I'm a high school athlete looking to play at the collegiate level. I'm curious about which sports tend to offer the best scholarship opportunities and what levels of performance are generally required to secure such scholarships.
When it comes to securing sports scholarships, some sports indeed offer more opportunities than others due to the sheer number of scholarships available per team. Here's a quick rundown:
1. Football: With 85 full scholarships (105 beginning in the 2025-26 academic year) available on each Division I FBS team, football offers the most scholarships. To secure a scholarship, you'd typically need to be one of the top players in your state if not the country. Keep in mind football scholarships at Division III schools are non-existent as these schools don't offer athletic aid.
2. Basketball: At the NCAA Division I level, Men's and Women's Basketball teams offer a good number of full scholarships—13 for men (set to increase to 15 in the 2025-26 academic year) and 15 for women. Similar to football, competition is fierce, with top recruits often ranked nationally.
3. Volleyball: Women's volleyball is a fully-funded NCAA sport with 12 full scholarships (set to increase to 18 in the 2025-26 academic year) on each Division I team. Male volleyball players might find it a bit harder, as many schools do not have men's volleyball teams due to Title IX considerations.
4. Baseball/Softball: Baseball (for men) and Softball (for women) each offer substantial numbers of scholarships, but these are often partial scholarships divided amongst the team. Being a top-ranked player regionally would bolster your chances.
5. Track and Field/Cross Country: These sports technically have a lot of scholarships available (over 12 for men and 18 for women at Division I level—both set to increase to 45 in the 2025-26 academic year), but keep in mind these are often divided amongst many athletes.
Remember that athletic performance is critical, but coaches also consider grades and attitudes towards teamwork and discipline. Non-athletic scholarships are also an option, ensuring you have a well-rounded application is always a good back-up plan. Finally, consider NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA schools as all 3 institutions provide sports-related scholarships.
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