Honestly feeling a bit pressure-cooked about affording college, and I'm athletic so I'm looking at scholarships. Does anyone know which college sport tends to offer the most scholarships? Would be very thankful for the info!
Sure, I can help with that. In terms of sheer quantity, Track & Field and Football tend to offer the most scholarship opportunities in total just because they have larger team sizes, hence more spots available. Men's Football at Division I level, for instance, can offer up to 85 full scholarships (and up to 105 starting in the 2025-2026 academic year), and Women's Track & Field and Cross Country combined can offer up to 18 scholarships at Division I level (and up to 45 starting in the 2025-2026 academic year).
However, it's important to note that the number of scholarships doesn't necessarily translate into your odds getting one. For instance, although football offers a lot of scholarships, the competition is extremely fierce for those spots. The same applies for any sport—the level of competition can be extremely high, so while the numbers may seem encouraging, you should also take into consideration your own skills, dedication, and competitiveness in your chosen sport.
Moreover, Division I schools have more scholarships available compared to Division II and III, but the competition at the Division I level is also more intense. In contrast, Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but they do offer other forms of financial aid that you might qualify for.
So, I'd suggest looking at where your strengths lie and which sports you excel in rather than only looking at sports with the most scholarships. Being outstanding in a less popular sport could also be a great way to stand out.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.