What Sports Offer the Best College Scholarships?

I'm currently weighing my options for choosing a sport in high school. I'm very curious about which sports tend to offer the best scholarships for college. Are there sports that are known for having more scholarship availability?

It’s important to note that the availability of athletic scholarships can vary widely based on several factors, such as the athletic division of the college, the popularity of the sport, the talent level of the athlete, and whether the school has a men's or women's program for that sport.

Typically, sports that generate a lot of revenue for colleges, especially in Division I schools, offer a good number of scholarships. These "head count" sports, as they're known, include football, men's and women's basketball, women's gymnastics, volleyball, and tennis. In these sports, most athletes who receive scholarships get a full ride, meaning the scholarship covers their full cost of attendance.

Football tends to provide the most scholarships simply because of the size of the teams. Schools under the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision each have 85 scholarships that can be given to students.

However, "equivalency" sports, such as baseball, track and field, and swimming, might provide more opportunities to get some level of athletic scholarship, but they're often not full scholarships. These are split among more athletes, and it's more common to get a partial scholarship.

Nonetheless, all this also depends on your individual skill level and dedication to the sport. A less popular sport where you excel could provide more scholarship opportunities for you compared to a popular sport where you're more average. Remember, colleges are looking for athletes who can bring note-worthy skill and significant contributions to their teams.

Finally, considering sports offered by schools outside of NCAA Division I could increase your chances of getting an athletic scholarship. The NCAA Division II, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and even junior colleges also offer sports scholarships.

Remember to not only consider the sport, but also the fit of the school academically and socially. An athletic scholarship is a fantastic accomplishment, but your college choice should ultimately be about getting a good education and having a meaningful college experience.