Athletic Scholarships 101
College Athletics Advisor Helps You Navigate the Entire Financial Aid Process
The “Full Ride”
A “full-ride” means the school pays for your entire education: tuition/room/board/books/fees etc. up to the full “cost of attendance” – this is the scholarship that goes to NCAA Division I "headcount" sports: football (FBS only)/ basketball/ women's volleyball, tennis, and gymnastics recruits.
Full-ride scholarships can include cash payments that cover "additional educationally related expenses." This can include travel to and from campus for the semester/quarter, computers/tablets/software, expenses related to study-abroad, etc.
Student-athletes in any division or affiliation can accept NIL payments IN ADDITION to funding from their institution! In fact one of the biggest NIL pioneers was a volleyball student-athlete at a small NAIA institution in Michigan.
Equivalency Sports
In most sports, at most levels, an “athletic scholarship” is a partial payment, or discount towards tuition, room and board, or books. In the end, these partial or in NCAA parlance, “equivalency” scholarships are just one part of most family’s college cost/financial aid puzzle.
A four year degree is going to have a sticker price somewhere between $100,000 and $350,000 depending on the school. College Athletic Advisor can help you navigate through these huge (and often hugely deceiving) numbers and make your best college “fit” work for you financially as well!
Remember, an equivalency athletic scholarship is a discount offered to entice you into paying tuition! Keep your eye on the cost TO YOU.
Non-Scholarship Divisions & Conferences
In the Ivy League, NCAA Division III, and the Pioneer Football League (in the NCAA D1 FCS Division), athletes are not eligible to receive "athletically related financial aid." This DOES NOT MEAN THESE STUDENTS ARE NECESSARILY PAYING STICKER PRICE TUITION.
It does mean that colleges in these affiliations are discounting tuition ONLY in other ways. It is important to "speak the language" at these schools to best navigate your way to determining financial fit! Coaches at these schools are excellent resources when approached correctly.
One Year Renewable
Most athletic scholarships are technically “one year renewable” – different institutions and different programs/coaches have different policies and practices on how dependable that “renewability” is. It is important to do a little homework on that front and not just take one person’s word at face value. Most academic awards automatically renew each year, but you want to make sure you understand any program requirements that can impact that renewal!