Navigating the Landscape of Athletic Scholarships: A Guide for Female Athletes

For young women with athletic aspirations, the prospect of earning a college scholarship through sports can be incredibly appealing. The growth of women’s college sports has reshaped the future of athletic scholarships, creating more opportunities for female student-athletes to earn scholarships, compete at a high level, and use their athletic ability to open doors to higher education. Female athletes should spend a lot of time finding schools that have competitive programs that are willing to accept them for their sports teams. This guide aims to shed light on which sports may offer the "easiest" path to securing athletic scholarships, while also emphasizing the importance of personal fit and academic excellence. Academics should never be overlooked while building a good record for colleges, so be sure to score well on SATs and take challenging classes in high school. If athletic achievement is combined with academic achievement, schools are much more likely to take notice and offer.

The Impact of Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, passed in 1972, has been instrumental in leveling the playing field for women in college athletics. While it does not specifically mention athletics, it has become one of the most impactful pieces of legislation in sports history. Before Title IX, women made up less than 10 percent of all college athletes. Today, that number has risen to over 44 percent, with participation continuing to climb every year (Source: NCAA Research, 2024). This landmark legislation prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving federal funding. The result has been a dramatic increase in opportunities for female athletes, with colleges now required to provide equitable funding and resources for both men's and women's programs.

Headcount vs. Equivalency Sports

Understanding the different types of scholarships offered is crucial. NCAA Division I colleges tend to offer the most athletic scholarships. Women's headcount sports at the Division I level include basketball, tennis, volleyball, and gymnastics. Headcount sports, such as women's basketball, tennis, volleyball, and gymnastics, mandate that each scholarship be a full ride. This can provide a more secure financial foundation for student-athletes.

In contrast, equivalency sports allow colleges to divide the total scholarship amount among multiple athletes. Track and Field, as well as Cross Country, are other sports with a high number of scholarships that can be awarded as partials. This potentially leads to a greater number of scholarship recipients, however, because of the high participation rate, competition can be fierce. While this might mean receiving a partial scholarship, it also opens doors for more athletes to receive some form of financial assistance.

Top Women’s Scholarship Sports in the NCAA

As schools expand their women’s athletic programs, scholarship opportunities have followed. NCAA Division I and II programs now offer thousands of scholarships each year for female athletes across more than 20 sports.

Soccer: Around 333 Division I programs, each offering up to 14 scholarships per team.
Volleyball: Over 330 Division I teams, with 12 full scholarships available per roster. Volleyball scholarships are very popular among women.
Basketball: 349 Division I programs offering 15 full scholarships per team. Women’s basketball is one of the most popular women’s sports in college.
Softball: Over 290 Division I teams, with 12 full scholarships per team.
Track & Field/Cross Country: Nearly 350 Division I schools, each with 18 scholarships to distribute. Women’s track can be broken down into numerous categories. There are long distance runners, sprinters and hurdlers.

Evaluating Scholarship Opportunities in Different Sports

When considering college scholarships for women's sports, it's important to consider several factors, such as the number of scholarships available, the sport's popularity, and the level of competition in the sport.

Volleyball: With a high number of scholarships available and numerous college programs, volleyball presents a strong opportunity for female athletes. Volleyball scholarships are easiest to get for women who attend volleyball camps and discuss their interest in a volleyball program with coaches. Volleyball camps will allow coaches to see potential recruits in action, and students who demonstrate great skill both athletically and academically will likely receive athletic scholarships. High school women who are interested in a volleyball scholarship should provide statistics, video and scouting reports to prove their all-star abilities. Interest in an athletic scholarship should be shown early in high school. Scholarship opportunities are very limited, so the school prefers to know which students are most deserving of a scholarship as early as possible.
- The UCLA Bruins captured a national championship in women’s volleyball in 2011. The school is known for its stellar athletic programs and challenging academics. UCLA only recruits the best of the best in women’s volleyball, so women should also make sure that they do very well in the classroom to boost their chances of successful recruitment. There are several ways to boost the chances of being awarded a volleyball scholarship from UCLA. The school has certain criteria that should be met in order to be recruited.
- The University of Texas provides generous scholarships to its top athletes. Texas placed fourth in the nation’s rankings in 2011 for women’s volleyball. Their women’s volleyball team consistently ranks in the top five teams in the nation and goes to great lengths to find the most athletic young women for their program. The Division I school is generally able to offer up to twelve scholarships to their women’s volleyball players.
- Concordia-St. Paul is a Division II school located in Minnesota. The team placed first in the Division II rankings in 2011 for women’s volleyball and will be able to offer up to eight or nine scholarships to players. The scholarships may not be for full tuition, but they will create significant reductions in overall tuition cost to students. It is less difficult to gain acceptance into Division II schools than it is Division I schools, but the scholarships will likely not cover as much of the tuition cost. Concordia-St. Paul pledges good academics before athletics, so academics will likely be most important in their decision to accept students. Athletes who do not present great academics will be less likely to receive volleyball scholarships over athletes who do present outstanding academic achievements in combination with athletic accomplishments.
Rowing: Rowing stands out due to the sheer volume of scholarships available. Since many high schools don't offer rowing, athletes from other sports often walk on and can earn themselves a scholarship through hard work and training.
Track and Field/Cross Country: These sports offer a high number of scholarships, but they are often distributed as partial scholarships. Women’s track scholarships are available at the NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 levels, NAIA schools and junior colleges. This guide explains the women’s track and field scholarship standards, including what college track times coaches look for when awarding scholarships, and division-specific scholarship limits. Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, the NCAA eliminated most D1 scholarship limits, enabling all sports to distribute scholarships more flexibly among athletes. Because not all programs are fully funded, the true number of women’s track and field scholarships available varies from college to college. Women’s track and field is an equivalency sport at both the NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 levels, which means coaches can divide scholarships up among several athletes as partial scholarships. For example, a D1 coach can split the 18 scholarships among 33 qualified athletes, offering a mix of partial and full scholarships depending on the recruit. Coaches set benchmarks for recruits, known as track and field scholarship standards, which represent the general baseline that student-athletes need to meet in order to obtain a track and field scholarship. Of course, there are many other factors that coaches take into consideration, such as academic standing. But as coaches make scholarship decisions; they verify the recruit can meet or exceed the scholarship standard of their program. Keep in mind, though, that scholarship standards aren’t universal across divisions, and each school has its own set of standards. For example, the University of North Carolina and Harvard University are both NCAA Division 1 programs, but their benchmarks differ slightly. Recruits should use these standards to better understand where they can make an impact and help them create their list of target schools. Walk-ons have historically been a big part of D1 programs because of current NCAA scholarship limitations. Walk-on standards define the minimum performance levels coaches expect from athletes. There are two types: preferred and non-recruited. Preferred walk-ons are recruited by the coach, securing a roster spot without athletic aid. Walk-on standards vary at each program, much like the recruiting and scholarship standards. College coaches prioritize scholarships for recruits who can make an impact right away and score points at meets. For example, a student-athlete’s times might meet the standards of a NCAA Division 1 school, but they can potentially earn more scholarship money at the Division 2 level where they might make a bigger impact. Of course, this depends on the school’s recruiting budget. Coaches tend to award scholarship money to athletes who hit recruiting or scholarship standards in multiple events-for instance, a sprinter who is also a hurdler-or to athletes who compete in certain events. Some schools focus on specialty athletes, such as pole vaulters, while others highly value a distance runner who can also compete in cross country. Sprinters who can do well in several events are often the first to get athletic scholarships. Distance runners are chosen based on how well their running style fits with a school’s training program. Throwers with a good combination of size, strength, and potential are a great addition to any team. Jumpers who can score points right away are very valuable.
Soccer and Softball: These sports have a good number of scholarships available, but their popularity makes them highly competitive. Women’s soccer has been growing in popularity in recent years. There are currently 320 women’s soccer programs at Division I schools and 227 women’s soccer programs at Division II schools. Numerous programs means women will have to look at lots of schools to find the right program. In addition, women who play soccer are likely to be offered athletic scholarships by multiple schools, so deciding between schools will likely be difficult.

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- Stanford won their first national title in women’s soccer in 2011. The school has become increasingly more notable for its athletic programs in recent years, and the school is also known for its outstanding academic programs. The first point of focus for women trying to gain acceptance into Stanford will be academics, because the school accepts less than 10 percent of applicants. Creating an appealing recruiting video will boost chances of being accepted into the school and increase the odds of receiving an athletic scholarship. Stanford provides helpful information such as schedules, news and rosters on their women’s soccer site. Stanford has a busy women’s soccer program, so registration with the NCAA clearinghouse will not be enough to receive a scholarship.
- Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina and is one of the most popular athletic schools in the nation. The Blue Devils are known for their top notch coaches and competitive spirit. The women’s soccer team placed second in the national rankings in 2011. Numerous camps are offered by Duke in order to recruit new players. The school lists camp dates on dukesoccerschool.com, which provide ample opportunity to be noticed by coaches of the team.
- Grand Valley State University is a great Division II women’s soccer school. Grand Valley State is a highly ranked school with relatively low competition for soccer scholarships. Women can be noticed much more easily at Grand Valley State than at other schools with the simple recruitment form and additional information such as letters of recommendation.
Other Sports: Field hockey and golf may seem less competitive, but they offer fewer scholarships, maintaining a high level of competition. Sports like ice hockey and lacrosse might be less competitive depending on the region. Golf scholarships are often offered primarily on the basis of interest and academic abilities rather than elite skill. Students need to prove that they are interested in playing golf in college and show that they have experience playing for their high school or private clubs.

Fastest Growing College Sports for Women

While traditional sports like basketball, soccer, and volleyball continue to dominate, several newer or smaller programs have experienced rapid growth thanks to increased support and visibility.

Women’s Flag Football: Flag football is one of the fastest-growing college sports for women. Supported by the NFL and NAIA schools, dozens of colleges now offer competitive programs, and the NCAA is reviewing it for emerging-sport status.
Women’s Wrestling: Women’s wrestling has exploded in popularity over the past five years.
Acrobatics and Tumbling: This sport, recognized as an emerging NCAA discipline, has become a legitimate scholarship path for gymnasts and cheer athletes transitioning into college athletics.

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Golf and Tennis: Both sports continue to provide strong scholarship availability, particularly at Division II, NAIA, and JUCO levels, where teams actively recruit international athletes. Tennis is rapidly increasing in popularity, so competition among students for scholarships is increasing as well. Tennis programs often place emphasis on hard work and academic success. Women who would like to be recruited by a tennis program at a highly ranked school will likely need to discuss their interest with college coaches and ask their high school coaches for letters of recommendation.
- Florida placed second in the national rankings in 2011 for women’s tennis. Florida is well known for their dominant athletic programs that consistently win national championships. While Florida is an excellent school for any prospective athlete, the school has a very competitive scholarship selection process that makes a full-ride scholarship difficult to acquire. However, since women’s tennis is a head count sport, women are only given full-ride scholarships. Numerous students compete for athletic scholarships at Florida every year, so solid recruitment profiles must be forged in order to be noticed. Women who have great skill can have their coaches submit game videos and statistics to Florida in order to gain attention from the school. A tennis scholarship from the University of Florida will require hard work both on and off the court. Women should provide information that suggests that they can succeed while handling heavy workloads with their applications. Women tennis players may submit a 1,000 word essay describing their major and information regarding their academic and professional experience for the Bev Granger Memorial Scholarship. Applicants should also discuss how they plan to experience athletics in college.
- Columbus State University is a Division II school located in Georgia. The school places among the nation’s elite Division II women’s tennis schools, and athletic scholarships are not substantially competitive. While there are fewer scholarships that can be offered by Columbus State over Division I schools, women who are elite athletes in their areas should be able to be noticed by coaches without too much difficulty. Submitting film of matches and statistics should gain attention by Columbus State and if significant interest is shown in their tennis program, a scholarship may be offered.
Beach Volleyball: Once limited to a handful of programs, women’s beach volleyball now has over 100 collegiate teams, and more schools are joining every season.

The Role of NIL Opportunities

In addition to athletic scholarships, women are also benefiting from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities. NIL has given female athletes a powerful new way to earn money and build personal brands while still in college.

Navigating the Recruitment Process

Women usually must be recruited by a college to play a particular sport in order to receive a scholarship. Obtaining an athletic scholarship can be made much easier by contacting coaches and submitting recruitment forms to organizations such as the NCSA. Many colleges and universities have a certain number of athletic scholarships that can be issued in each sport. Generally, Division I schools are able to offer more athletic scholarships than Division II schools. Women should search for schools that are willing to offer them athletic scholarships and attend the school that they think best suits their interests.

Contacting Coaches and Submitting Recruitment Forms: Proactive communication with college coaches is essential. Sending recruitment forms to organizations like the NCSA can also increase visibility.
Creating a Recruiting Video: Creating an appealing recruiting video will boost chances of being accepted into the school and increase the odds of receiving an athletic scholarship.
Highlighting Academic Achievements: Women should always put their academics first, because heavy involvement in athletics and difficult academics makes college applications much more impressive. Academics should never be overlooked while building a good record for colleges, so be sure to score well on SATs and take challenging classes in high school. If athletic achievement is combined with academic achievement, schools are much more likely to take notice and offer

Additional Scholarship Resources

In addition to school scholarships for women’s soccer, there are private organizations that offer women athletic scholarships and grants. For example, the HWSA offers certain women $1,000 scholarships.

Track and Field Scholarships: The SAMMY award is given to 25 high school seniors who demonstrate excellent athletic and academic abilities. Recipients of the award are give a $7,500 athletic scholarship for the school of their choice. The SAMMY awards are great for women track athletes who are seeking significant athletic scholarships for college. Applicants have to submit a short writing prompt to the organization to be considered for the award in addition to their academic and athletic records. Women who have run track for at least two seasons are eligible for the World Sport Chicago Scholarship. A scholarship may be worth up to $5,000 per year, and the award is renewable for the full four years of college. Fifty students are awarded the World Sport Chicago Scholarship, and there is a lot of competition amongst applicants.
Basketball Scholarships: Women basketball players who are intending to enter graduate work in the field of journalism may be eligible for the WBCA Broadcasting Scholarship. The award amount for this scholarship is $4,000, and only one senior women’s basketball player is presented with the scholarship each year. Women basketball players do not have access to private organizational scholarships such as this very often, so an offer from this organization is an honor. Applications for the award can be made online and will be presented at a formal invitation-only lunch event.
Swimming Scholarships: High school seniors in the Seattle area can be selected to win a $1,000 women’s swimming scholarship through the Davis Law Group Scholar Athlete Program. A woman must have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher and must prove that she has been a major part of her swimming program. The program works by nominating a student each week and holding a formal selection banquet at the end of the school year. Each student who is nominated receives a $100 award, and the student who is considered the most deserving will receive the prized $1,000 scholarship. Women interested in pursuing careers in swimming/diving may be eligible for the Zale Parry Scholarship. The scholarship amount is $2,000, and selection is based on financial need and academic/athletic commitment. Women who apply for this scholarship must be licensed divers and must be attending an accredited college.
Golf Scholarships: The WSCGA Foundation offers numerous scholarships to women golfers. Each scholarship offered by the WSCGA Foundation is generally geared towards a certain academic field. For example, the Mimi Deatherage Scholarship is available for women golfers who are interested in pursuing a career in law. Other scholarships are awarded to students interested in journalism, nursing and biology. The NCPGA gives two golfers awards of $2,400 each year. The students must have participated in the NCPGA junior program in order to be eligible. Participation in the program can allow women golfers to gain experience and skills in golf before college. The association also provides many golf clinics and allows members to participate in select tournaments. Burkhart Center scholarships are awarded more on the basis of academics than athletic abilities. However, women golfers can earn scholarships of up to $4,000 from the program. Scholarships are usually awarded to women golfers who have interest in pursuing careers in autism research and education.

The Future of Women's Athletic Scholarships

More international athletes are being recruited to American universities than ever before, especially in sports like soccer, tennis, golf, and track and field. Schools often offer athletic and academic scholarships to international players who meet eligibility and admissions standards. Participation, viewership, and investment are all trending upward. Major networks are increasing coverage of women’s championships, and universities are committing resources to equality in facilities and promotion. New sports will continue to gain NCAA recognition, and more scholarships will follow. As part of the House v NCAA settlement, scholarship restrictions on all NCAA I sports will be eliminated and roster limits will apply instead. This will result in a substantial increase in athletic scholarships especially in non-revenue sports. Under our calculations, NCAA I schools could potentially award over 80,000 additional “full-ride” scholarships annually.

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