Understanding how athletic scholarships work is crucial for families navigating the college recruiting process. The NCAA limits the number of scholarships each school can offer by sport and division, and these scholarships are distributed according to one of two models: headcount sports, which offer a limited number of full scholarships (such as women’s Division I basketball), and equivalency sports like soccer, hockey, and track, where coaches divide a pool of scholarship money among many players. For example, in women’s Division I soccer, teams can offer up to 14 scholarships but usually have rosters of 25–30 players, meaning full scholarships are rare and most athletes receive partial aid.
How Many Scholarships Are Out There?
According to NCSA (a great website with a lot of good resources), the NCAA allows schools to offer a limited number of scholarships per team, and how those scholarships are distributed depends entirely on the sport and division.
There are two basic models:
Headcount sports (like women’s D1 basketball or gymnastics): scholarships are full-ride only, but limited in number.
Equivalency sports (like soccer, hockey, and track): coaches receive a pool of money and divide it among the roster.
For example, women’s soccer at the D1 level is an equivalency sport with a max of 14 scholarships per team—but most rosters have 25–30 players. That means full rides are rare and most athletes receive partial scholarships at best.
What’s the Average Athletic Scholarship Worth?
Let’s cut to the chase.
Across all NCAA divisions, the average athletic scholarship is around $14,000 to $16,000 per year. That may sound like a solid amount—but in the context of schools that cost $40K–$70K per year, it leaves a big gap to fill.
Here are some ballpark averages (from public data and school reports):
Men’s Soccer (D1): ~$15,000
Women’s Soccer (D1): ~$17,700
Women’s Ice Hockey (D1): ~$41,700 (due to fewer teams and higher per-player investment)
Football (FBS): ~$45,000 (usually full rides)
Basketball (Men/Women, D1): ~$34,000–$38,000 (headcount sports = full rides)
These numbers reflect averages, not guaranteed amounts. Some athletes receive far less—or none at all.
What Do Scholarships Actually Cover?
Athletic scholarships can be used to cover:
Tuition
Room and board
Books and academic fees
Meal plans
Occasionally travel or gear (depends on the school)
But here's the catch: many scholarships only cover tuition, especially partial ones.
So if your athlete receives a $10,000 athletic scholarship at a $55,000 university, you’re still responsible for the rest—unless they also qualify for academic, need-based, or merit aid.
3 Scholarship Myths That Cost Families
❌ Myth #1: “If you’re good enough, you’ll be discovered.”
Not true. Most athletes need to proactively reach out to coaches and showcase their abilities—especially in equivalency sports.
❌ Myth #2: “Everyone on a D1 team has a full ride.”
Very few do—even at the D1 level. Coaches spread their budgets across rosters to build the best teams they can.
❌ Myth #3: “D3 doesn’t offer scholarships, so it’s not worth it.”
While D3 doesn’t offer athletic scholarships, many athletes get generous academic and merit packages—sometimes covering more than D1 athletic aid.
What Should Families Do Instead?
Focus on:
Finding the right fit, not just the highest level
Blending athletic, academic, and need-based aid
Creating a strong highlight video
Learning how to email and follow up with coaches effectively
Understanding each program’s funding structure
Want to Get Smart About Scholarships? Join Our Email List
If you're trying to keep track of what each school offers, how much aid to expect, and what steps to take—you're not alone.
Join our email list and get:
Early access to new guides and tools
Tips on how to combine athletic and academic aid
Real insights that save you time (and money)
👉 Sign up below for our email newsletter to take control of the recruiting process—with clarity, not guesswork.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let scholarship myths or misunderstandings cost your family money and opportunities. Join our email list for exclusive access to expert guides, tips on blending athletic and academic aid, and proven strategies to help your athlete stand out to college coaches. Take control of the recruiting process today—because scholarships go to those who show up, follow up, and stand out.
Understanding how athletic scholarships work is crucial for families navigating the college recruiting process. The NCAA limits the number of scholarships each school can offer by sport and division, and these scholarships are distributed according to one of two models: headcount sports, which offer a limited number of full scholarships (such as women’s Division I basketball), and equivalency sports like soccer, hockey, and track, where coaches divide a pool of scholarship money among many players. For example, in women’s Division I soccer, teams can offer up to 14 scholarships but usually have rosters of 25–30 players, meaning full scholarships are rare and most athletes receive partial aid.
How Many Scholarships Are Out There?
According to NCSA (a great website with a lot of good resources), the NCAA allows schools to offer a limited number of scholarships per team, and how those scholarships are distributed depends entirely on the sport and division.
There are two basic models:
Headcount sports (like women’s D1 basketball or gymnastics): scholarships are full-ride only, but limited in number.
Equivalency sports (like soccer, hockey, and track): coaches receive a pool of money and divide it among the roster.
For example, women’s soccer at the D1 level is an equivalency sport with a max of 14 scholarships per team—but most rosters have 25–30 players. That means full rides are rare and most athletes receive partial scholarships at best.
What’s the Average Athletic Scholarship Worth?
Let’s cut to the chase.
Across all NCAA divisions, the average athletic scholarship is around $14,000 to $16,000 per year. That may sound like a solid amount—but in the context of schools that cost $40K–$70K per year, it leaves a big gap to fill.
Here are some ballpark averages (from public data and school reports):
Men’s Soccer (D1): ~$15,000
Women’s Soccer (D1): ~$17,700
Women’s Ice Hockey (D1): ~$41,700 (due to fewer teams and higher per-player investment)
Football (FBS): ~$45,000 (usually full rides)
Basketball (Men/Women, D1): ~$34,000–$38,000 (headcount sports = full rides)
These numbers reflect averages, not guaranteed amounts. Some athletes receive far less—or none at all.
What Do Scholarships Actually Cover?
Athletic scholarships can be used to cover:
Tuition
Room and board
Books and academic fees
Meal plans
Occasionally travel or gear (depends on the school)
But here's the catch: many scholarships only cover tuition, especially partial ones.
So if your athlete receives a $10,000 athletic scholarship at a $55,000 university, you’re still responsible for the rest—unless they also qualify for academic, need-based, or merit aid.
3 Scholarship Myths That Cost Families
❌ Myth #1: “If you’re good enough, you’ll be discovered.”
Not true. Most athletes need to proactively reach out to coaches and showcase their abilities—especially in equivalency sports.
❌ Myth #2: “Everyone on a D1 team has a full ride.”
Very few do—even at the D1 level. Coaches spread their budgets across rosters to build the best teams they can.
❌ Myth #3: “D3 doesn’t offer scholarships, so it’s not worth it.”
While D3 doesn’t offer athletic scholarships, many athletes get generous academic and merit packages—sometimes covering more than D1 athletic aid.
What Should Families Do Instead?
Focus on:
Finding the right fit, not just the highest level
Blending athletic, academic, and need-based aid
Creating a strong highlight video
Learning how to email and follow up with coaches effectively
Understanding each program’s funding structure
Want to Get Smart About Scholarships? Join Our Email List
If you're trying to keep track of what each school offers, how much aid to expect, and what steps to take—you're not alone.
Join our email list and get:
Early access to new guides and tools
Tips on how to combine athletic and academic aid
Real insights that save you time (and money)
👉 Sign up below for our email newsletter to take control of the recruiting process—with clarity, not guesswork.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let scholarship myths or misunderstandings cost your family money and opportunities. Join our email list for exclusive access to expert guides, tips on blending athletic and academic aid, and proven strategies to help your athlete stand out to college coaches. Take control of the recruiting process today—because scholarships go to those who show up, follow up, and stand out.
Understanding how athletic scholarships work is crucial for families navigating the college recruiting process. The NCAA limits the number of scholarships each school can offer by sport and division, and these scholarships are distributed according to one of two models: headcount sports, which offer a limited number of full scholarships (such as women’s Division I basketball), and equivalency sports like soccer, hockey, and track, where coaches divide a pool of scholarship money among many players. For example, in women’s Division I soccer, teams can offer up to 14 scholarships but usually have rosters of 25–30 players, meaning full scholarships are rare and most athletes receive partial aid.
How Many Scholarships Are Out There?
According to NCSA (a great website with a lot of good resources), the NCAA allows schools to offer a limited number of scholarships per team, and how those scholarships are distributed depends entirely on the sport and division.
There are two basic models:
Headcount sports (like women’s D1 basketball or gymnastics): scholarships are full-ride only, but limited in number.
Equivalency sports (like soccer, hockey, and track): coaches receive a pool of money and divide it among the roster.
For example, women’s soccer at the D1 level is an equivalency sport with a max of 14 scholarships per team—but most rosters have 25–30 players. That means full rides are rare and most athletes receive partial scholarships at best.
What’s the Average Athletic Scholarship Worth?
Let’s cut to the chase.
Across all NCAA divisions, the average athletic scholarship is around $14,000 to $16,000 per year. That may sound like a solid amount—but in the context of schools that cost $40K–$70K per year, it leaves a big gap to fill.
Here are some ballpark averages (from public data and school reports):
Men’s Soccer (D1): ~$15,000
Women’s Soccer (D1): ~$17,700
Women’s Ice Hockey (D1): ~$41,700 (due to fewer teams and higher per-player investment)
Football (FBS): ~$45,000 (usually full rides)
Basketball (Men/Women, D1): ~$34,000–$38,000 (headcount sports = full rides)
These numbers reflect averages, not guaranteed amounts. Some athletes receive far less—or none at all.
What Do Scholarships Actually Cover?
Athletic scholarships can be used to cover:
Tuition
Room and board
Books and academic fees
Meal plans
Occasionally travel or gear (depends on the school)
But here's the catch: many scholarships only cover tuition, especially partial ones.
So if your athlete receives a $10,000 athletic scholarship at a $55,000 university, you’re still responsible for the rest—unless they also qualify for academic, need-based, or merit aid.
3 Scholarship Myths That Cost Families
❌ Myth #1: “If you’re good enough, you’ll be discovered.”
Not true. Most athletes need to proactively reach out to coaches and showcase their abilities—especially in equivalency sports.
❌ Myth #2: “Everyone on a D1 team has a full ride.”
Very few do—even at the D1 level. Coaches spread their budgets across rosters to build the best teams they can.
❌ Myth #3: “D3 doesn’t offer scholarships, so it’s not worth it.”
While D3 doesn’t offer athletic scholarships, many athletes get generous academic and merit packages—sometimes covering more than D1 athletic aid.
What Should Families Do Instead?
Focus on:
Finding the right fit, not just the highest level
Blending athletic, academic, and need-based aid
Creating a strong highlight video
Learning how to email and follow up with coaches effectively
Understanding each program’s funding structure
Want to Get Smart About Scholarships? Join Our Email List
If you're trying to keep track of what each school offers, how much aid to expect, and what steps to take—you're not alone.
Join our email list and get:
Early access to new guides and tools
Tips on how to combine athletic and academic aid
Real insights that save you time (and money)
👉 Sign up below for our email newsletter to take control of the recruiting process—with clarity, not guesswork.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let scholarship myths or misunderstandings cost your family money and opportunities. Join our email list for exclusive access to expert guides, tips on blending athletic and academic aid, and proven strategies to help your athlete stand out to college coaches. Take control of the recruiting process today—because scholarships go to those who show up, follow up, and stand out.
