Niche College Scholarship
Updated: June 26, 2017

Esports Scholarships

female college student gamer with VR headset

All those long nights staying up till 2 am to play video games can finally pay off...literally. Being an avid gamer in this day and age is now worth more than just fun and games - there are quite a few scholarships for gamers who are looking to pay for college! Esports have entered the collegiate sports arena, where students can land Esports scholarships and get paid to play.

Continue reading the article below the scholarship list.

25 Esports Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines

Esports has been around for nearly two decades, but is fairly new in the collegiate arena. There are more than thirty U.S. colleges and universities that offer scholarships for gamers, and the University of Utah is one of the larger sports schools to offer scholarships for video gaming. Its varsity Esports team competes at the popular and high-profile League of Legends competition. The university currently offers players partial video game scholarships, with the future goal of offering full video game scholarships to its gaming team. The University of California-Irvine similarly recruits students on partial video game scholarships and have even built a gaming arena for gamers and its school's 10-player team. Robert Morris University was the first college in the U.S. to offer video gaming scholarships, where students can earn up to $19,000 a year in gaming scholarships. Robert Morris University Esports athletes also don team uniforms and post-game meals, just like any other collegiate sports team.

Although many Esports teams are co-ed, the many of the gamers are men. Stephens College joined the National Association of Collegiate Esports, which is home to over 31 video game scholarship-sponsored Esports programs and it is the first women's college to sponsor a varsity team and offer video game scholarships for women. The roster allows for up to twelve female gamers, all of who receive partial video game scholarships.

Benefits of Gaming Scholarships

By assisting students in their pursuit of an interactive arts degree, gaming scholarships enable people to transform their passion for gaming into a lucrative career in video game development or graphic design. Students who get financial aid can concentrate on improving their gaming abilities and acquiring the skills required to be successful in the video game industry.

Furthermore, students might obtain financial support from many sources due to the possibility of multiple scholarships and funding possibilities. This lessens the financial burden of getting an interactive arts degree and raises the possibility that they will be able to pay for their school.

Eligibility Requirements for Gaming Scholarships

In addition to being fun, video games can be a means of obtaining higher education for a large number of young people through gaming scholarships. These scholarships are available to athletes that excel in competitive gaming and maintain a high level of academic performance. The scholarships come with cash support. Scholarship candidates in gaming often have requirements to meet, which vary depending on the organization or university offering the money. Just two of the many criteria used to determine who qualifies for gaming scholarships and what amount of financial aid they can get are academic status and esports accomplishments.

Application Process for Gaming Scholarship Programs

Do you have a strong interest in gaming and need money to support your education? There are numerous gaming scholarship programs available to assist students in pursuing their academic and professional objectives in the gaming sector. This section will cover how to apply for gaming scholarship programs, what selection committees usually look for in applicants, and advice on how to put together a great application. Whether you want to work in game development, design, esports, or another area of the gaming business, being aware of the application process can help you make a compelling case for these positions.

If you're looking to play competitively at the collegiate level and earn a college scholarship while doing so, there are plenty of video game arts scholarships with many more to come as popularity increases at the collegiate level. Here's a list of scholarships for talented gamers: