What's the average scholarship amount for college football players?

I'm curious about what kind of scholarships college football players usually get. Do they generally receive full rides, or is the average amount lower? I'm trying to understand the financial benefits of playing sports at the college level.

While the exact amount can vary significantly from one school to another and from one player to another, Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools, which are the top-level collegiate football schools (such as those in the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC), often offer full-ride scholarships to highly recruited players. These scholarships cover tuition, room, board, textbooks, and even a small stipend for personal expenses. Worth pointing out though, these full-ride scholarships are highly competitive.

It's a different story at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools, where they have approximately 63 scholarships to split amongst the team. This could lead to partial scholarships, covering only a portion of the total cost of attendance.

However, Division II and Division III schools operate differently. DII schools also offer partial scholarships, and DIII schools, by rule, do not offer athletic scholarships at all, though athletes can still receive academic scholarships or need-based aid.

It's important to note that all athletics scholarships at DI and DII schools are basically one-year agreements, renewable each year. They are not automatically four-year scholarships. Coaches decide every year whether to renew, increase or decrease the amount, or not renew an athlete’s scholarship.

While playing sports at the college level can indeed bring significant financial benefits, it would be important to be aware of these nuances before forming any expectations.