Athletic Scholarships for College Students - Sport is Your Way to Victory

The life of an average college athlete is far from being a walk in the park because of all the training sessions and schedules that must be adjusted according to various factors. Regardless of what sports one may choose, any kind of financial help matters because the high tuition costs make it barely possible to fit within all the other expenses that come along. Since the hours of training can easily affect the college curriculum, remember that your achievements can make you eligible for a scholarship, which can be both related to sports and not. 

In addition to turning to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to learn more about standards, it is recommended to create a sports CV with your resume that includes your achievements and the links to video recordings of your performances. Besides, you can search for your school on the list to see whether your particular college is eligible for an athletic scholarship and how changes to your curriculum schedule can be made as an option. 

According to the US Department of Education, over one thousand U.S. colleges and universities are ready to offer financial aid for college athletes who are ready to become a part of the college team, which is another option to consider. The key is to research various possibilities and get your resume information ready. 

30 Sports Scholarships to Consider 

Let us start with examples of world-famous universities that focus on scholarships and support precisely for college athletes. 

  • Duke University. It offers scholarships for students involved in football, tennis, table tennis, and basketball. As the university for student-athletes in the United States, it has a famous men's basketball team, which competes in NCAA Division 1 Atlantic Coast Conference. As a freshman, you are eligible for $37,000 in financial aid. It helps you to cover about seventy percent of various tuition fees. As a full-time student, you can receive $3,700 per semester with an average assistance being $24,904. 
  • Stanford University. Even though it is considered the best choice for those who want to study in the IT sector and technology, it is also famous for its Psychology courses and the involvement with college athletes. Without a doubt, it is quite difficult to get enrolled, yet your chances are higher if you have achievements in basketball, golf, fencing, swimming, or gymnastics among over thirty different sports. It offers special Women's Tennis scholarships that are $24,734 on average and cover over sixty percent of tuition costs. 
  • The University of South California. If you are interested in Business Communications, Design, Film, Media Studies, or Photography classes, consider this option. USC offers about 70% of financial coverage for female athletes competing in Golf and Swimming. The tennis scholarship, in particular, is about $34,000 and with a graduation rate of 92%, it is a great start to your career. 
  • The University of Florida. As a public institute, it has been voted as the most suitable college for athletes in the US. This educational institution also has a great sports management program. The scholarship that they offer is $14,000 for the first-year students. Still, it helps to cover about ninety percent of college tuition costs. The eligibility is based on your achievements. 
  • The University of Michigan. It offers scholarship help of about $21,500 for an average athlete competing in football and gymnastics. In this case, it will be based on the student's athletic performance and the readiness to achieve academic success. Various grants go up to $27,000. 

Now that we have reviewed various college-specific scholarships for athletes, let us proceed with the other options based on various sports: 

  • TrophyCentral Sportsmanship Scholarship Award. This scholarship award of $1,000 is meant for first-year college or university athletes. The eligibility rules include your school's report and two recommendation letters. Deadline: September 2021. 
  • Marian Wood Baird College Scholarship. Offered by the USTA Foundation, it offers up to $20,000 financial aid for tennis players who want to maintain their academic careers. Good leadership qualities and a sports CV are required. Deadline: March 2021. 
  • David M. Bohr Memorial Baseball Scholarship. Acting as the community foundation, it offers up to $5,000 based on your achievements in baseball and the readiness to study sports-related courses as a part of your major. Deadline: March 1, 2020. 
  • Sara Scholarship. A great way to receive $2,000 in financial assistance as a female athlete competing in golf. Your skills, however, are not the only criterion. If you have a challenging situation and cannot pay for college as an athlete, consider this option. Deadline: April 30, 2021. 
  • Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarship. If you want to study anything related to sports and helping female athletes to compete without discrimination, apply for this $1,000 award. Deadline: June 14, 2021. 
  • Evans Scholarship. You can receive up to $7,000 for your athletic success as a college freshman. If you have a clear financial need, excellent character, and the readiness to study, consider this option. Deadline: October 30, 2021. 
  • Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship. This award of $10,000 is aimed at the tennis players who have distinct achievements and a good social profile. Participation in community services is required as a part of eligibility. Deadline: March 30, 2021. 
  • Sports Unlimited Scholarship. A $1,000 financial assistance is given to college athletes that can tell an inspiring story. Share your thoughts and win! Deadline: April 30, 2020. 
  • Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program Award. It offers twenty awards up to $20,000 to those who show strong leadership qualities in sports of one's choice. If you are a strong community leader, hurry up to get involved and become an ambassador for the program. Deadline: January-March, 2021. 
  • Absolute Fencing Gear All-Academic Award. Consider getting $4,000 if fencing is your passion. You should share your GPA and write an essay. If it wins, you shall get another $1,000 for tuition costs. Deadline: May 1, 2021. 
  • National Gymnastics Foundation Scholarship Program. A unique part of this financial assistance is that it even covers your competition's costs along with tuition. An amount varies according to your specific needs. Deadline: May 15, 2021. 
  • Women's Western Golf Foundation Award. It is meant for female undergraduate athletes who want to pay for their 4-year courses and can prove the outstanding social qualities. Receive up to $10,000 by applying with an essay. Deadline: March 15, 2020. 
  • Jim McKay Graduate Scholarship. Fueled by NCAA, it is aimed at those students who major in Sports Communication. If it is your career choice, you can apply for $10,000 assistance. Deadline: January-March, 2021. 
  • Billy Welu Scholarship. Even the female bowlers can get financial help with the GPA being at least 2.5. Share your sports CV, write an essay, and win up to $1,000 aid. Deadline: June 21, 2021. 
  • USTA Mid-Atlantic Tournament Scholarship. The amount will vary depending on each particular case with the deadline being shaped according to sports competitions. If you are a college athlete in need of financial assistance and belong to an underprivileged family, do not miss this option.

Now some scholarships for college athletes are not necessarily based on sports of any kind, yet focus on personal achievements and strong moral qualities: 

  • You Cannot Fail Scholarship. If you can share the story of your heroism of being an athlete, a student, and someone who has faced life's challenges, write an essay and win up to $5,000. Deadline: April 18, 2021. 
  • NSCA Foundation Aid. If you are ready to participate in educational research activity as an athlete and explore your strength and conditioning, consider these multiple $2,000 awards and remember to read the guidelines first. Deadline: August 1, 2021. 
  • United Bank Student-Athlete Assistance. If you are located in the District of Columbia or plan to study in this area, you can consider this $1,000 award by describing your achievements in academics and athletics. Deadline: April 24, 2021. 
  • Race Entry Inspire Award. It is aimed at all disciplines who strive for self-improvement and race preparation via various participation activities. You can apply for $500. Share your inspiring story! Deadline: August 15, 2021. 
  • Scovell Scholarship. It seeks college athletes with high moral character qualities, financial needs, and a clear connection to various sports. You can receive $4,000 financial aid if you plan to attend any educational institution in the State of Texas or any branches of the local universities. Deadline: March 1, 2020. 

Some scholarships carry an individual nature to them, which means that students from all over the world can apply in some cases. Some of the options below can help you receive specific assistance based on your college and course choice.  

  • Fifa Research Scholarship. Although it is mostly football-related, these awards are related to the International Center for Sports Studies. Consider this as an option to start research in your academic field and cooperate with the best specialists. No deadline specified. 
  • Walter Byers Scholarship. Based on the National Collegiate Athletic Association, it is aimed at one male and one female athlete who can win several thousand dollars for academic achievements and dedication to making a positive difference in the world of sports. 
  • BigSun Scholarship. All student-athletes can apply for this sports scholarship regardless of a professional field. You have to write a 1,500 words essay on your specific sports and the reasons that motivate you. Several hundred dollars will be awarded to the winner. Apply from March to August 2021. 
  • Sports Unlimited Award. Once you win it, you are provided with sufficient funding for tuition at the college of choice, books, boarding, and assistance with your academic schedule. No deadline applies. 
  • The Foundation for Global Sports Development Exceptional Youth Scholarship. Although it is provided to high-school seniors, this one-time award is provided to athletes who choose four-year colleges and plan to study the contribution of sports to the community. 

How to Manage Your Time as a Student-Athlete

Your time is ultimately yours and yours alone. Make the most of it. Make every second count.” — Bob Bly

As a student-athlete, you understand that time and schedule challenges are part of the game. Conflicts will occur. Deadlines must be met. Promises must be kept. The life of a student-athlete is orderly and chaotic. Adaptability and an open mind are your teammates, not your opponents.

The secret to your success is in becoming a highly proactive individual. Just as your anticipation skills are vital to your on-court success, your ability to plan ahead and take charge of your time is inextricably linked to your overall well-being as a student-athlete. You can buy term paper online on this and other topics written for you by experts in your subject.

Top 10 time management obstacles

In our work with collegiate athletes and teams, we’ve discovered time management obstacles that are common to top performers across all sports. Here’s our top 10:

  1. A general feeling of overwhelm and helplessness
  2. Choosing instant gratification over long-term success
  3. Lack of a specific, day-to-day productivity plan
  4. More time than ever spent on the practice court
  5. More time than ever spent traveling for competition
  6. More time than ever spent training and working out
  7. Not maximizing the free time you do have
  8. Starting the day early and finishing the day late
  9. Successfully managing newfound college freedom
  10. The tendency to procrastinate on important tasks

On the flip side of the equation, our research has also found that by becoming more intentional about how you structure your day, you will experience the following rewards:

  • Optimal balance amongst work time, play time, and down time
  • Higher self-esteem and confidence
  • Improved academic and athletic performance
  • Increased “employability factor”
  • Position for greater academic and athletic opportunities and more

Three time-management tips for student-athlete success

By implementing the following suggestions quickly, you will become much more organized than ever before:

1. Make a daily to-do list

Simple? Yes. Easy? Not necessarily. The trick is not so much in the list itself, but in taking the time to sit down and write out the things you need to do. It’s either a priority for you or it’s not.

2. Time-block your tasks

For me personally, I prefer 90-minute segments of focused productivity. However, I’ve bumped it up to 60-minute “runs” as a challenge to see if I can accomplish the same amount of work in less time. Play around with it until you find a system that works best for you.

3. Avoid distractions

“You may delay, but time will not,” said Benjamin Franklin, America’s great inventor. The fact is, you’re only as distracted as you allow yourself to be. Real “time ninjas” control technology rather than allowing high-tech to control them.

In closing, you have more control over your time than you might think. If you want to stand out, then take a time out. Press the pause button briefly to evaluate your top priorities and do your best to organize your life around them. You can even contact an expert and say, "write my assignment" to save some extra time. You can do this. Better yet, you will. Go get ’em today!

Finance Yourself! 

Remember that there are plenty of ways to finance your education by applying for one of the scholarships above. Consider creating your resume, post your information on social media, share videos of your achievements. You should also consider several options in our list that are not based on specific sports if you are ready to share your story and inspire others. The options are out there for you, so take your time to explore and win! 

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