Athletic Scholarships

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Athletics can make a difference in admissions and after you're admitted being a college athlete can often affect your chances of receiving financial aid. Many NCAA Division I and II institutions offer athletic scholarships ranging from full stipends to partial awards. These grants are usually renewable on a yearly basis, but if a student is injured or doesn't make the team, the money is gone.

Institutions, recruit a prospective student by letter, phone call, invitation to campus, or personal visit. But how do you get recruited?

Tips:

• Begin by networking; tell your coach and school counselor that you want to play a college sport.
• Contact the college admission and athletic departments to ask for information. Write a short but personalized letter to each college coach, stating your athletic and  academic accomplishments and a sincere interest in playing for the coach.
• If a coach responds to your letter, suggest a college visit, invite the coach or his or her delegate to visit you, and/or send a short video of you in action.

There are also many businesses that compile student-athlete resume-type profiles and send them to many (sometimes up to 800) colleges for a fee (usually $300-600). Services guarantee responses from some schools but they don't guarantee admission.

Tips:

• Students who are not heavily recruited may find these services effective, as do colleges that don't have large recruiting budgets.
• Services are not the same as agents, who charge a commission for obtaining scholarships. Agents are not allowed in college athletics.

The organizations below assist students in finding and securing athletic scholarships and grant in aids. Be aware that most charge a fee, and that our listing them does not constitute an endorsement of their services.

American Educational Guidance Center  - This service assists students in securing all sorts of scholarships not just athletic. Including academic, special talent, community, service, as well as athletic scholarships.  Several levels of service are offered at various price levels.

College Athletic Placement Service  - Matches student-athletes to between twenty and thirty colleges and universities, and then contacts coaches at those institutions.  There is an initial fee of $500 and additional payment due if the student-athlete receives an athletic scholarship as a result of their service.

Scout USA...All Sport College Recruiting and Scholarships  -  For $99 this service posts player profiles, which can be updated, on the internet and faxes player information to college coaches at twelve colleges or universities.

InBounds College Athletic Referral - Prices vary depending on the number of colleges a student-athlete wants to be "marketed" to. Prices run from between $149 and $549.    

National College Recruiting Association - Another exposure service for students seeking athletic scholarships. This service contacts 200-400 colleges but fees were not listed on their website.

Athletes-on-Line -  This service offers "online exposure" for a fee of between $100 (for one year) and $250 (for three years). Student-athletes' profiles are maintained online, and college coaches are invited to review them.

Athletic Recruiters Service - Service offering various levels of service at variable costs.

Next Level - This organization offers several services in addition to exposure, including creation of a video and private coaching and training.

National Recruiting Network -  An athletic scholarship exposure service which charges U.S. athletes $100 per year and athletes from overseas $150 per year.

Athletes Edge ... For $25 per year they will maintain your profile online.

Varsity Link ... This Canadian based service lets student-athletes put their profile online for free or, for $10, include their photograph.