With the grueling practice schedule and frequent games that comprise the life of a student athlete, figuring out how to pay for school is probably the last thing you want to worry about. Unfortunately, though, the problem of how to find money for college can be even more challenging for student athletes. Federal financial aid can help cover your tuition, but you probably want to avoid student loans, since earning a steady income from athletics can be a difficult task. Working your way through college while playing a sport can be nearly impossible, unless you’ve discovered a way to attain a college degree without actually devoting any time to coursework. And unfortunately, not everyone who plays sports is lucky enough to land a starting position on the team of a top university or to receive the generous scholarship award that comes with such an honor.
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However, this doesn’t mean that student athletes need to give up on the prospect of winning scholarships to do what they love to do. Student athlete scholarships are available from a wide variety of sources, ranging from the university you choose to attend to numerous private funds. Both national and local scholarships for student athletes can be found, funded by anyone from the local Dollars for Scholars to multinational corporations. Additionally, you don’t have to be on your college’s official team to win a student athlete scholarship. Several scholarship opportunities are given to students who have played sports in high school, or who otherwise show a commitment to athletics.
University Scholarships for Student Athletes
The most common student athlete scholarships are awards given to players by colleges and universities. These may cover all or part of tuition and can even include a stipend, since being a student athlete is often a full-time job. Students hoping to be recruited by coaches shouldn’t just sit back and hope their dream school finds them. Rather, you should be proactive in conducting a college search to find schools you’d like to attend and teams you’d like to play on, then contact coaches yourself to see if they might be interested in getting you to play on their team and possibly landing you a student athlete scholarship.
Other Student Athlete Scholarships
For students who are looking for other sources of scholarship money instead of or in addition to university athletic scholarships, private scholarship funds do exist. Below is a list of a few popular student athlete scholarships available in our database. For a more comprehensive list, as well as information on other college scholarships for which you may qualify based on your background and interests, conduct a free college scholarship search and go for scholarship gold.
The Alabama Golf Association Women's Scholarship Fund was created to grant scholarships to deserving young women from the State of Alabama who have an interest in golf and is pursuing a baccalaureate degree at an accredited college or university within the State of Alabama. Applicant must be a graduate of an accredited secondary school where she has shown evidence of academic excellence, good [...] More
Established by Alliance Pipeline in 2001, this scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis to a student-athlete who demonstrates strong academic performance. The student must maintain a 3.0 GPA and participate in an intercollegiate sport. The amount of the scholarship will be determined by January of each year by the Director of the University Advancement based on the interest earnings in the [...] More
To be eligible for the Augustana College Athletic Grant, students must earn at least a 3.0 GPA while enrolled at Augustana to maintain these scholarships in subsequent years. these grants are awarded to outstanding student-athletes; NCAA Division II, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More
The Billy Smith Memorial Scholarship provides educational resources for graduation high school baseball or softball players who intend to pursue a sports-related college degree. Applicant must be a graduating high school senior, reside in Winnebago, Boone, Ogle or Stephenson County, have played at least three years of baseball or softball in high school, including senior year, must major in a [...] More
The Brian Pearson Memorial Scholarship recognizes outstanding athletes from Iowa. One $1,000 scholarship annually will be awarded to one male and one female Iowan. Throughout the selection process, the degree of participation in the Iowa Games will be given consideration, as well as the applicant’s display of character. Eligible recipients for the scholarship are those students who will be in [...] More
The Buster Lindsay Memorial Scholarship provides educational resources to student athletes from Jefferson High School to assist them in college. Applicant must be a graduating senior from Jefferson High school, have participated in high school sports for a minimum of 3 years (including senior year), have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and plan to attend a two- or four- year college or university. For more [...] More
Through the Cameron Impact Scholarship, the Bryan Cameron Education Foundation seeks to invest in exceptional individuals who will make a notable impact in their varied professional and personal relationships throughout their entire lives. Applicants must be high school students graduating in the spring following the application deadline, planning to enroll in a full-time course of study toward a [...] More
The Athletics Scholarship is available to student-athletes in CCU's College of Undergraduate Studies who are recommended for scholarship consideration by the CCU Athletics Department. Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress, unless otherwise noted by the Athletics Department. Prospective student athletes should contact their specific coach for further information. Must be a [...] More
The California Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Two types of scholarships are offered - scholarships for four years at any campus in the University of California or California State University System, and scholarships for two years at any California community college. Only the children with a parent or legal guardian employed by a [...] More
The Deborah Jean Rydberg Memorial Scholarship provides educational resources for Guilford High School students to pursue their dreams through higher education. Applicant must be a female graduating senior from Guilford High School who is involved in athletics, has a minimum GPA of 2.3, plans on attending college and demonstrates a strong work ethic. A recommendation from a Guilford coach is [...] More
The selection process for DeSales University Presidential Scholarships is competitive with awards going to the highest ranking applicants based upon a 3.8 GPA, being in the top 10% of their class, and a 1410 SAT score or an ACT of 30. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More
To be eligible for the First Presbyterian Church of Richardson Mitchell/Tufts Scholarship, applicants must: be active members of a Presbyterian church; reside in North Central Texas; be accepted for enrollment or are currently enrolled in a two- or four-year undergraduate program in an accredited college, university, vocational school or trade school; demonstrate financial need; and, have work [...] More
The FMC Skaters Scholarship program was developed to provide financial assistance to ice sports participants and recreational ice skaters that demonstrate personal excellence on and off the ice. The scholarships are awarded to ice hockey, figure skating and recreational skaters. All applicants must be New England residents, high school seniors, and skate at FMC arenas. For more information or to [...] More
In addition to several general scholarships available, several other specialized scholarships are available in: accounting, anthropology, art, athletics, business, construction management, culinary, cultural diversity, diversity, education/early childhood education, first generation, FIT fitness instructor training, GED, healthcare, horticulture/plant science, humanities, journalism/writing, [...] More
The Gene & John Athletic Fund provides scholarships to emerging lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer athletes to help them reach their potential and realize their dreams. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's [...] More
The Harold Colby/Ray Barton NHASH Memorial Scholarship is open to high school students interested in pursuing a degree in any Environmental Science field. Special consideration will be given to applicants with immediate family members who are NHASH members or with immediate family members who are involved in an industry related business or organization which meets the criteria for membership as [...] More
The Joyce Komperda Athlete Support Fund fund is intended to provide financial assistance for intermediate, novice and junior-level athletes who demonstrate financial need. Applicants can be singles, pairs or ice dancing competitor at the intermediate through junior levels and must be a current member of U.S. Figure Skating. A 250-word essay is required as well. For more information or to apply, [...] More
The Lee E. Schauer Scholarship is intended to reach students who may not qualify for other scholarships - "average" students who are involved in their community and in school activities, who are leaders and display character traits like caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, but whose GPA may eliminate them from consideration for other scholarships. The criteria for the scholarship are: [...] More
The Massachusetts Youth Soccer Scholarship Program is for high school seniors who plan to attend a post-secondary educational institution. A scholarship will be awarded to one male and one female each year. To be eligible for this scholarship, the student-athlete must have been associated with Massachusetts Youth Soccer for at least the past two years. For more information or to apply, please [...] More
Matrix Health Group companies offer scholarship opportunities to students diagnosed with hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease, or other bleeding disorders, and in the case of three of the scholarships, immediate family members may also apply. Applicants are not required to be past, current, or future customers of Matrix Health Group or its companies. Applicants must be a United States resident who [...] More
The Mike Lozano Scholarship is given annually to a graduating high school senior athlete from the northernmost 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. A minimum 2.0 GPA is required and students must be interested in pursuing a degree in education and/or coaching for the purpose of teaching and coaching at the high school level upon graduation from college. For more information or to apply, please [...] More
The Professional Bowlers Association Billy Welu Scholarship is awarded annually, recognizing exemplary qualities in male or female college students who compete in the sport of bowling. The scholarship winner receives $1,000. To be eligible candidates must be amateur bowlers who are currently in college (preceding the application date) and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA or equivalent. For more [...] More
The Pittsburgh Penguins awards an annual Pittsburgh Penguins/Bob Johnson Memorial Scholarship to a Western Pennsylvania high school senior who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, good citizenship, and school/community involvement. The student should demonstrate an intense love for the game of hockey personified by on-ice hustle, achievement beyond his/her talent level, leadership, [...] More
The Sean Patrick French Memorial Scholarship is offered to a Chatham High School senior. This award supports Cross Country runners selected as the Good Sport Award winners by Section II coaches. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation Scholarship for the Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment is intended for eligible college and graduate school women who desire to work and contribute their efforts within the field. The scholarship is granted to four applicants annually who are matriculating full-time in their sophomore, junior, senior or first year of graduate school. A minimum GPA [...] More
The John F. & Edith L. Wilsterman Foundation scholarship program is open to all college and trade/vocational students graduating from Genesee County, Michigan public high schools and from Luke M. Powers Catholic High School. The governing board has authority to open the program to other local students in its sole discretion. The foundation seeks candidates with character and the potential for [...] More
To receive the Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship, The Promise requires that you live in the City of Pittsburgh, continuously, without interruption, for at least the four years of high school; attend Pittsburgh Public Schools, continuously, without interruption, from at least the beginning of 9th grade, and through to graduation; graduate with a cumulative 2.5 GPA or better; maintain an attendance [...] More
To be eligible for the The Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation Scholarships, applicants must: be a high school senior; have Type 1 diabetes and are properly managing in; have participated in athletics; and, have a 3.0 GPA. Candidates are notified in June. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More
The Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowship in Women's Studies encourages original and significant research about women that crosses disciplinary, regional, or cultural boundaries, and supports the final year of dissertation writing for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences whose work addresses topics of women and gender in interdisciplinary and original ways. Previous Fellows [...] More
The Thomas K. Besh Memorial Scholarship Fund is offered to skiers. Eligible applicants must be Alaskan residents, have a 2.75 GPA, and be a high school senior, high school graduate, or attending an accredited university. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More
The Malloy Conference, hosted by SABR's Negro Leagues Committee, promotes activities to enhance scholarly, educational, and literary objectives. Since 1998, the event has been the only academic symposium dedicated exclusively to the examination and promotion of black baseball history. The conference, the brainchild of Ted Knorr from Harrisburg, PA, is open to sport and history fans of all ages. [...] More
The University of Cincinnati Balanced Man Scholarship is based upon the Balanced Man ideals upon which Sigma Phi was founded. At the University of Cincinnati, our chapter awards 15 scholarships at the beginning of each year to incoming freshman that have proven to be scholars, athletes, leaders, and balanced men throughout high school. The scholarship process consists of three simple steps: [...] More
The USBC Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow recognizes star qualities in a male high school senior or college student who competes in the sport of bowling. Star qualities include distinguished certified bowling performance on the local, regional, state and national levels, academic achievement and extracurricular and civic involvement. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship [...] More
The VFW's "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship" provides service members and veterans with the financial assistance they need to complete their educational goals without incurring excessive student loan debt. Applications are open twice a year for the fall and spring semesters. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are retired, honorably discharged, active duty, or a member of the National Guard [...] More
The prestigious Churchill Scholarship offers American students the opportunity to attend, for one year of study, the University of Cambridge for one of two Master’s degrees: the MPhil (Master of Philosophy) or MASt (Master of Advanced Study). An applicant for the Churchill Scholarship must be a citizen of the United States, either native born or naturalized, and must be a senior who is enrolled [...] More
The WWGF charitable trust was formed to receive and distribute funds to advance women in scholastic achievement and intercollegiate golf program. Applicant must be a female high school senior who actively participate in golf, earn a 3.5 GPA (on 4.0 scale), demonstrate outstanding character and require financial assistance to attend a four year college in the U.S. For more information or to apply, [...] More
Test-optional admissions defined the college application season for 2021, and lead to many competitive schools seeing record application numbers. A few colleges and universities that adopted the policy during the pandemic have decided to continue test-optional admissions for the foreseeable future. Other institutions are waiting for hard data to make a decision on whether to keep test-optional admissions or return to requiring SAT and ACT scores as was standard for college admissions before COVID-19. A new study reveals some positive trends for schools that went test-optional prior to pandemic. [...]
Traditionally taken the first two weeks of May, the AP Exams test students’ knowledge from their Advanced Placement classes, with the possibility of being awarded college credit for a high score. Last year, the College Board made significant chances to the AP Exams in order to accommodate the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on students, schools and curriculums. This year, the exams will look more like they have in the past, but with some notable changes. [...]
Let’s say you’ve made it. You are enrolled in college, or have been for a year or two. You’re receiving some financial aid, or even a scholarship, but something’s missing. It’s money. No matter how generous the package you’re receiving is, there’s always one more book to buy, one more activity fee, one more dining hall bill… [...]
