How do scholarships for college athletes work?

I'm a high school athlete considering playing sports in college. How do athletic scholarships work? Are they full-ride scholarships or does it depend on the sport and division? Any advice on the recruitment process would be helpful too!

Athletic scholarships can indeed be a significant support system for student-athletes, helping to lighten the financial load of college tuition. However, the type of scholarship and the amount awarded will depend on several factors.

First, it's important to know that NCAA Division I and II schools do offer athletic scholarships; however, Division III schools do not. This isn't to say that you can't get financial aid as an athlete at a Division III school, it's just that it won't come in the form of an athletic scholarship.

Now, when it comes to whether these scholarships cover the full cost of attendance, it largely depends on the sport and the specificity of it being a headcount or equivalency sport. In headcount sports, which include Division I men's basketball and football, and Division I women's basketball, volleyball, tennis, and gymnastics, every athlete on scholarship receives a full-ride. That is, their scholarship covers tuition, room, board, books, and even additional costs like transportation.

For equivalency sports, which are all the other sports not listed above, scholarships are distributed as a pool of money. In these cases, coaches have the flexibility to divide their allotted scholarships among a greater number of athletes. This way, you might receive a scholarship that covers 50%, 75%, or any other fraction of these costs.

Regarding the recruitment process, my advice would be to start as early as your freshman year of high school. Create a clear, succinct highlight reel of your performances. This can help recruiters to assess your skills quickly. Reach out to college coaches yourself, express your interest, and provide them with your stats and highlight videos.

When you get into the later years of high school, make sure your grades are strong and your standardized test scores are solid. Remember: You're not just recruiting for a sports team, you're also applying to an academic institution. Lastly, consider all offers and ensure the school fits both your athletic and academic goals. It can be beneficial to chat with current student-athletes at the schools you're interested in to get an insight from their perspective too! Coaches and guidance counselors can also be helpful resources.

Overall, don't forget that as much as colleges are recruiting you, you are also "recruiting" them. You get to decide where you want to spend your four years of college, and you should make sure it's a place that fits you athletically, academically, and personally.