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

  • 1

  • Hawaii Pacific University Esports Scholarship

  • Amount$24,000
  • DeadlineMay 1, 2025

Esports scholarships are awarded to a select number of incoming undergraduate students interested in joining Hawaii Pacific University's esports team. Qualified gamers can earn scholarships valued between $1,000 - $6,000 per year. Hawaii Pacific University is honored to have the first esports arena in the state of Hawaii. Only those who have submitted both a complete admissions application and a

  • 2

  • University of Akron Varsity Esports Scholarship

  • Amount$2,500
  • DeadlineJanuary 31, 2026

Our university was built on a hilltop in Akron — a word meaning “the highest point.” For over 150 years, that’s where we’ve set our sights, rising from one peak to another in engineering, business, technology, health care, and the arts and sciences. Bound and determined to meet every challenge, we continue to climb, to forge new paths and reach new heights — and we want you to join us. We have

  • 3

  • University of Mount Union Esports Scholarship

  • Amount$4,000
  • DeadlineVaries

A Mount Union education is affordable for students of all backgrounds thanks to our robust scholarship and grant offerings. There are several state and federal options available to assist you, as well as many Mount Union awards that are specific to your career at the university. It is very important that you report any change in your housing status to Student Financial Aid as soon as possible.

  • 4

  • UCI Esports Scholarship Program

  • Amount$6,000
  • DeadlineVaries

UCI is the first public university to create an official esports program and is regarded as one of the best and most comprehensive in the world. The vision for the esports program was born in the summer of 2015. With a successful Computer Game Science major, a thriving gaming community, and a history of elite competition, UCI is a natural place for esports to thrive. Eligibility

  • 5

  • Schreiner University Esports Scholarship

  • Amount$4,000
  • DeadlineVaries

Schreiner University prepares students for meaningful work and a purposeful life in a changing global society through personalized, integrated education in a rich learning environment. It’s all part of The Schreiner Experience, which starts the first day on campus when all required course materials are ready for them—at no additional cost. Students have the opportunity to earn scholarships for

  • 6

  • Bethany Lutheran College Esports Scholarship

  • AmountVaries
  • DeadlineVaries

Bethany Lutheran College seeks top-level competitors for Varsity and JV competition in League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League and other games. Bethany’s Erik “DoA” Lonnquist is an internationally acclaimed esports broadcaster, an alumnus, and a founder of the esports program. By choosing to compete at Bethany, competitors are offered a state-of-the-art esports gaming facility for training

  • 7

  • Southwestern College Esports Activity Grant

  • Amount$20,000
  • DeadlineVaries

eSports at Southwestern provides an arena in which students can enjoy playing video games in competition with each other, and with students from other colleges. The sport has grown rapidly in the past few years to include teams from schools and colleges in the USA and from around the world. The eSports activity grant is housed in the Division of Communication, Computer Science, and English. This

  • 8

  • Trine University Esports Activity Award

  • Amount$4,000
  • DeadlineVaries

Trine University offers an extensive list of awards for prospective students. If you need additional information about awards offered, please contact your admission counselor or call The Office of Admission. Please note, students enrolled in 3+3, 3+2 or some 3+1 programs are considered undergraduates in years one, two and three. The fourth, fifth and sixth year they are considered a graduate

  • 9

  • Alma College Esports Scholarship

  • Amount$6,000
  • DeadlineVaries

Performance Scholarships are available to talented students in art, dance, music (both vocal and instrumental), theatre, Scottish Arts and esports. Students demonstrating exemplary performance in any of these areas may be eligible for Distinguished awards, earning up to full tuition. All funds are awarded at the discretion of the fine and performing arts faculty, and students’ intended major or

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: