Student-athletes are in a unique situation to leverage their sports skills in exchange for an education. Funding opportunities are available for all types of student-athletes, from swimmers to football players. One of the most common funding opportunities for athletes is scholarships.
Many scholarships have limited application windows and may not be available year-round. If you still have a funding gap, private student loans can help cover remaining costs while you continue your scholarship search.
Depending on the university, the funding may cover up to full tuition and sometimes even include a stipend. In addition to these scholarships, students may want to write to the coaches at their schools of interest. Coaches often have some money to allocate to student-athletes. Other funding agencies listed below also offer scholarships for athletics.
Keep reading to learn more about athletic scholarships!
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Michigan High School Athletic Association
The Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors the MHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award. The number of awards varies by year. This year, 32 scholarships worth $1,000 each are available to high school seniors who meet the eligibility criteria.
To be eligible, students must be seniors currently participating in a sport at an MHSAA member institution. In addition, students must have earned a varsity letter before their senior year in high school.
Eligible sports include football, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, basketball, gymnastics, ice hockey, soccer, lacrosse, softball, skiing, diving, swimming, track and field, tennis, wrestling, and volleyball. Students must have at least a 3.5 grade point average.
Applicants are selected based on their essay, extra-curricular activities, responses to brief questions, and their letters of recommendation. More information about this opportunity can be found at: http://www.mhsaa.com/schools/students/scholar-athlete-award.
Women’s Sports Foundation
The Women’s Sports Foundation offers several scholarships. The GoGirlGo! Grants aim to increase funding for underserved female athletes. Eligible students must be between the ages of 5 and 18. These grants promote participation in physical activity programs among young girls who may not otherwise have access to sports.
The Hershey Company is the sponsor of the Pennsylvania grant for girls. Funding may be used towards scholarships, program expenses, travel, fees, supplies, coaches, or facility rental. More information about this scholarship, including application information, can be found on the following website: http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/en/home/programs/grants.
Women’s Western Golf Association Scholarships
The Women’s Western Golf Association Scholarships provide funds to increase amateur golf events for girls and to promote education. More information can be found on the website at: http://www.wwga.org/WWGA.org/Home.html.
Davis Law Group Scholar Athlete Program
Davis Law Group Scholar Athlete Program provides funding to student athletes who excel academically and athletically. Every week during each school year, one student is awarded $100 in scholarship money and named the DLG Scholar Athlete of the Week.
After each school year, all winners are invited to a special event where two winners are selected to receive an additional $1,000 in scholarship money and a trophy. To be eligible, the student must attend a high school in Washington State and contribute meaningfully to their sport. Additionally, students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Students can read more information about the application and nomination criteria on the following website: http://www.injurytriallawyer.com/library/davis-law-group-scholar-athlete-program.cfm. Students who are not chosen have the opportunity to reapply or be nominated again in the future.
Additional resources
If you’ve reviewed the scholarships above and want to continue searching for other opportunities, here are some additional resources for finding athletic scholarships:
About our contributors
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Written by Jeff Gitlen, CEPF®Jeff Gitlen, CEPF®, is the director of growth at LendEDU. He graduated from the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware.