Skiing/Snowboarding Scholarships
The most generous – and competitive – skiing and snowboarding scholarships will naturally be at colleges situated in locations where snow sports are ways of life. The University of Denver,
for example, offers not only a recognized college ski team, but an opportunity to
train on some of the best slopes in the country if you’re serious about honing your
craft. Most skiing and snowboarding scholarships will be college-based, and under the rules of the
NCAA. You’ll need a minimum GPA to qualify not only for scholarships but to land
a position on a team. You’ll also need to keep your grades up to stay on the
team, as all those awarded NCAA sports scholarships must maintain a strong academic
record to participate in their college sports programs. Depending on the program
though, you could get up to a full scholarship if you’re a good enough skier or boarder, although
many schools will use available scholarship funding to build the best team possible
and allocate a certain percentage to each athlete.
If you’re a high school skier or boarder with an impressive athletic and academic record, go
after those college-based scholarships yourself rather than waiting for them to
come to you. Contact colleges with ski and snowboard programs that you’re interested in, and conduct
a college search to narrow down your choices. Competition for the winter sport is high at the top programs, so don’t rule out smaller schools that have athletic
programd just as rewarding as those at the biggest schools.
Check out some examples of skiing and snowboarding scholarships below. For additional information
about skiing and snowboarding scholarships and awards based on different criteria, try conducting
a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com.
NCAA Scholarships
About $1 billion in full and partial athletic scholarships are awarded each year
by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to more than 126,000 undergraduate
student-athletes at Division I and Division II schools. Although these scholarships
are awarded and administered directly by each academic institution, not the NCAA,
you’ll be required to meet the requirements of the NCAA to receive any funding.
Those requirements include a minimum GPA for both the college-bound and those already
on campuses, and qualifying standardized test scores. Contact your intended school’s
athletic department for more information if you have the academics and the skill
to ski on a college team.
College-Based Scholarships
If you plan on skiing in college, your intended college could have funds and endowments
for the sport, often set up by alumni who were skiing on the school team before
you ever set foot on that campus. Sierra Nevada College, for example, has a Ski/Snowboard
Athletic Scholarship dedicated to members of the school’s ski and snowboard teams.
Make sure you do your research, and talk to your financial aid office and athletic
departments about local and college-based awards you could be eligible for.
U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard
Association has a tuition assistance program for student-athletes who are
U.S. Snowboarding team members with minimum 2.0 GPAs. If you’re Olympic caliber
and qualify for the A, B, or C teams, you’re automatically eligible for an award.
Alumni are also eligible for two years of financial assistance after they officially
retire. Applicants’ annual incomes should not be greater than $50,000, and skiers
must be enrolled in an accredited college or university. The association also has
a partnership going with the University
of Utah. Utah skiers attending school in-state are eligible for in-state
student rates following an immediate move to Utah, rather than waiting a year or
more before eligibility kicks in for in-state scholarship awards.
Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship Program
Application Deadlines:
January 27, Annually
In 1988, the National Collegiate Athletic Association established the Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship Program as a means of recognizing the contributions of the former executive director through encouraging excellence in academic performance by student-athletes. Under this program, one male and one female student-athlete annually will be awarded a postgraduate scholarship in recognition of [...] More
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
American Water Ski Educational Foundation
Application Deadlines:
March 01, Annually
The American Water Ski Educational Foundation offers an annual scholarship to a currently enrolled full-time student at a two- or four-year accredited college. Applicants must be current members of USA Water Ski, and scholarship amounts vary from $1,500 to $3,000. If the applicant is a college freshman, include both official college transcripts and official high school transcripts. Applications [...] 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
Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage Scholarship
Application Deadlines:
April 01, Annually
The Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage (NSAA) will award one or more scholarships for the upcoming school year. The award is for one academic year, and may be used for any educationally related expenses at any college or university chosen by the scholarship winner. Scholarship funds will be paid directly to the college or university. The purpose of the program is to encourage scholastic [...] 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