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Cheerleading Scholarships

Cheerleading is a unique sport that relies less on recruiting and past performance than tryouts to determine not only who will make the squad, but who will be up for scholarship opportunities. The sport is high-profile and demanding, despite a public perception that cheerleading is less athletic than other sports like basketball or soccer, and competition is most fierce at schools with well-known and high-performing cheerleading programs.

In few other sports is there more pressure to not only participate in competitions, but to win championships and accolades to be considered for spots on squads at schools with big athletic programs. Cheerleaders at the highest level are more marketable to those big schools, and the top cheerleaders must not only be stellar athletes with tumbling skills, but have a presence that gets a response from the crowd. Most scholarships in the sport are awarded directly by the cheerleaders’ intended colleges, although if you look hard enough, cheer organizations and associations – such as the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) and the National Council for Spirit Safety and Education (NCSSE) – also offer awards to athletes looking to pursue the sport on the college level. While there is less funding available to cheerleaders than football players, for example, programs with established cheerleading programs that win competitions will be more generous than schools without a cheerleading tradition.

For additional information about cheerleading scholarships and awards based on different criteria, try conducting a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com.

Davis Law Group Scholar Athlete Program™
Application Deadlines: Varies
Scholar Athlete Program recognizes exceptional student athletes that are performing well in the classroom and on the field. To register for the scholarship, students need to apply online or be nominated by a coach, teacher, parent or friend. Students must be a senior in high school, currently attend a Washington State High School, have a 3.0 GPA or higher and participate in a sport. Students can [...] More

Webber International University Athletic Scholarship
Application Deadlines: Varies
The Athletic Scholarship is awarded at the discretion of the athletic deptartment in football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, soccer, golf, softball, cross country, baseball, track and field and cheerleading. For more information about this opportunity, please [...] More

Furman University Athletic Scholarships
Application Deadlines: Varies
The Furman University Athletic Scholarships are partial to full scholarships awarded in 17 men's and women's intercollegiate sports. For more information, contact the director of athletics or the head coach in the sport in which you are [...] More

Shirley A. Wedge National Cheer and Dance Scholarship Fund
Application Deadlines: Varies
The Shirley A. Wedge National Cheer and Dance Scholarship fund has been providing scholarships to deserving cheer and dance athletes since 1988. In that time, we have awarded over $385,000 in college scholarships. To be eligible for a scholarship, cheerleading and dance athletes must compete at the COA Ultimate National Championship which is held each Easter at the Gaylord Palms Resort in [...] More

Kyle R. Magoto Scholarship Fund
Application Deadlines: March 22, Annually
To be eligible for an award from the Kyle R. Magoto Scholarship Fund, applicant must be a Russia High School (Shelby Co., Ohio) graduating senior who is pursuing an associate's or a bachelor's degree as a full-time student at an acredited educational institution, have a high school GPA not less than 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale and must have participated in no less than five (5) athletic seasons [...] More

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