Build a highlight video that demonstrates your position-specific skills, field vision, and athleticism — submit it directly to coaches at your target programs
• Contact coaches proactively with your stats, tournament results, academic profile, and a specific sentence about why you are interested in their program
• Attend college lacrosse camps at target schools — these events give coaches a live evaluation opportunity and give you direct access to the coaching staff
• For men's recruits, understand that partial scholarships are the norm — factor in academic merit aid, which can stack on top of athletic money
• Do not overlook Division II and NAIA — strong programs at these levels offer meaningful scholarship packages and genuine competitive experiences

The Bottom Line

Lacrosse scholarship money — particularly for women — is among the most accessible in college athletics relative to the sport's competitive level. The explosive growth of the game has created more programs, more roster spots, and more financial aid opportunities than ever before. Athletes who combine strong club and high school credentials, proactive recruiting outreach, and solid academic profiles are well positioned to earn meaningful scholarship support at a program that fits their level.