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Everyone who wants to play college sports is looking for that full scholarship. But what even is an athletic scholarship? What types of scholarships are there?
In this blog post, we’ll take you through the basics of what an athletic scholarship is and what you can expect.
Athletic scholarships are financial aid awarded to student-athletes for their athletic ability. These scholarships are granted by universities, colleges, and sometimes by sports organizations. The purpose of athletic scholarships providing financial assistance to help cover the cost of tuition, books, and other education-related expenses. They encourage talented athletes to continue their education and pursue their athletic careers.
Athletic scholarships provide a unique opportunity for student-athletes to continue their academic and athletic goals.
There are three main types of athletic scholarships:
1. Full-ride scholarships
A full-ride scholarship is the most comprehensive type of athletic scholarship. It covers tuition and related expenses such as room and board, books, and fees. This type of scholarship is highly competitive and is typically awarded to the top athletes in a particular sport.
2. Partial scholarships
Partial scholarships cover only a portion of tuition and related expenses, leaving the student with additional out-of-pocket costs. As a result, these scholarships are more common than full-ride scholarships.
3. Walk-on scholarships
A walk-on is a student-athlete that was offered a spot on the team but no athletic scholarship at the time of recruiting. Walk-on scholarships allow student-athletes to still earn an athletic scholarship.
Each type of scholarship has its own advantages and disadvantages. Student-athletes to understand the differences and choose the best option for their individual needs and goals.
No. It's important to keep in mind that coaches and universities do not have unlimited scholarships to offer.
The availability of scholarships depends on a variety of factors. This include:
- The school's budget
- Athletic department
- NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA guidelines
These factors can impact a coach's ability to offer scholarships to student-athletes. So while scholarships are a valuable opportunity for student-athletes, they are limited and highly competitive.
Maintaining an athletic scholarship requires meeting many academic, athletic performance, and behavioral standards.
• Academic requirements include maintaining a certain GPA and taking a certain number of credits each semester.
• Athletic performance requirements vary by sport and school. They may include participation in a certain number of games or competitions, meeting specific performance goals, and following training and nutrition guidelines.
• Behavioral requirements may include following rules and codes of conduct set forth by the school, athletic department, and NCAA. Student-athletes who receive athletic scholarships are held to a high standard on and off the field and must maintain these standards to continue receiving their scholarship funding.
Student-athletes need to understand these requirements and take them seriously, as failure to meet them can result in losing their scholarship.
When considering an athletic scholarship, there are a few other important considerations:
- Taxes on athletic scholarships
Athletic scholarships are considered taxable income. So student athletes should be aware of the tax implications of their scholarships.
- Transfers and revoking of scholarships
Transferring to another school or losing one's spot on the team can also impact a student athlete's scholarship. So you need to understand the terms and conditions of the scholarship and the transfer process.
- Alternatives to athletic scholarships
Alternatives to athletic scholarships include academic scholarships, grants, and student loans. So student-athletes should also explore these options and understand the pros and cons of each.
Read more about academic scholarships here.
At +31 Sports, we're experts in guiding athletes toward securing an athletic scholarship. Our FREE evaluation provides a clear picture of your potential scholarship opportunities. And with personalized services, we'll help you secure that scholarship so you don't miss out on this valuable opportunity.
