Average scholarship amount for track athletes?

I'm considering running track in college and was wondering about the financial side. Does anyone know the average scholarship amount that men's track athletes might receive at the collegiate level?

The NCAA regulates athletic scholarships, so the precise average amount can vary, but for perspective, a full scholarship that covers all tuition, room and board can range from $20,000 at a public college all the way to $60,000 at some private institutions.

That being said, full scholarships for men's track and field athletes are uncommon because track and field is an NCAA "equivalency" sport. This means that coaches have a certain dollar amount of scholarships that they can distribute among their athletes however they wish - they can distribute 10 full scholarships, or 20 half scholarships, or any other distribution they choose.

Given that a typical track and field team can have 30 or more athletes, it's often the case that these scholarships are divided into partial awards rather than full scholarships. This allows coaches to recruit more athletes to their team. It's also worth noting that only NCAA Division I and Division II schools can offer athletic scholarships. Division III schools, despite highly competitive athletic programs, do not offer athletic scholarships but do offer academic scholarships.

You should also be aware that these athletic scholarships are usually a year-to-year commitment and can be reduced or not renewed. Make sure you understand the details of your athletic scholarship before accepting it.

In the end, the specific amount will depend on your skill level, the school's available scholarship budget, and how much the coach values your contribution to the team. It is always a good idea to have these conversations with potential college coaches during the recruitment process.