Editor’s note: Some of these awards may no longer be offered.
Back in high school, I wanted to be one of those student athletes.
They seemed popular, polished and piled up extracurriculars that made college admissions officers take notice.
Now that my 10-year reunion is behind me, I’ve accepted my lack of athletic prowess, but I still envy those sports-based grants.
If you assume only the nation’s top competitors get scholarship offers, you’re not wrong. Only about 2% of high school athletes receive athletic scholarships, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
That said, the typical athletic scholarship averages roughly $10,000 per year. Once you add room and board, meal plans and out-of-state tuition, you might wonder if playing chess at a community college wouldn’t have been the smarter move.
13 Athletic Scholarships for Students Heading to College
Fortunately, a number of organizations have recognized the shortfall in athletic funding and are working to close it.
So whether you’re a standout athlete or someone who enjoys weekend pick-up games, you could qualify for several sports- and fitness-related scholarships.
1. Wear Action Scholarship
Obsessed with tracking steps? This scholarship could be a great fit.
Wear Action, a site focused on wearable tech education, awards a $500 scholarship each year to any high school or college student who submits the best 700+ word essay about how fitness devices influence our lives.
Applicants must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and be U.S. citizens.
The annual deadline is in February.
2. NSCA Foundation Scholarship
If you’re aiming for a career in strength and conditioning, like physical therapy, coaching or personal training, the National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation offers scholarships across five categories each year.
- High School (for seniors entering college)
- Challenge Scholarship
- Jerry Martin Scholarship (for students planning strength coaching careers)
- Minority Scholarship
- Women’s Scholarship
Candidates are evaluated on several factors including NSCA involvement, financial need and an essay.
Each award is $1,500 and applicants must be NSCA members by the deadline. While the exact number of awards for 2017 wasn’t released, in 2016 there were 38 winners across the categories.
The deadline is in March each year.
3. Sports Unlimited Scholarship
Sports Unlimited grants one $1,000 scholarship annually to a college freshman or sophomore or a high school senior.
Their distinctive essay prompt asks you to pick a piece of sporting equipment and explain how and why it should be improved. I’d suggest lacrosse sticks with glow-in-the-dark paint.
The deadline was April 25, 2017.
4. Fitness and Education Scholarship
If you intend to major in a health- or fitness-related discipline at a four-year university, Ironcompany sponsors this $2,000 scholarship each year for incoming freshmen.
Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and submit an essay under 500 words explaining their passion for fitness.
The deadline was May 1, 2017.
5. Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship
The Positive Coaching Alliance awards high school juniors $1,000–$2,000 scholarships for essays about how they make themselves, teammates and the sport better.
Students must live in the U.S. and participate on a high school team or in club sports. The organization gives out at least 62 scholarships annually.
The deadline was May 31, 2017.
6. BigSun Scholarship
High school seniors and college students can submit applications for BigSun Athletics’ BigSun Scholarship.
Applicants must participate in a sport and write an essay about how high school athletics shaped them.
The deadline was June 19, 2017.
7. USATF Kim Haines Academic Excellence Grant
Student athletes who have been USA Track and Field members for the two most recent consecutive years and have competed in a qualifying championship can apply for one of ten grants worth $500–$1,500. Award size is tied to GPA.
The deadline was July 30, 2017.
8. Thomas “Sarge” Johnson Scholarship
These 11 scholarships are open to active USA Boxing members who have competed in at least two sanctioned bouts this year as well as in each of the previous two calendar years. Applicants should have finished at least one semester at a college, technical or vocational school.
There are two trade school awards of $2,000 each, seven undergraduate awards of $3,000 each and two graduate awards of $2,500 each.
The deadline was Sept. 15, 2017.
9. Focus Fitness Scholarship
Focus Fitness promotes at-home bodyweight training and proper nutrition. Its annual $3,000 scholarship is open to college students in any major, though preference is given to those committed to healthy living.
Applicants must write a 1,000–1,500 word essay about why they chose their major and how they sustain a healthy lifestyle.
The deadline was Dec. 1, 2017.
10. Yoga Alliance Foundation Scholarship
If you prefer sun salutations to a four-year college, consider one of the Yoga Alliance Foundation’s nine yoga education scholarships.
Awards are offered twice a year. The spring deadline is in May and the fall deadline is in August.
11. CaptainU Student-Athlete Scholarship
CaptainU is a platform that helps student athletes market themselves to colleges and assists coaches with recruiting.
High school and junior college athletes planning to attend a four-year college can apply for this $2,000 prize by creating a profile and promoting themselves and CaptainU on social media.
This scholarship has quarterly deadlines.
12. Lawrence A. Golding Scholarship
The American College of Sports Medicine recognizes one undergraduate at its annual ACSM Health & Fitness Summit with $1,000 in scholarship funds plus a $1,000 credit to the ACSM store for DVDs, books or wearables.
Sophomores, juniors and seniors who have made notable community contributions in health, fitness and/or education are eligible.
The deadline is in November each year.
13. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Scholarship
For high school seniors heading to an accredited four-year U.S. college or university, Foot Locker grants $20,000 scholarships to 20 students annually.
One of those recipients will be chosen for the Ken C. Hicks Scholarship and receive an extra $5,000.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and either be active members of a high school sports team or participate in after-school athletics.
The deadline is in December each year.
Alex Rivera is a contributing writer at Savinly and maintains a fitness blog atSaving with Spunk. Alex runs recreationally and admits to spending more on the hobby than it returns monetarily.
