Niche College Scholarship
Updated: April 2, 2024

Fencing Scholarships

Although it may not be a popular sport as football or other college sports, fencing has been in collegiate athletic programs for hundreds of years. Though not all schools offer it, some universities like Columbia, Penn State, Princeton, Notre Dame, Harvard St. John's, and UPenn have highly prestigious programs and offer generous financial aid and scholarships to well-qualified fencers. Traditional fencing scholarships, are competitive and require minimum GPA requirements, partly due to the fact that the sport is not found at many colleges. As the sport grows in popularity in the United States, so will competition for scholarships. So if you’re at all serious about fencing and your skill level is high, the sport could be something that not only gets you a good amount of scholarship money but lands you at a top university because of your unique skill. The college-based scholarships you will find will most likely be partial scholarships, as schools with a tradition in the sport are more interested in having a strong fencing team rather than one strong player they would award a full ride to. Even if you don’t end up playing at the collegiate level, you can look at club or intramural teams for scholarship opportunities or even a memorial scholarship that does not necessarily require you to compete at the college level.

Continue reading the article below the scholarship list.

25 Fencing Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines

  • 1

  • Cameron Impact Scholarship

  • Amount$160,000
  • DeadlineMay 22, 2024

There are countless ways to make a positive impact in many professional careers. The Cameron Impact Scholar has both the ability and the intent to make real, tangible contributions in their lifelong dedication to the greater good. The Foundation will allocate approximately a quarter of the scholarships to individuals pursuing careers in education, non-profits, government, and/or military and have

  • 2

  • J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship

  • Amount$10,000
  • DeadlineDecember 31, 2024

J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarships (including Service to Golf Scholarships) are based on financial need. Current monetary awards range per academic year for undergraduate students. You may apply during your senior year of high school, or while you are enrolled in college. You must work at least 30 loops yearly as a caddie, or work a minimum number of weekly hours in a Service to Golf position at

  • 3

  • Executive Women International Scholarship Program

  • Amount$10,000
  • DeadlineMarch 25, 2025

The EWISP Scholarship is a non-discriminatory, educational scholarship program for the benefit of traditional students pursuing an associates, bachelor's or master's degree, or certification program in a specific career path. These include persons who are: High school seniors enrolled in a public, private, charter or parochial school located within the boundaries of a participating EWI Chapter or

  • 4

  • SJCF Stockton Student Athletes Scholarship Fund

  • Amount$6,000
  • DeadlineMarch 31, 2025

The Stockton Student Athletes Scholarship Fund was originally established as the Jester’s Club Athletic Scholarship Fund in 2015 at the Community Foundation of San Joaquin. The fund was renamed the Stockton Student Athletes Scholarship Fund in 2020. Two renewable scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each will be awarded this cycle, which means you could receive up to $6,000 over four

  • 5

  • Kylie Murray Memorial Flight Training Scholarship

  • Amount$11,000
  • DeadlineApril 1, 2025

The Kylie Murray Memorial Flight Training Scholarship is dedicated to honoring Kylie Murray's legacy by providing flight training opportunities to deserving individuals. Scholarship Details This endowed scholarship is administered through the EAA chapter network. It is available to women between the ages of 16 and 19 who are committed to earning an aviation-oriented college degree.

You need not be one of the best fence players in the state to win a scholarship - you can always opt to play at colleges that have club or intramural teams. Organizations that offer fencing scholarships may put more weight on financial need, academic achievement, or community service than the more competitive college-based awards.

Check out some examples of where to find fencing scholarships below. For additional information about awards based on different criteria, try conducting a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com.

NCAA Scholarships

About $3 billion in full and partial athletic scholarships have been awarded in a 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 play on a college team.

College-Based Scholarships

If you plan on pursuing fencing in college, whether on the school-sponsored team or club level, your intended college could have funds and endowments for the sport, often set up by alumni who have participated in the sport before you ever set foot on that campus. Schools like Notre Dame, Harvard, and Stanford are well-known for their prestigious fencing programs and so your chances of participating on the teams will require not only high-level fencing skill but strong academics as well. 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. Communicating with the college fencing coach during your junior or senior year is highly recommended as well, so as to establish a relationship and good rapport - coaches will remember your initiative when it comes to considering you for a scholarship.

United States Fencing Association

The United States Fencing Association is the national governing body for fencing in the United States. It has a number of scholarships available to its members through its member clubs across the country. If you're a member of U.S. Fencing or a U.S. Fencing-sanctioned state association or club, research whether you're eligible for awards through the organization, since you may as well take advantage of your membership status. If you have proven financial need, many of the local clubs will take that into consideration if you’re really interested in joining. Presidio Fencing Club in Santa Barbara, for example, offers members scholarships through its Youth Fencers Assistance Program. Applicants are required to show a copy of their family’s tax returns as proof of financial need, and maintain a GPA of at least 2.5. Consider all of your options when looking for funding to help you stay in fencing, as funding for the sport on the college level is not as plentiful as it is for more high-profile sports.