NCAA Athletic Scholarships and Financial Aid Issues
While some people believe that all college athletes who receive athletic scholarships receive “full-ride” scholarships, the truth is that athletes in the majority of college sports programs receive only “partial” athletic scholarships.
A “full” athletic scholarship covers the following costs of college: tuition, certain course-related fees, room and board, and the value or provision of books.
A “partial” athletic scholarship will cover only a portion of those expenses. An athletic scholarship may not cover all student fees, and also may not cover things like parking fines, a single room in the dorm, library fines or late fees, etc.
In NCAA Division I, the following sports are “head-count” sports: men’s and women’s basketball, football, women’s gymnastics, women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball.
All other Division I sports, as well as all Division II sports, are “equivalency” sports. In equivalency sports, coaches can divide their scholarships up as they desire, as they long as they do not exceed the total allowable scholarship value available in their sport. A few examples in Division I are baseball with 11.7, softball with 12, and wrestling with 9.9 scholarships. One athlete on the team may be provided with the cost of tuition, a second athlete on the team may be provided with room and board, and a third athlete on the team may only be provided the value or use of books.
Any student-athlete who receives any amount of athletic financial aid is considered a “counter” per NCAA rules. Once a student-athlete is considered a “counter” there are situations in which other types of financial aid may be required to be “counted” as athletic financial aid.
Any scholarships that a student-athlete will be receiving from groups such as a Rotary or Kiwanis club, a church youth group, or a high school booster club should be sent to the financial aid office of the college the student-athlete is attending. Most of these scholarships are permissible, but should be sent directly to the college so they can be processed properly.
In addition, if a Division I student-athlete also receives an academic scholarship from their college or university due to their high school GPA or their ACT or SAT test score, the fact that they are already an NCAA “counter” may affect the value or receipt of their academic scholarship.
Once a Division I student-athlete is a “counter” all other financial aid received from their institution is required to “count” as if it is an athletic scholarship, unless the student-athlete qualifies for an exemption based on the level of their GPA, their class rank, or their ACT or SAT test score.
If you have questions regarding financial aid or scholarship offers and how they might affect your situation, schedule a private, confidential consultation by calling 913-766-1235 or sending an email to rick@informedathlete.com
Hi Sandra,
It’s not uncommon for a coach (or athletic department) to have a policy that requires the athlete to live on campus for various reasons, whether it be academics, team rules, or athletic department budget. It appears from what you’ve written that this may be a combination of academic performance and athletic budget, since Div. I volleyball is a “head count” sport, which means that most Div. I volleyball players automatically get a full scholarship rather than partial one.
Rick
Hi Rick, my daughter will be entering her sophmore year this fall on a D1 volleyball scholarship. She entered as a freshman on a partial and was promised a full scholarship this fall if she received a 3.0. Well, she received a 2.6. We understand the importance of academics and totally agree. But when we received the scholarship letter, she will also now have to stay in the freshman dorm as a sophomore? She was never told this by her coach. Is this legal now that she’s an upper classman? The letter says she has 14 days to appeal. How should she approach this in order to avoid retribution from the coach which happens often when they speak up? Please advise. Thank you!!!!
Thanks for your help, Rick!
Susan,
Those awards should be turned over to the college, and for compliance purposes, it is better if the organization makes the check out to the school to be applied to her student account. The answer might vary based on the type of award and the awarding organization. You should check with the compliance office of the school she’ll be attending.
Rick
Hi Rick,
My daughter will be playing D1 basketball on a full scholarship starting this fall. My question is about Senior class awards. She will be receiving a few academic & athletic awards given to seniors from her high school. I know the awards usually contain a check ranging from $100 up to $1000. Is she allowed to keep those awards or does she have to turn them over to her college?
Thanks for your help!
Chris,
Before replying to this post, I took at quick look at the gymnastics rosters at four state institutions that are not large football or basketball powerhouse schools. On each roster, at least half, if not more, of the athletes were from outside the state. Your question is a good one, and it’s great that you’re thinking about it already, but I think you will find by reviewing rosters at various schools that at many schools the coach is not overly concerned whether the recruit is an in-state or out-of-state resident.
Rick
Hi Rick, Your answer seems appropriate for the absolute best and most highly recruited athletes whom this may not be an issue, but for the vast majority of student athletes, what are the realities of winning a head count sport scholarship when competing against in-state athletes? Are you suggesting that a coach of a public university is not concerned whether an athlete is in-state or out-of-state? I thought all things being equal, a coach will take an in-state athlete due to the lower cost of tuition against his/her budget. In other words, how are awards affected when considering the tuition rate an athlete must pay? None, a little, a lot? Thank you! I appreciate your help. Chris
Chris,
Because gymnastics is a head count sport, when your gymnast gets a scholarship from a Div. I school, the cost of tuition will be covered – regardless of whether it’s at the in-state or out-of-state rate. There may be minor differences regarding fees and other “costs of attendance”, but tuition will be covered at a public or a private university.
Rick
Thank you Rick. Very helpful.
Jen,
The school will not retroactively go back and impact your past year’s scholarship credits and payments if you choose not to play in your senior year.
Rick
Mike,
In order for the value of the academic scholarship to be exempt from counting against the baseball team’s total scholarship limit, your son must achieve a “cumulative transferable grade-point average of at least 3.000.” This does not mean that this is how his GPA is calculated to determine if he can receive the scholarship, as that could vary from one school to another. It just means that is the calculation for it to be exempt from being counted as part of the team’s total scholarship allotment.
Rick
Rick: son signed a D1 baseball NLI. Just finished 2nd year of JUCO. School has an academic scholarship for out of state students which basically replaces what was formerly waivers for certain geographic locations. Only qualification is a 3.0 gpa. We’ve now been told that due to NCAA rules, it’s the gpa of only transferable credit hours that must be 3.0 or better. Is this correct?
We’re just a little worried that if they accept a certain class that he got a C in, but not one he got an A in, it could obviously lower his gpa below the 3.0 threshold. Thank you
Hi, I have been playing division 1 softball for two years now. I have renewed my contract for the following year. My question is that if i choose not to play again the forth year, assuming the coaches continues to ask me back, is there any repercussions that could happen by me not playing? In regard to paying past years tuition even though they were covered by the scholarships. If it matters my school is a public university.
Hi, I have a High School Freshman gymnast still 4 years away from college but starting to think about scholarships. As you know, gymnastics is a head count sport dominated by many public universities and a few private universities. Each team can offer only 12 Athletic Scholarships and therefore obtaining an athletic award is extremely difficult (competitive). As we are starting to identify which schools to target, I have to consider the value of an in-state award vs an award from a private college. However, I have not been able to determine which public universities award full ride scholarships at in-state tuition vs out-of-state tuition. Is this decision unique to each school or is there an NCAA rule which governs the awards of head count sports in regard to tuition rates? How can I best compare public vs private in a head count sport? Thanks in advance for your insights.
Amanda,
The school has the right to determine the housing rules for student-athletes.
Rick
Hi, I’m a scholarship athlete for a Division II university. Is it legal for the school to make scholarship athletes live a year longer on campus (three years) than regular students and athletes not on a scholarship?
Yes, unless the player qualifies for other scholarships such as an academic scholarship that might cover other costs.
Rick
if a player is offered a scholarship and its half, does he still have to pay the tution(divison 2 football
Kat,
If you put yourself in the coach’s shoes, why would the coach give her a substantial increase in scholarship when she redshirted this year, and didn’t contribute to the team’s success by scoring points on the field? If she does choose to ask for a larger increase, she might try to point out that she earned all A’s, did everything that was asked of her, and is mindful of the costs that she will be incurring with a major in the medical field.
Rick
Rick,
My neice is a D1 out of state athlete just finished her freshman year – per coaches request, she took a red shirt. Her major is in the medical field, and has gotten all As. She is disappointed that her coach only increased her scholarship by 100. Is is proper to ask the coach if there is any way to negotiate for more $$/ – coach has been known to offer players that quit the team a full scholarship if they would stay ( to no avail0. – She believes she has gone above and beyond both athletically and academically.
thanks
Mike,
Now that your son has completed, or will soon complete, his freshman year at the school, he should be clear to play this Fall without any penalty/violation to the team as long as he has a GPA above 3.00.
Rick
Hi Rick,
My son is a preferred walk football player at a D-1 (FBS) institution. He was a strong student in High School and as such earned a partial academic scholarship to his institution (from the University, not a third party donor). He was redshirted his Freshman year, but had an outstanding spring and looks to garner some playing time this fall, however, he is still a walk-on. Does his academic scholarship count against him for the fall? The coaching staff told us when he was being recruited that if he took the field while receiving academic scholarship money that those funds would count against the 85 scholarship limit and the school would have to keep him off the field or risk a penalty/violation. Is this true, or can he participate with the team as a walk-on and receive academic scholarship dollars?
George,
If you barely got any playing time this season, then it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be offered a scholarship for next year. I suggest that you continue to work hard and see how next year goes before asking for a scholarship.
Rick
Hi Rick,
I play lacrosse on one of the top 5 division II lacrosse teams. I am a walk-on, although I wouldn’t be sure to consider myself a “preferred” walk-on or a normal one since my high school coach enabled me to try out for the team. Anyway I am on the roster, I’ve gotten equipment just like everyone else, but i do not have an athletic award. Our season just ended and I am not too sure how to ask my coach if I can get some type of award. I barely got any playing time this season, and when I got in i was not at my best.I also personally believe that I did not do too well on our last day of practice. He’s seen me at my best and I believe I can be a strong impact on this team eventually. I am one of three people on the team that doesn’t have an athletic award. There will also be a few players that will be leaving and transferring. Do i have any chance of receiving an award? Should I still ask? If so is there any particular way I should ask that will increase my chances of getting the scholarship?
Malou,
If you would like to discuss some strategy for your daughter, I’ll be glad to do so. I frequently consult with athletes and/or parents to help them navigate the NCAA transfer process. All consultations are completely confidential.
If a consultation is of interest, contact me directly at rick@informedathlete.com.
Rick
Brett,
I agree that the athlete should be able to receive the academic scholarship. The factors that enter into this include the athletic scholarship budget, and the school policy on scholarships. Some schools don’t allow “stacking” as they want to spread their scholarships across as many members of the student body as possible.
Rick
My daughter is on a full athletic scholarship at a Junior College. She will graduate early in the fall and would like to transfer for the Spring semester. I would like to know the best way to approach the 4-year college coaches regarding transferring in hopes of continuing to play her sport and at what point she should begin doing this?
Thank you. I believe that if it was exempt then the original verbal offer should stand and the hard earned academic scholarship should be additional money for the student athlete…or is that a selfish consideration. Your thoughts on that? That is my last question. Thank you, your previous response verified what I thought and was helpful. Your article was also very helpful to start.
Brett,
There are two potential benefits to the coach/sport. If the athlete meets the academic criteria for the academic scholarship to be “exempt” from counting against the team limit, then the athlete can receive the additional scholarship without impacting that limit (unless school policy doesn’t allow “stacking”.) If the athlete does not meet the criteria for the academic scholarship to be exempt, then that scholarship may replace $2000 of athletic scholarship, thereby saving the athletic scholarship budget $2000.
Rick
In Division I and II baseball, my understanding is that if you are a “counter” then academic scholarships you receive also count towards the sport limit on scholarships. So why would a coach bother encouraging a student athlete to apply for academic scholarships if the scholarship is going to count athletically anyway? What benefit is it to the sport? For example: kid was originally verbally offered $5000 as a baseball player. The coach encouraged him to apply for academic scholarships when he learned he was a good student. The student was awarded $2000 in academic scholarships so the coach reduced the baseball offer to $3000. From your article I assume it was because the total of $5000 all counts towards baseball because the student athlete was a “counter”. I don’t see the benefit for the coach or the sport to encourage the academic scholarship.
Mike,
This coach is obviously not a man of his word, but if your daughter didn’t have that offer in writing from him, your recourse is to probably take the issue to the Athletic Director, or the Associate Athletic Director to whom this coach reports. It may not result in anything helpful for your daughter, but will at least put them on notice of his false statements.
Rick
My daughter was accepted to a D1 college. She made her intentions to the coach that she was walking on the team. She was called by the coach and verbally offered partial scholarship enough to cover books. When the first semester payment was due no monies were credited to her account from athletics. I contacted the coach and he said it was a mistake on his part and he would make it up to her in the second semester. The second semester came and again nothing. She let the coach know she was quitting and the coach asked if she wanted to stay on the roster for the remainder of the year. It seems that the coach and/or university should be accountable for this. Please shed some light.
Thanks
N,
It is possible for that to happen, but many coaches will take the attitude that “you’re already here and have invested yourself in this school, and in making friends, so I don’t have a lot of incentive to give you a scholarship.” There are some coaches that will give an athletic scholarship after your freshman year, but many others won’t.
You can discuss that with them in the recruiting process, and it’s probably a good idea to do so, but whether they will actually do what they tell you is anybody’s guess.
Rick
Hi,
So as it is so late in the recruiting process for fall 2014, many schools have limited athletic money. If I attend a school while getting academic money and play for the team, is it possible to gain athletic money after the freshman year? Would it be a good idea to discuss with the coach or is it too early to talk about that?
Thanks
Katrina,
He should be able to walk on to the football team. Depending upon whether he’s considered a “recruited” walk-on, the school may need to withhold him from competition during his first year or two if they don’t want him to count against their team scholarship limit.
Rick
My son has received a full academic scholarship to a D1 school. Will he be able to walk on to the football team?
Jaygo,
The primary reason for the coach to sweeten the deal for your daughter would be if she starts to get interest from more highly-regarded Div. I soccer programs. Some programs will back away because she has already verbally committed to a school. This is one of the drawbacks of early commitments – other schools may back off and no longer show interest. You may need to have her “de-commit” or threaten to do so if you want to have the coach make a better offer.
Rick
My daughter verbally committed to a D1 soccer school last may as a sophomore. The coach offered to cover tuition only. When asked if he would cover any room and board he said he would build in an incentive package based on playing time and grades. He said he would put something together in writing in the fall for us. Fall has come and passed with nothing and I’m wondering if I should contact him and see where he is on that. In addition, my daughter continues to raise her game and has been asked to attend a national team I.D. camp.If she were to make the national team pool would that be reason for the coach to sweeten her package and reward her or is a deal a deal?
Gordon,
Partial scholarships can be given for whatever amount the coach chooses to offer. When a school offers 60% for example, that means 60% of a full scholarship.
Keep in mind that a full scholarship covers tuition and fees, room and board, and the cost or loan of books, but even then, be aware that the tuition and fees may only cover 12 hours of coursework per semester, even if she is carrying 15 semester hours of courses, and room and board may be based on a campus average for all room types. She and her parents should ask for a detailed explanation of just what the scholarship will cover.
Rick
Anne,
It is reasonable to ask for concrete numbers for all four years, but unless she signs a National Letter of Intent and a scholarship agreement that covers all four years, those numbers could be changed by the coach later on.
Rick
My daughter is a junior and has been made some offers from D1 schools to play soccer. One of the schools says she will get X dollars her freshman year and then more money soph, jr and sr years. Is it reasonable to get concrete numbers for all four years?
My Grand daughter is being recruited for two sports that are only allotted limited athletic scholarships. IF she is offered a partial scholarship does that normally apply just to tuition and / or R&B or are theses separate? When schools say 60-80% do they mean as applied to a full ride including R&B.
Sara,
She should make a specific plan to meet with a tutor through the on-campus tutoring center weekly if not more often, and, in fact, should start that immediately before she meets with the coach. She should also offer to submit weekly summaries of her assignments, with her plans to complete the assignments.
Rick
Hi
My daughter has been on a full scholarship at a Division II school for two years going into her third year she had a very rough start academically the first semester of freshman year she improved and got grades up but was placed back on acedemic probation this past semester for failing one class. I received a call from the coach on Thursday saying they were going to being sitting down to make a decision on whether to renew her scholarship or not. Obviously my daughter needs to improve but in the meeting what should she tell/ask them besides she can improve and will do anything to keep her scholarship?
Ryan,
All of these goals are possible. Since you’re a junior in college, you have two years of eligibility available after this year, assuming you’ve been a full-time student since you first started your freshman year.
Rick
Hi Rick,
I threw discus in high school and was pretty good at it. I am now a junior in college and I was wondering if I were to be good enough if I could still walk on to throw in college? Scholarship? Also could I compete as a fifth year senior?
B,
An NLI issued by an NCAA Div. II school is not valid unless it is accompanied by an athletic scholarship agreement.
Rick
Rick,
Thanks in advance for your knowledge! My kid signed a NLI with a D2 soccer program. Should there be a financial aspect to the offer? Are ALL NLI offers associated with some kind of scholarship?
Thanks
David,
I would read the acceptance letter you received from the university carefully to see if it is a conditional acceptance or if you have been assured acceptance for Fall 2014. If it is a conditional acceptance, carefully review what those conditions are, and determine whether you anticipate any problem meeting those conditions.
Rick
Russell,
A verbal commitment means that an athlete plans to attend the school they commit to, but it is not binding, and the school or the athlete can choose to go “in another direction” if they desire. This often happens when a coaching staff change occurs.
I frequently consult with athletes and/or parents on the recruiting, eligibility and scholarship rules. If a consultation is of interest to discuss your daughter’s situation and her options, contact me directly at rick@informedathlete.com. All consultations are completely confidential.
As an alternative, you may be interested in downloading our “Informed Athlete’s Guide to Campus Visits” which can be purchased from the Store of our website. Here’s a link to the Campus Visits Guide:
http://www.informedathlete.com/informed-athletes-guide-to-campus-visits?cid=187
Rick
I am a international student-athlete received financial aid from the university. I have received via email an acceptance letter and draft I-20 form detailing my financial aid. I have also signed an “institutional letter of intent” and paid my housing deposit. From your experience can you tell me what can go wrong from here? Can a university still cut me off my financial aid and not admit me? I am asking this because I am about to inform other coaches of my decision.
thank you
Hi Rick.
My daughter is a sophomore in High school, and a very talented Softball Pitcher. She is a high honors student and is trying to pursue either a Athletic or Academic scholarship. She is now in the process of starting to visit schools and meeting coach’s while at those schools. If she get a full ride athletically, or Academically, when would the amount of the scholarship be introduced?
Also when I hear of athletes getting verbal commitments, or committed to a school. What exactly does that mean?
Al,
It is often (but not always) better to go where the coach has “invested” a scholarship in your daughter. Frankly, she will be at risk of being cut at either school, but it’s less likely when the coach is providing an athletic scholarship.
Rick
My daughter received a partial athletic schorlarship to a D2 program. She also recieved a “roster spot” at a D1 program. Is she at risk of being cut sometime during her first year at the D1 program since she didn’t receive any money vs. the D2 program she received money at? I’m trying to figure out if there is more security at one program vs. the other. Finally, the reason she didn’t receive money at the D1 school is that she entered the process late and they said they were out of money.
Thanks
MP,
NCAA Div. I Bylaw 15.5.1.
Rick
Rick,
Which NCAA rule highlights this “countable” rule?
Rayeanne,
She needs to request “permission to contact” other schools. Coaches at other NCAA schools won’t be able to discuss a possible transfer with her until they receive “permission to contact” in written or e-mailed form from her current school.
Rick
Emily,
It can depend upon the sport and on the circumstances regarding the athlete’s transfer. For example, if the athlete is in a “head count” sport like women’s basketball or volleyball, and the team was already at their scholarship limit during the Fall, they cannot re-award the scholarship to another athlete in the Spring, because it would put them over their limit on the number of athletes they could have on scholarship during an academic year.
Rick
Where at in the NCAA Division 1 2013-2014 Manual does it discuss that scholarships given to D1 athletes who then transfer mid-season cannot be redistributed to another athlete?
Thank you
My daughter was recruited by a Div 1 school. At the end of the season the coach informed her she would not be returning to the team. What does she need from them to start looking elsewhere? Does she need a release before applying to other schools?
GG,
Your daughter will be provided some perks as a member of the team. Given the number of questions that you have, it would be a good idea for you to contact me directly for a consultation in which I can answer your questions, and provide some other information for you. My contact info is on the About Us page of our website.
Rick
My 11th grade daughter has wanted to go to a certain Pac 12 school for the last few years…it has been her dream to play there. She has had lots of interest, money offers,from other schools but made up her mind that this was the only school she wanted to attend. She loves it even without volleyball and even if she doesn’t get to play that much. She was offered a walk on position yesterday. When she took her visit, there were many happy walk ons. Some received a scholarship after they started their first year or two as a walk on. She accepted the spot and is over the moon.
I have a few questions…
Is anything covered by the school? Are walk ons able to eat for free or do they pay? Do they get to travel with the team? Do the have access to the same athletic guidance councilor? Priority registration? Wondering if she will get any perks at all.
We have a call with the head coach next week. I don’t want to sound completely uneducated. Any guidance you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you GG
Rick,
Thank You for the very prompt reply.
All the best,
Mark
Travis,
The coach/school has the right to immediately cancel the scholarship of an athlete who quits their team. The coach may choose not to cancel it based on the athlete’s situation, but he/she has the right to do so if the athlete is no longer a member of the team.
Rick
Hello Rick,
Does a D2 coach have to honor a scholarship to a student-athlete even if the student-athlete decides he/she needs to leave the team just before season due to issues of personal matter with his/her family. This very same student-athlete will remain enrolled at the same school after leaving the team.
Mark,
If she is receiving an athletic scholarship, her scholarship can’t be cancelled in the middle of the academic year because of her injury. However, she can be cut from the team.
Rick
Hi Rick, Our daughter was recruited to a D1 school for rowing. She experienced an injury and is currently in physical therapy with the sports medicine team and trainers. My question is can she be cut from the team?
Julie,
You can ask them what their requirements are for academic scholarships, what the value of those scholarships typically are, and what is required to maintain those scholarships over the time of your son’s enrollment. You might also ask if those scholarships are competitive, or if your son will automatically receive them for achieving a certain ACT or SAT score.
Rick
My junior high school son (4.2 GPA)was just offered to play at almost all of the Ivy League schools to play football. We have our first call with one of the coaches this week. I know Ivies don’t offer athletic scholarships. What can we ask for to help us financially?
Thank you!
Lorrie,
Assuming that your daughter’s scholarship for this year was properly signed and “official”, there are only very limited circumstances under which the school can reduce or cancel the scholarship in the middle of the academic year. You are correct in that athletes are to be informed in writing before July 1 as to the status of the scholarship for the upcoming academic year.
I would be happy to talk with you to discuss your daughter’s situation and how to proceed. All consultations are completely confidential.
If a consultation is of interest, contact me directly and we’ll schedule a time to talk. My contact info is on the “About Us” page of our website.
Rick
Rick
Rick,
My daughter is a Junior Div I soccer player. Can her coach take away part of her athletic scholarship in February and back date it to the beginning of the fall term without telling her the scholarship was being decreased? Doesnt he have to tell her by the end of June before fall semester starts? What is legal and how do we proceed? Thanks, Lorrie
Lucy,
The NCAA rules grant the school the right to immediately cancel the scholarship of an athlete who quits their team – even if you signed a National Letter of Intent. If you had not quit your team and was still fully participating in practices and workouts, then you would be fulfilling your commitment to the school. Since you stated that you wanted to “quit the team here and try and transfer somewhere else” I suggest that you work for the school unless you are prepared to lose your scholarship.
Rick
Rick
So this year I decided to play DI volleyball on a “full-ride” scholarship. I signed my NLI and have been at school for a semester and a half. After the fall season and before the spring season, I decided I wanted to quit the team here and try and transfer somewhere else. After telling the coach things were fine. But I went to talk to the athletic director and he informed me that I have to work for the school in order to keep my scholarship. I have never heard of this happening nor did I sign for that in my NLI or any other document. Can I refuse to work for the school? I believe the NLI is good for one full year, regardless if I ask for my release prior to the contract ending.
P,
If your scholarship is being reduced, the school must provide an appeal opportunity for you to contest the reduction. You should check with the compliance office at your school to inquire about the appeal process, and what you must do to request one.
Rick
NN,
The coach can choose not to renew her scholarship for next year. The Div. I rules require that all scholarship athletes in all sports must be notified by July 1 if they will be receiving the same scholarship, a reduced scholarship, or no scholarship, for next year.
Rick
Geovanna,
It is best to check with the compliance offices of the Div. I schools recruiting your daughter as some schools require that outside scholarships be sent to the school in the name of the student-athlete.
Rick
Hi Rick,
My coach just informed me that my scholarship will be decrease next year due to university financial aid problem. He also said that it’s because the pressure he has from another athletes that we all don’t get the same money. He is going to reduced my scholarship so we all can get the same amount. I have talked to my coach about it, but he said there is no other way. To be honest, I don’t think my parent will be able to afford it.
I would considered to transfer but I already been transferred once. Is there anything I can do? Thank you
Hi Rick, my daughter is a student-athlete and plays in NCAA D1 tennis on a full scholarship. She is in her second year but recently her newly appointed assistant coach is not happy with the make up of the team. Her opportunities have been limited and often gets overlooked in the starting line up. She heard a rumour that the school is looking or have recruited players for next semester and she’s under the impression that she will get the cut. Her grades are good, she trains well and have done everything what she’s been asked to do. Can the school cut her from the team and not offer the scholarship next semester?
Ashlee,
If you can attend the junior college and do well both academically and athletically, you can certainly move on later to a four-year university. Whether you can attend the JUCO will depend upon whether you can afford to go to school. Don’t expect the athletic scholarship to cover all of your costs to attend college. You’ll still need money for personal expenses, doing things on the weekend, clothing, etc.
Rick
I have been having a lot of problems with my parents lately and it sounds like they might end up kicking me out of the house. I have just signed my letter of intent to play softball at a junior college but I have not applied yet. If I were to get kicked out of my house and my parents stopped helping me would I still be able to go to school with my athletic scholarship? And will I be able to move on and apply later to a 4 year university after attending this junior college?
Hello Rick,
My daughter, a high school junior, already has one D-1 athletic scholarship offer for basketball and after this summer’s recruiting circuit is expecting to receive several more.
A couple of the college coaches we have talked to says my daughter cannot receive supplemental scholarships or grants if she gets a Division 1 athletic scholarship. However, my coworker told me she can receive additional scholarships if the award doesn’t go through the college and the award is sent directly to her. Do you know if this is true?
Thank you,
Geovanna
Stephanie,
Sand volleyball is actually an official NCAA sport now. Your daughter’s ability to accept, or be impacted by another scholarship, will depend upon whether she receives an athletic scholarship, as well as the sources of these other scholarships. You may want to contact me directly for a consultation if you’d like to discuss the athletic scholarship rules and the effects of other types of scholarships.
Rick
My daughter is in the high school class of 2015 and wants to play sand volleyball in college. Sand volleyball is not yet an official NCAA sport, although it could be before she graduates college. She hopes to play NCAA indoor as well, although that’s secondary to her. She is not expecting to be offered an athletic scholarship for indoor. Maybe she would be offered a small athletic scholarship for sand. It’s my understanding that merit or financial need scholarships do not affect NCAA teams. If she were to make it on a sand team or both a sand and NCAA indoor team, either with or without an athletic scholarship, is she able to accept either a school or outside scholarship for being Hispanic? Also, could she accept either a school or outside scholarship for art?
Cathy,
The athlete is still required to pay out-of-state tuition, unless granted an academic scholarship, or if there is a reciprocal agreement with a neighboring state to pay in-state tuition as is the case at some schools.
Rick
If a gymnast is offered a walk-on spot to an out-of-state school, are you still required to pay out-of-state tuition?
Pascal,
If your son plays one year at an NAIA school, he will have 3 years of eligibility remaining at an NCAA school.
Athletes are limited to four years of collegiate competition total, even if they use part of their eligibility in a different organization. For example, using two years of eligibility at a two-year college (the maximum allowed), would leave two years of eligibility remaining at a four-year college.
Rick
Rick thank you for your reply and your excellent website
If my son plays in NAIA athletic one year with 100% athletic scholarship
it keeps you eligibility for 4 years since D1 next year
Pascal,
It would be best to work through these questions with the compliance office of the Div. I school that has made your son the offer.
Rick
Hello Rick
My son has an offer to play golf in D1.
He is currently in 4th year high school buisness in Switzerland.
His school does not issue graduat 4th year, but a certificate of study. (Cathegory 3 ncaa Eligibility rule international.)
The iniversité D1 axcepte registration with a good SAT score 950.
it may be eligible NCAA?
If this is not good, it can earn credits with summer courses in college and be eligible in September 2014 to the beginning of the fall semester?
Caleb,
You can obtain this information by contacting the Financial Aid office at her school. There is probably one specific staff member in that office that handles athletic scholarships, so I would ask to speak to that person.
Rick
Hi Rick,
My daughter is on a full ride at a D1 university-where can I go to determine the cost of attendance vs. value of her scholarship?
M,
This will depend upon the school, and the staff members in the Financial Aid office and the athletic department. At almost every NCAA Div. I or II university, there is a specific staff member in the Financial Aid office on campus that is a direct contact person with the athletic department. If that particular staff person becomes aware that your child is applying for financial aid, they might alert the athletic department just to let them know what’s going on. There is no way to predict whether that would, or would not, happen.
Rick
Hi Rick
My child is currently a junior receiving a full athletic scholarship at a private university (>$55,000 per year). This is their third year at this school. Their course of study is extremely vigorous. We do not have a lot of money and really depend on the scholarship…BUT, academics are the number #1 priority and my child would like to focus all their time on their schoolwork their senior year. My questions is….can they apply for financial aid without the coaches knowing? My child is afraid that meeting with the financial aid officer might jeopardize their scholarship. My child will not quit the sport unless they have some idea if we will get some assistance. I will be filling out the FAFSA but not submitting it to the school. My child plans on finishing out the school year with their team, and has fulfilled all the duties involved with the sport…training sessions, work outs, volunteering etc…
thank you
M
Allan,
If your son isn’t receiving an athletic scholarship for this academic year, then he does not have to be counted as one of the 27 scholarship “slots”, although the coach could consider him to be part of the group if there are, in fact, only 22 receiving a scholarship.
You may want to contact me directly so we can discuss the retroactive aid that he was given, since there are NCAA limitations to how that is supposed to be done.
Rick
Hi Rick, my son is currently at a Div.1 school playing Baseball. He came to the school last year on a scholarship. He red shirt that first year and half way through they said they were going to double his scholarship after the season and retro it back to that Freshman season and then no scholarship for this season his red shirt freshman season. My question is, the coach has said all 27 scholarship players will be on the roster, technically he is no longer on scholarship? Because he has received all this money is he considered one of those 27?? There are only 22 that are classified scholarship player’s that we know of? I know this is a long question, but a few of the older players on the team have said he is part of the 27? is there any truth to this, what do you think? Thanks
Sydney,
If you quit your team in the middle of the semester, the school can immediately cancel your scholarship, and may, in fact, ask you to repay any scholarship funds that were already expended on your behalf for the semester. This would depend upon the policies of the school.
Rick
Thank you for your last reply. I have another question for you and my question is if there is a certain time throughout the semester where the scholarship takes effect, and I could resign in the middle of the semester. If I could d stay with the program throughout half of the semester. My friend said that she knows other athletes that have done this, but it doesn’t hurt to check. Thank you.
Sydney
Justin,
The decision of whether you will need to pay for the whole semester or just the remaining part of the semester is left up to the school, based on their policies.
Rick
Dear Rick, I am on a partial scholarship at a division 2 football school and I am thinking about dropping the sport. My only concern is that I can either stick it out the rest of the semester and be paid my scholarship, or I can drop it before the spring rolls around. If I decide to drop before the end of the semester will the school make me pay for the whole semester or just the part of the semester when I was not participating?
Tony,
Yes, it would be possible for the coach to do that.
Rick
If I sign an NLI on signing day in 2 weeks and receive a 50% athletic scholarship, can the coach increase the scholarship amount if my performances increases considerably between now and the start of Fall 2014.
Coach,
This will depend somewhat on the policies of that particular school, but in most cases it will be based on the GPA for each year rather than for each semester.
Rick
Rick,
A JUCO athlete is receiving a partial scholarship to an out of state school in div. 1 track and field which includes tuition, board, books, and out of state fees. He is graduating from the JUCO with a 3.1 GPA so the school told him his out of state tuition fees get waived due to his gpa, but that he must maintain a 3.0 gpa in order to keep his scholarship amount. They said if he drops below a 3.0 they will have to cover his out of state tuition and would consequently reduce his scholarship amount.
My question is: does the student athlete have to maintain a cumulative 3.0 or higher gpa for each year? Or for each semester?
Thank you!
Marco,
Yes, you can receive a scholarship during your fifth year.
Rick
I wanted to be sure. If you got partial athletic scholarship for 4 years in D2 tennis but was red-shirted for a year, therefore only played for 3 years. Can you still get scholarship money for a fifth year if you play??
Sydney,
If you quit your team, the athletic department could choose to immediately cancel your scholarship and make you pay all of your educational costs for the second semester. This would depend upon the policies of the school you’re attending.
Rick
Hello! I am currently a freshman athlete with 50% scholarship and my season has already ended, and I do not plan on coming back. I was wondering if I quit in the second semester will they still pay for half of my schooling? I am not entirely sure.
Thank you,
Sydney
bob,
In many cases, the need-based financial aid won’t count toward the team limit, but that is not true in all cases. It would depend upon the specific type of aid, and whether the determination was made by the institution, compared to the federal or state government.
Rick
Hi Rick,
If Martin’s son received some athletic fin aid for a “counter” sport(lax) and also received need based fin aid, would the need based fin aid be counted toward the Lax teams scholarship limit?
Mary, to answer your questions:
1. It will likely make her more attractive to the coach.
2. Yes, the more aid she qualifies for, the offer of athletic aid will probably diminish.
3. That should not lock you in, although what the coach thinks about that could be a totally different story.
You/your daughter may be interested in our “Informed Athlete’s Guide to Campus Visits” which suggests questions to ask and things to think about when visiting college campuses. It can be found in the Store of our website. Here’s a link to the Guide:
http://www.informedathlete.com/informed-athletes-guide-to-campus-visits?cid=187
Rick
My daughter is a sophomore in high school, is being recruited to play DI lacrosse for quite a few top schools, and will probably verbally commit in the next few months. One of the schools has asked us to complete the school’s net price calculator, which shows that, as of today, we would be eligible for about 25% of total cost of attendance in financial aid. I have three questions:
1. Does her qualification for a percentage of financial aid make her more/less attractive as a recruit to the coach?
2. Would this estimated qualification for a percentage of financial aid affect the amount of athletic scholarship they would award?
3. By submitting this form now to the coach, are we locking ourselves in to the 25% that he would not have to pay in athletic scholarship money, even if our financial situation changes by the time she actually applies two years from now?
Colette,
Many coaches won’t determine scholarships for returning players until the end of the season. So, I would anticipate that your daughter won’t learn the amount of her scholarship for next year until after the season concludes.
Rick
Hello! I have a question for you. My daughter is on softball scholarship (she is a freshman) with the season just about to start when do coaches let players know of the distribution of the next years scholarships (if receiving one of course. I would think that spring sports get the bad end of the stick in preparing for/or not any extra money given if coaches wait till end of season. I do understand that they want to see how their athletes perform. I’m just afraid without scholarship money my daughter will not be able to return. She does have 9 starting seniors on her team so I’m hoping that this could be a good thing for my daughter since the coaches have become very impressed with what they have seen from my daughter in the pre-season. Is there a time frame we can expect?
TJ,
That will depend upon the policies of his particular school, but many schools will allow an athlete to receive both types of financial aid.
Rick
Hello, my son is receiving a d2 athletic scholarship and with our familys financial situation would he be able to receive fafsa on top of his athletic scholarship?
Hi Gail,
Your daughter will still be eligible for a scholarship for her 5th year if the coach agrees to give her a scholarship. I am puzzled, however, by your reference to a “departmental track scholarship” being different from an “athletic scholarship.” I would be curious to talk with you about that, as it sounds “fishy” to me. Contact me directly at rick@informedathlete.com if you would like to discuss the scholarship rules in more detail.
Rick
Dear Rick,
Our daughter is a D1 track athlete who is on a 27 percent scholarship. She is currently a junior and is finding that she may need to do a 5th year in order to complete all the prerequisite courses necessary to make her marketable for the graduate program she needs to complete to become a registered dietician. Last year her coach took her off athletic scholarship to free up funds for other recruits but gave her a departmental track scholarship instead. This year she is back on an athletic scholarship. It is confusing. She has asked her coach about redshirt ing the spring and winter seasons of 2014 in order to compete spring 2015 and all of her redshirt senior year. If he grants her wish will she still be eligible for athletic scholarship for her 5th year because her sophomore year was not funded by an athletic scholarship? He may not agree anyway because he has several others who are redshirting and he is concerned about winning conference meets without her and the others. We are trying to look at the big picture because she will have 2-3 yrs beyond with funding graduate school. Thanks in advance for your reply.
Hi Trisha,
There is nothing wrong with letting the new coach know of your daughter’s financial situation so she can know if she needs to start considering a transfer.
Rick
Hi Rokas,
Given the large number of colleges in the US, I believe you have a reasonable chance of becoming a student-athlete in the US, if you have been playing against quality competition in your home country.
I suggest that you send some video clips of your play to colleges that you are interested in, as well as posting them up on a website such as http://www.berecruited.com. I have no personal experience with that website, but have heard that it is inexpensive for you to create a profile and upload video to their site.
Rick
My daughter accepted a 25 percent scolarship to play at a D1 school. She had a great year playing quality minutes. At the time of the verbal offer the coach told her he wasn’t sure what the scholarship would be for year 2. The s hook is out of state and my daughter had to take out student loans as well as a lot of additional money had to be paid. The coach left for another school. We have no idea what her scholarship will be but we know that there needs to be a substantial increase or she will not be able to stay. How does a new coach determine the scholarship amount. Would it be inappropriate for my daughter to let him/ her know our financial situation we need to know so she can make a transfer if necessary. She loves the school but its a financial issue
Hey, I’m a 17 year old basketball player from Lithuania, Europe. My English is very good, I have won several English contests in my school, my grades are good, I’m a pretty good basketball player, I’m 6’3 and I play the 2 guard spot, what are the chances of me becoming a student athlete in the US?
Stacy,
The tennis program (just like any other Div. I sport) is limited in the amount of scholarship money they can award each year. They can’t “carry over” leftover money from one year to use in the following year.
It is unlikely that the money can be used by another group or team at the school, but that decision would be left up to the athletic department.
Rick
I actually have 2 questions. My daughter plays tennis for a D1 school. In December, there was found to be more scholarship money available and her coach asked to give her and another player money. The school said the coach couldn’t and it was against their policy.
1. Can these ‘extra’ dollars that aren’t being used be transferred to the following year to be used as part of the aid?
2. Can these dollars that were part of the tennis aid, be used by another group within the school?
Thank you!
Felipe,
I have no first-hand experience with the type of companies that you’re asking about, but I have heard that many of them are overpriced and underperform. Look for the type of websites where you can upload player profiles and videos for a small cost, and then e-mail links to those sites to college coaches.
Rick
Hi,
i am basketball coach, some of my players are asking me help to get a scoalarhip in the USA.
Here in Europe, is usually contact one these Companies that work for you looking for a scolarship.
Is it a good a idea? how it works? are free, are expensive for the kids?, etc..
Thanks.
Yofray,
Yes, the school could choose to take it away.
Rick
If someone was in their last semester of senior year and they wanted to quit, could their athletic scholarship be taken away?
Tyler,
Not all Div. I financial aid and athletic scholarships combinations work this way. However, it is much more common for schools to stack athletic scholarships and academic scholarships, or academic scholarships and financial aid, than it is to stack athletic scholarships and financial aid. This is due to the way that scholarships are counted toward a team’s total scholarship limit.
I believe it is a reasonable offer for your son, but keep in mind that it is often better to have a coach “invest” an athletic scholarship in an athlete, because the coach will usually give those athletes more chances to earn playing time, and will be more forgiving of their errors.
Rick
My son was contacted by a top 5 private d1 lacrosse program and asked to fill out financial aid early estimate form. They came back and said we qualified for 50% tuition through financial aid. They said we could choose the financial aid or athletic scholarship but that the aid would be more. They said they don’t stack financial aid and athletic but possibly FA and academic. Is this a reasonable offer? Is this how all D1 FInancial aid and athletic scholarships work?
Jay,
The NCAA won’t get involved in your issue, but there should be an appeals committee on campus to which you can appeal not getting your scholarship during your redshirt year.
Rick
I am currently a junior and play in a Div 1 soccer team with a full scholarship. I recently torn my ACL during a conference game in the middle of the season and had surgery. The doctor stated to me and our athletic trainer that I may miss my senior year of play soccer but I can be placed on medical red-shirt. My coach then stated that I will not receive my scholarship during my red-shirt year but will receive it in my fifth year when I am able to play because I am receiving a four year scholarship. I can not afford paying my red shirt year as a full time student. So, can I complain to the NCAA or seek legal action because the program should pay my scholarship during my red shirt year?
Jake,
That decision is up to the school. The NCAA gives the school the right to immediately cancel the scholarship of an athlete who quits their team.
Rick
Marty,
You’ll have to contact the school for that information.
Rick
Hi Rick,
I am on a full scholarship at a D1 school. I have been talking with the coach, and I am transferring at the end of the spring semester. However, I will stay on scholarship throughout the spring 2014 semester. My question is, if I were to quit the team after the semester starts in the spring, would I lose my scholarship since it has already been granted?
hi umass/lowell just became division 1 lax for men & wome. are they granting any scholarship money or “full rides”? thanks
Josh,
There is not a standard rule as to whether or not the NAIA school can take away the scholarship or make you pay it back. That decision is left up to the school.
Rick
Hi Rick I have a quick question. I am currently playing basketball at a NAIA school and I am transferring next semester so I won’t be finishing out the second half of the season. Since I am leaving next semester I have a lot to get done and want to quit right now so I wouldn’t complete a week and a half of this semesters games and practices. Since I am getting a scholarship will they take it away? Will I have to pay this back? I appreciate your help thank you!
Dan,
A 75% scholarship for softball is a very good offer IF it’s all from athletics. If the school is offering 75% of full cost to attend the school, but it is a combination of athletic and academic scholarships, then the offer isn’t as good as it first seems, and you’ll want to know how much is coming from athletics and how much is academic money.
Also, you may be interested in our “Informed Athlete’s Guide to Campus Visits” which can be found at this link:
http://www.informedathlete.com/informed-athletes-guide-to-campus-visits?cid=187
Rick
Rick,
My daughter was just verbally offered a 75% scholarship as a Junior to play D1 Softball. She is a Short Stop. Do you have any idea if this is a better than average offer.
Terence,
There are two important financial aid limits for NCAA athletes. The first is the value of a full athletic scholarship – tuition, required fees, room, board, and books.
The second important limit is the institution’s Cost of Attendance. At many institutions across the country, the Cost of Attendance is roughly $2000 more than a full scholarship, but that can certainly vary widely between schools. Athletes who receive additional financial aid having no relationship to their athletic participation can keep financial aid above the cost of a full athletic scholarship, but most of the time cannot keep financial aid above the Cost of Attendance.
Rick
How you doing Rick, I wanted to know how does this work, Cause my daughter was offered 10 full ride athletic basketball scholarships (D1/D2). We took one of them, But before all of this we were filling out applications with everybody for scholarship funding to soften our financial blow. So what I am asking is, where does this funding go to that was coming through to the University in our behave. Being that she signed during the early signing period for a full ride scholarship. Because I was told that it would be given to the University and they would be giving it back to her in a check. Is that true.
Sarai,
I have some tips and suggestions that I can share with you. Contact me directly for a consultation. My contact info can be found on the “About Us” page of our website.
Rick
Lisa,
1. You’re not obligated to disclose if, or how much aid, other schools are offering.
2. He should ask to be reconsidered for more academic money based on his score increase.
3. You are correct regarding the “cost of attendance.”
Here are two other things to consider. First, keep in mind that it is usually better to go where the coach is “invested” in your son by providing him an athletic scholarship, rather than just an academic scholarship. Second, although your son’s already been on some campus visits, you may be interested in our “Informed Athlete’s Guide to Campus Visits” which can be found at this link:
http://www.informedathlete.com/informed-athletes-guide-to-campus-visits?cid=187
Rick
Rick, I have a 17 year old son who is a senior in high school and he would like to play college basketball. The only problem is, he has never been on a team in high school due to us constantly moving (my job requires a lot of traveling). The first school he went to for 2 years (9th & 10th grade) did not even have a basketball team and he never tried out at new schools because he assumed we might move again. he does play almost everyday when he can find a court or a local YMCA that offers in door playing. Any sugestions? I’m a single mother and have no idea what to do or where to start. I have thought about sending him to basketball camp, but I am not sure and I know a basketball scholarship is far fetch, so I am really lost. Please help!!
Hi Rick,
I have a couple of questions. My son is a senior XC and distance track. XC season went very well and he has some solid reachable goals for winter track. He’s had 2 official visits to colleges and 2 unofficial visits with D1 schools. One of his official visits was an overnight at his 1st choice school. He has a 2nd choice school that has only offered an unofficial visit thus far.
He is accepted at his 1st choice school and they awarded him $18,000 academic scholarship. Total cost for this school is about $51K. This coach is in weekly contact with him and has been asking about other schools he is applying to. The 2nd choice school is definitely a big rival (about an hour apart, often competing for the same incoming freshman).
So my son and I want to know-
When coaches ask specifically, are we obligated to disclose whether or how much academic or athletic money other schools are offering? If we have no obligation to disclose what other schools are offering, is it considered bad form (on our part) for declining to disclose that info?
Since being awarded the $18K academic scholarship, my son has retaken the SAT with total score going up 150 points. Should he ask to be reconsidered for more academic scholarship money? He thinks the extra 150 points put him in the next category up in the schools academic scholarship ranking.
Is my understanding correct on scholarships at the D1 level- my son will be able to accept the academic scholarship plus any athletic money the school offers, up to the total cost of attending? In this case, the school publishes “total cost of attending” at $51K, which includes $2,000 for personal and travel expenses.
This is a great website. Thank you!
Lisa
Kodi,
It will depend upon the requirements of the coach rather than the school. Coaches make their scholarship decisions based on how valuable they believe you will be to their team.
Rick
Rick,
So this means the kinds of requirements for each school varies? Some could require more than I listed in the previous question?
Kodi,
All athletic scholarship decisions are made by each coach at each school. Your ability to get an athletic scholarship at a school will depend upon the interest a particular coach has in you joining their team.
Rick
Hey Rick,
I’m an international student; I’ve searched everywhere for info regarding athletic scholarships, but the info doesn’t necessarily talk about international student
Firstly, please I would like to know the possibility of myself getting an athletic scholarship on the basis of an impressive( I hope) highlight video and my NCAA eligibility.
Also, is there a reasonable possibility I can get a GOOD scholarship offer with the previously listed items?? (maybe 50% or more).
Finally, if they give me good scholarship offer, is it likely the offer could still be conditional, depending on how good I am when they watch me live compared to my game on the video?
Thank you so much.
John,
I believe you can contest the termination based on that rule, or you can appeal to them to let you keep the scholarship as a “medical non-counter” and have it not count toward the team’s scholarship limit. However, I’m guessing that their concern is not so much your scholarship counting toward the team limit, but them trying to save money in their budget.
Rick
Sandra,
Your son’s school may not handle this situation in the same way that another school would. However, I believe that they can redistribute his scholarship to apply those funds to board and other permissible funds that may not have been originally covered.
Rick
Hi Rick. I read all of your comments with great interest. I have an issue. My son has signed NLI to a D1. Scholarship first year is 75% of out of state tuition/room/books. He recently has been informed (by admissions) his academics makes him eligible for in-state tuition. Basically now the amount they were going to pay for 75% in out of state is more than what 100% of in-state tuition would be. Will they balk at this and revert to only paying 75% of in-state instead of out of state? If the academics is what got the reduction in tuition shouldn’t he get the benefit? Is it negotiable?
Rick,
I just completed my cross country eligibility at a Div II institution. I am on scholarship with an out of state waiver, which is funded through cross country. I recently withdrew from running track and field due to a chronic injury which I have deemed too risky for my health to continue participation.
Now my second semester of waiver is in process to be terminated even though my scholarship was for cross country. Can they do that?
If yes, do you think that I can contest the termination based on grounds on bylaw 15.3.2.2 if I acquire a doctor’s letter of suspension?
Shannon,
The money question is a delicate one, but the best chance to receive a favorable answer is when the athlete has some “leverage.” In other words, for a recruit, do they have a competing offer? For a returning athlete, what will the coach miss if the athlete goes elsewhere?
Rick
Wondered the same 😉 How do you ask the money question??
Zach,
They certainly can do that if it is permitted in their stated policies and procedures. NAIA schools have a lot of discretion in that they can determine their own policies, as there is no national NAIA standard for this type of situation.
Rick
Rick,
I am currently receiving an athletic scholarship for football at a NAIA school. The season is over and I am getting tired of playing football and would like to focus more on school. I would like to finish out the school year at the school and transfer next year. Can the school pull the remainder of my athletic scholarship for the next semester even knowing I have completed the football season?
Tracy,
Coaches are allowed to disburse their scholarships as they choose, and within the general guidelines of the athletic director. It is more likely that they have only issued 11 scholarships this year to “balance” the classes, or to possibly hold a scholarship for a late transfer that the coaches may have thought they had a shot at.
Rick
Rick,
My daughter is on a D1 volleyball team and was told years 3&4 will be covered by athletic scholarship, while years 1&2 are out of pocket. In year 2 now and only 11 full scholarships have been used this year. Is this common, or even allowed? Is it possible/legal that instead of offering the remaining scholarship to my daughter who has performed that the staff elected to keep the money and use it for gear/facility renovations.
Scott,
The financial aid agreement from the school that accompanies the National Letter of Intent should list the athletic offer in terms of dollars, or in terms of “categories” such as “tuition and fees” or “room and board.” You may want to ask the coach to clearly explain the offer before your daughter signs it.
If you would like to discuss this situation, you can contact me directly for a private consultation.
Rick
Ron,
Just within the last couple of years it has become permissible under the NCAA Div. I rules for schools to offer multi-year scholarships. Until then, scholarships could only be offered (officially) for one year at a time. It appears that this coach is operating under the “old” rules (which the vast majority of coaches still are), even though he could offer your daughter a four-year scholarship if he really wanted to.
You may want to “call his bluff” and let him know that you know multi-year scholarships are now permissible, and that you expect your daughter to be offered an official multi-year scholarship since he’s already “unofficially” shared those percentages with her.
Rick
My daughter just verbally committed to a Division II University. She wants to participate in early signing which is this Wednesday through following Wednesday. However, the Letter of Intent we received from the University to be signed doesn’t have specifics of the athletic $ offer being made to my daughter. Letter of intent is a binding agreement right? Should it contain the specifics of the athletic financial offer? Merit money offer? If it does not, should we not sign it? Some of the merit/academic money being offered is based on some academic achievement through the rest of this her senior year. However, the athletic money is what it is, no? How would you advise as i don’t want her signing something that the coach then could go back on what was said and then my daughter is locked into this school and can do nothing about it. I don’t doubt the coach’s integrity but want to be smart.
Rick,
My daughter recently received a D1 soccer scholarship offer. The numbers written on the “tender of financial assistance and declaration of intent” are slightly different from the written offer the head coach presented. Also the tender only shows the year one offer whereas the written offer given by the coach shows percentages for each of years 2, 3 and 4.
Is this correct, should we be contacting the coach / AD to get this corrected? What about future years?
Laurie,
She will receive 75% of a full athletic scholarship, but that doesn’t mean she will receive 75% of “everything” as an athletic scholarship does not cover all the costs of attending college.
Rick
Sean,
The answer to your question about a scholarship is yes. As far as how many years of eligibility, that will depend upon how many years/semesters of enrollment have already been used.
Rick
Lynn,
That won’t be a problem.
Rick
Hi Rick, my son is receiving d1 partial scholarship. Can his grandma pay the balance? The NLI states no other money can be received other than from parent or legal guardian. I appreciate your help!
Can an incoming red-shirt from a high level division 1 university receive a academic scholarship for his 1st year then receive an athletic scholarship his second year and have 4 years of playing eligibility?
Hi Rick
My daughter is a junior in high school and was offered an athletic scholarship at a D1 school. The coach made an offer of a 75% scholarship of the “whole package.” Does this mean that she will have 75% of everything covered (tuition, room/board, etc.? She has very good grades, but since the coach described this as an athletic scholarship I’m assuming that grades are not being considered as part of this offer
Thank you
Priyana,
In order to be eligible for a college team and a scholarship opportunity in the US, you will need to have graduated from your equivalent of a US high school and met certain academic requirements. You may be able to learn more by researching one of these websites – http://www.playnaia.org, or http://www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org. You may also want to do an online search for the “NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.”
Rick
Hi Rick Sir,
I am from India. I play tennis and I am ranked in the top 20s in the girls under 16 category nationally. I also attended an Indian team selection camp recently. I am 15 years old.
Sir,
I wanted to ask that am I eligible for a tennis scholarship now? because Sir, my family at this point of time can’t afford abroad coaching for me. So, I will need a scholarship or financial aid to train abroad and improve the level of my game.
Will be looking forward to your reply.
Hunter,
If you quit the team before you graduate, the school does have the right to immediately cancel your scholarship. Whether they would make you repay for this semester is left up to the school.
I have a hard time imagining that they would make you pay back your scholarship just because you want to graduate early (assuming you don’t quit before then) and help out your family.
You also might consider finishing out your season as a graduate student, and then if you feel that you need to quit at the end of the season in March, at least your coach can’t say that you didn’t fulfill your commitment to the team.
Rick
Rick,
I am a senior and play basketball at a div II school. I am receiving close to a full scholarship. Due to some family issues I want to graduate early in December. I have not confronted my coach because I am afraid he will take my scholarship. If I graduate can they take my scholarship/make me pay? And if I quit and graduate can they take my scholarship? Thanks for your time.
Hunter
Jacie,
Your academic scholarship money should be based off your highest SAT score, even if it is after you sign.
Rick
I currently got offered by a DII school to play softball. But they are just giving me a semis my freshman year. Right now my SAT scores get me academic money but I’m going to retake them in December to see if I can get more. If I do earlier signing in November will they scholarship me off of those academic scores or will they use my ones that I get from December when they come in?
Susan,
I’d be happy to give you my opinion and suggestions on this situation. If you’d like to schedule a private consultation, contact me directly. My contact info is on the About Us page of our website.
Rick
My daughter is a high school senior and a swimmer. She was invited on an official weekend recruiting trip by a D1 school for their swim team. Upon her return, the coach emailed and called her. He seemed very enthusiastic about her and would like her commit. When my daughter asked about athletic scholarship opportunities, he said something like “he offered them to the three fastest girls. If they decline, it’ll open up money for others.” In addition, he mentioned perhaps receiving one her sophomore year.
I get the feeling this coach is really not interested in her as he is offering no money. Do we hold out and see if he ultimately offers some? Call his bluff so to speak? Or move on? Is he stringing her along? This school is my daughters #1 choice. I would appreciate your thoughts.
Jenna,
If your daughter remains as a fully-engaged and participating member of her team through the end of this academic year, doing everything that the coach and school ask of her, it is highly unlikely that she’ll have to pay back her scholarship.
Rick
Hey Rick,
My daughter received a $6000 scholarship to a d2 and she does not wish to continue in the following years. However, she has heard she will have to pay back her scholarship after this season if she does not return the next year. Is this true?
Thanks for any help!!!!
Fred,
Only if the athlete doesn’t meet the academic requirements for admission or eligibility.
Rick
So it may be possible to have signed a nli but not get athletic money. It was offered but might not meet the term and conditions.
Fred,
You may want to do additional research on the NLI at http://www.national-letter.org.
Rick
But he won’t know if he meets the grades exemption till after he signs nli. He’s agreeing to sign the nli but its conditional on qualifying for the exemption which may not be known till end of school year. In that case of not meeting the condition then what is his status then? And thank you for your expertise
Fred,
The NLI can’t be issued without an athletic scholarship agreement. When your son signs the NLI, he is committing to attend that school for at least one full academic year in exchange for receiving an athletic scholarship from the school. So, no, he shouldn’t end up as a walk-on if the school offers him, and he signs, an NLI.
Rick
So he will be under nli but could end up a walkon if at the end of the year doesn’t make grade exemption. Does that sound correct?
Fred,
I’ve not heard of a situation in which 50% is the minimum that a school can offer to out of state students. I would think the baseball program could provide their scholarship regardless, but there may be a school or state rule regarding that.
If your son signs an NLI, it will remain valid regardless of this situation, unless he is determined not admissible to the school, or if he doesn’t meet NCAA eligibility requirements.
Rick
Rick,
state school offering son 35% baseball money but say its conditional on son meeting the WUE out of state tuition threshold, per rule 15.5.3.2.1 to exempt it from their equivalency. First of all does the 35% count against the equivalency either way, I know the WUE money counts against unless the exception is met If he doesn’t meet the exemption, then they have told us they need to come up with 50% baseball money in order to still give him athletic money. Said the 50% was the minimum they can offer to out of state students. Have you heard of that scenario before. Seems to me 35% baseball money would be there regardless. This must be a proprietary rule since the minimum NCAA rule is 25%. If he meets their offer the overal blended percentage would be over 50%. Lastly, he will be given an NLI but if he ends up not making the grade, then what happens to NLI? Chance they will find the additional 15% but no guarantees.
Clay,
Being an athletic commit should not affect how much academic money you qualify for. Being early decision might make a difference, depending upon the policies of the school.
Rick
Kevin,
You should be able to find it on the “About Us” page here on the website.
Rick
Ivan,
If you want to be recruited to a bigger college, from a smaller one, a two-year college is where you should start out at.
Rick
Darrin,
It will depend upon the policies of the school, as some schools will not cover off-campus housing. You should contact the compliance administrator at your daughter’s school.
Rick
Elizabeth,
That would depend upon the policies of the athletic department at her school.
Rick
Rick,
My daughter is in her freshman year running track at a D1 University and has 65% scholarship. I cannoy=t find any wording that explains if her scholarship will still cover room and board if she moves into an apartment. I know alot of athlete’s do live in apartments, so I am assuming it does cover it. I would be intersted in any guidance or advice you could offer.
Thanks,
Rick, I have recently committed to a Div. I University as a pitcher, and I am now in the current process of applying to the school, and trying to get academic money. I am in a GPA and ACT range of (29-32) in which academic scholarships range from (15-30%). I got a 29 on my ACT, and therefore I am at a disadvantage for trying to get academic money when I am in a pool with applicants with higher test scores. Will being athletically committed to the school help me receive more money? Also, will applying early decision help me get more money?
Thanks, Clay
I got a question, Are there like more options being freshman or transferring from a Community College? I mean a university has preferences? Or they both have the same chances? Thank you very much.
What’s the best email for you to be contacted at ?
My daughter is playing D1 soccer and received scholarship money. She is absolutely miserable and wants to get out of her commitment. She plays soccer so the season is almost over. Would we be responsible for paying back all of the scholarship money, or could it be prorated, or is it worked on a case by case basis with player and Athletic Department.
Stacie,
If an NCAA school, no. If a JUCO or an NAIA school, not sure because those are not my area of expertise.
Rick
Can school cancel athletic scholarship during same term it was awarded and not inform you of cancelling it.
Email.
Email or phone contact ??
Kelly,
She is not required to commit before the FAFSA info is known, but the colleges may not let her wait that long before moving on to the next recruit. Talk to the financial aid office at each school and see if they can give you an estimate of what you might qualify for.
Rick
Kevin,
Your question would need to be answered through a paid consultation, as I would need to talk to you to make sure I have all the pertinent facts. Contact me directly if interested.
Rick
My daughter is being pursued by two Div1, one Div2 and one Div3 schools. Money is a huge factor on whether or not she is even able to go straight to a four-year school. If she receives an offer from any of these schools doesn’t she have to commit before any of the FAFSA and school financial aid packages are available? Knowing that a full athletic scholarship is extremely unlikley, how are we as a family to make a decision when we don’t know how much it will actually cost until next year when the FAFSA information comes out?
What would be an example of that (do you mind being a little more specific with detail) to help me better understand? Because I may have worded my question incorrectly …
Claire,
Costs to travel with the team will be covered by the school. Be very wary of such an offer. There is no guarantee that the school will honor that commitment – even if the same coach is still there by that time.
Rick
Hello Rick, my daughter was just offered a “preferred walk on position” at a D1 school where we pay the tuition for the first two years and the school then picks up the cost for last two….question is will the cost to travel with the team be included in the fees that i cover for these two years and if so, what type of cost range could that be financially just for the travel?
Trying to wrap my mind around all this….thanks.
Kevin,
That would depend upon a number of varying factors and circumstances.
Rick
Hey Rick, quick question regarding athletic scholarships:
Is it legal after a student-athlete sports player receives scholarship money of a certain amount and being financially cleared, a few days later the coach or whoever be able to reduce that amount that has already given to that student-athlete without reasoning ?
Leah,
Yes, your school can deny your request to talk to multiple schools. It would be possible for another school to offer you a scholarship for next year (but not an NLI, they are not the same thing) while you are still at your current school, but, of course, only if your school grants you permission to have contact with other schools.
Rick
Leah,
You are correct. Your school can deny you permission to speak to other schools that you are interested in. If they do that, they must provide you an appeal opportunity. You can ask for “permission to contact” before the end of the year, but don’t be surprised if your school denies that request.
Rick
Also, I am not 100% transferring to this one D1 school, there are several colleges that I am looking at. Can my current school stop me from talking to multiple coaches? Finally, if a coach from a new college issues me a NLI, am I able to sign it for the 2014-2015 school year, even if I am still enrolled at my old college? (For example, I signed my NLI during the middle of my senior year at high school; so am I able to sign for a new college in the middle of my school year here?) Thanks!
Hi Rick,
I am currently a freshman Cross Country and Track athlete at a D2 Program and I have a full ride (Full athletic scholarship, no academics). Unfortunately, I am extremely unhappy and I want to transfer to a D1 school closer to home my sophomore year. My question is, how do I go about contacting this new D1 school? I think I have to contact my Athletic Director, but doesn’t the college I am at now have power over which colleges I am allowed to talk to and possibly transfer to? I know that I am under a contract so I can’t talk to coaches until my year is up, but if I wait that long I will not be able to discuss scholarship opportunities and most likely all the scholarship money would be gone already. Pretty much, I am confused about the process of switching colleges when I am going from a scholarship from my old college, to receiving a scholarship to a new college. I hope this makes sense!
Thank you so much
Leah
Ted,
The answer to both questions is probably “Yes”, especially if her GPA is at least 3.500 and her SAT score is at least 1200 (critical reading and math portions).
Rick
Hi Rick:
My daughter received a D1 softball scholarship offer to a state public school that pays for the majority of her expenses. Tuition, Books & Room but we will pay the meal ticket at about $2k. She has qualified based on GPA & SAT scores to rec $7k in academic help from the school. Will she be able to receive some of that to cover the cost of the meal ticket? Also, would they use all the academic money and reduce the athletic schlarship amount so they could give more money to another player?
Thanks
Ted
Kristin,
No, not with her GPA and test score, and as long as she can maintain at least a 3.00 GPA after her first year at the college.
Rick
Hi, my daughter is looking to play D1 softball for an out of state school. This particular school offers a merit based minority scholarship (3.5 + GPA and 27 minimum on act). If she is awarded this academic/diversity scholarship, do these funds impact or count towards the teams allotted money?
Cicily,
I suggest that you contact the compliance director at your son’s school to ask about the balance from summer.
Rick
Hi Rick
My question is my son received a full scholarship to a D1 school which he accepted and has attended since summer of 2013. He was recently cleared by the NCAA SEPTEMBER 2013 which left a balance from the summer semester. Is that my responsibility or is it something that the school and NCAA can/will do to clear the balance since he had a FULL scholarship and it would normally cover the summer?
THANKS
Nicole,
That is not a “verbal contract” and means nothing. It depends upon the ethics of the coach, and as you stated, there’s no guarantee that the coach will still be there after your daughter’s sophomore year. Even if you asked this coach to put that in writing, if the coach is replaced, there is little short of costly legal action which would force the new coach to honor such an agreement, and even then it may not be enforceable.
Rick
Hello,
My daughter is a high school senior and is being offered an 2 year scholarship for her junior and senior year only. The coach asked for us to verbally agree (and commit to the school and not able to consider any other offer) by November. What if we pay two years and the coach is out by her third year? How do these verbal contracts work? Any guarantees? There are many pros and cons to this decision, we would greatly appreciate your thoughts!
thanks!
Samantha,
There is no specific signing date in NAIA. For NCAA Div. I, you’re not allowed to sign an official offer of an athletic scholarship until early Feb. 2014. Div. I coaches can make verbal offers prior to that time, but that can’t send you an official written offer until just a few days before the Feb. signing date.
Rick
Rick,
I am being recruited for Division I and NAIA Women’s Track. I have gone on official visits and I have narrowed down a top three. Is there a certain date that the coaches can start to offer scholarships by, or do we just have to wait until they are ready to start offering?
Des,
If it is an athletic scholarship from your school, no.
Rick
Debbie,
Make sure your son attends Fall showcase events, and contacts JUCOS, NAIA and NCAA Div. II schools in your area to inquire about tryouts (permissible at those schools, but not at NCAA Div. I or III). You may also be interested in purchasing our book, “Both Sides of the Plate, Insider Secrets for Navigating the College Baseball Recruiting Process” which can be found in the Store of our website.
http://www.informedathlete.com/both-sides-of-the-plate?cid=187
Rick
I have had too many concussions playing football and im probably not going to be able to play anymore. Is there any way that i could transfer closer to home and keep my scholarship from the previous school?
My son is a senior in high school this year and has had interest from schools in baseball-D1 to JUCO’s…as well as some MLB prospect interest. However, no scholarship offers have come our way. I have been told that infielders (he plays 3B) always get picked last and that the majority of the scholarship money goes to pitchers. He does very well academically and we have not applied to any colleges yet. He wants to play ball but wants a good education as well…I feel like we shouldn’t sit around and wait but really am not sure what to do. Any advice would be appreciated.
Suzanne,
It doesn’t matter whether you or I think that he should, the coach will obviously make that decision.
Rick
if a preferred walk-on is in his third year and is getting playing time every game should he be given a scholarship
Cassie,
He does have the right to remove you from the team, but if you are on scholarship, it will be more difficult for him to take away your scholarship. I suggest that you talk with the Asst. or Associate Athletic Director who oversees your sport, and if that doesn’t help, then I would contact your Faculty Athletics Representative. This is the type of situation that an FAR is supposed to help with and try to help arrange a compromise.
Rick
Shawn,
Your son should not become a counter based on the info that you’ve provided. Some coaches will increase scholarship money based on performance.
Rick
Good Evening Mr.Allen,
I am a track athlete at D1 college. It’s my senior year in my fall semester. I am taking an approved internship at a local gym. It interferes with our track practices but since it is class it is priority. I was planning on working out at an earlier time in the morning. My head coach basically have me the ultimatum to either drop my internship, which is my future career, or I have to resign from the team. Can he legally do this?
Thanks in advance,
Cassie
Your comments are so helpful. Thank you for your dedication to college athletes. My son is a preferred walk-on D-II football (no athletic scholarship) and has been redshirted this first year. He got financial aid from workstudy (grant) and loans. As his parents we got a federal parent loan to pay the balance. My question is: as a Native American he was just informed that the school has a grant from the NSF (National Science Foundation) that awards scholarships based on major (Computer Science), ethnic (native american) and financial need, nothing tied to athletics. If he takes that money would that be a counter? Also, based on your advice above, you said that usually a walk-on never gets the athletic money because like you said – he/she is already willing to be on the team without it. I am hoping that our financial situation will improve (laid off) so that in the future he will not be eligible for that NSF scholarship and wondered if an athlete performed and grew with the team will the coach consider giving them money if they lose other scholarships?
Couple of clarifications: He was not recruited as defined by NCAA rules (school has walk-on program without tryouts) and no coach called him. However for the money the school does manage the scholarship money from the NSF grant.
Thank you.
Kurt,
Even though tuition for this semester has already been paid out, it would be possible for them (depending upon their policies) to cancel the scholarship and bill you for that tuition. They do have the right to kick you off the team and cancel your scholarship if you are not participating in required team activities.
Rick
Kurt,
Even though tuition for this semester has already been paid out, it would be possible for them (depending upon their policies) to cancel the scholarship and bill you for that tuition. They do have the right to kick you off the team and cancel your scholarship if you are not participating in required team activities.
Rick
Is there anyway around the school taking the scholarship back for the year that you signed for? If you don’t officially quit the team, but don’t show up to practice or related events, are they able to kick you off the team and cancel your scholarship? Also, since classes have already started for the fall, would you still have scholarship for the fall even if they cancelled you since they already paid for the fall?
Tom,
You will definitely want to review this website, http://www.national-letter.org, and the link for NLI Provisions, and then look for Early Signing Period Penalties.
Rick
Rick,
My son is being recruited currently in two sports — baseball and football. He has an offer in baseball and we were wondering if he commits in baseball can he still be recruited for football? As he is not sure which sport he wants to play in college. Thanks.
Since tuition for this semester has already been paid out, would they only be able to cancel it for the spring semester? Is there anyway around them canceling your scholarship? What if you just don’t show up to practice or any related events? Do they have the right to kick you off the team and then cancel your scholarship for the remaining time?
Kurt,
If you are at an NCAA school, the school has the right to immediately cancel the scholarship if you quit the team.
Rick
If you have a scholarship for your first year, but decide in the fall semester it’s too much to be an athlete and manage school, does that affect your scholarship? Do you still get to keep it for the rest of the year? It appears the athletic aid package doesn’t have any clause making it contingent upon participation.
Suzanne,
I won’t post contact info for attorneys on the website. You’ll have to contact me via direct e-mail at the address that can be found on our “Services” page.
Rick
Hi, I had emailed you in the spring when we were notified that my daughters (promised 4 year) scholarship was not being renewed, after she was injured. Now we have been through the appeals process, which basically was a sham, and want to proceed with seeking legal recourse. You said you might have some contacts and attorney suggestions. Thanks for any help.
Steph,
I would need to talk with you directly in a paid consultation to make sure we’re clear on these points, and to make sure I understand the info you’re providing.
Rick
Jackie,
Whether the academic scholarships “count” will depend upon the criteria for the scholarships, and what academic credentials she presents from HS.
Rick
my son got offered a $15k scholarship for soccer. They sent me the breakdown as follows:
tuition – 10930
general fees – 175
room & board – 3320
technology – 80
botany lab – 35
maps – 5
auto reg – 30
total – 14475
scholars – 3100
athletic grant – 1500
so is the 14575 considered the scholarship? this all is so confusing to me. Fafsa said my EFC is 15656 and I might not qualify for any aid….??? can you explain this in a way for me to understand please?
Thank you,
Steph
My daughter is offered a full “in-state” athletic scholarship for D1 tennis. She still need to cover the Out of state tuition difference which is about $23,000. I understand she is still eligible for FAFSA need based grants. But can she apply/be eligible to receive academic or need based scholarship from the college itself? If so, does will it be added to “counts” and become a issue?
Thanks.
Chase,
Since her scholarships are based on athletic and academic ability, rather than being need-based aid, marriage should have no effect on those scholarships.
Rick
Rick,
My fiance is a D1 swimmer recieving a full ride through the University, half athletic and half academic. The compliance office is closed for a couple weeks and we are trying to find any answers to if we got married would it effect any of her scholorships she recieves? Or even if it would screw up her eligiblity. I have read most of the Complicance handbook but can only find things on housing for married athletes. I can’t find anything on being recruited while single and becoming married.
Any help would be great, Thank you!
Margaret,
The school should not be able to revoke the scholarship. If they do so, I would appeal that decision to an appeal committee.
Rick
If a student plays soccer at a D3 school, and receives an academic scholarship or grant to do so, because of the NCAA rules preventing athletic scholarships in that division, but then decides not to play soccer their sophomore year in order to focus on academics can the scholarship be revoked? Even if it was rewarded under the pretense of “academics”?
Allen,
There are no restrictions in the NCAA rules to prevent student-athletes on a full scholarship from working a part-time job.
In reality, most do not because they have very little time between practicing and competing in their sport, and studying and keeping up their grades. Also, some coaches prohibit their athletes from working during the academic year, because they want them to focus on their academics when they’ve not focusing on their sport.
Rick
Are NCAA student athletes who are on “full ride” scholarships allowed to hold a job? I was under the impression that scholarship athletes are not allowed to do so under penalty of having their scholarship revoked and eligibility endangered. One of my college friends was a scholarship football player, and he was only able to work during the summers between semesters. What limitations does the NCAA put on these athletes?
Julie,
That offer doesn’t impress me much. She will not be considered as the same “level” or “quality” as the other athletes on the team who have been recruited with the understanding that they will have their scholarship all four years. If that is her dream school, and if she is satisfied with just being “part of the team” and the possibility that she may never get much playing time, then I’m happy for her.
But, if her goal is to get a lot of playing time, then she will be at a disadvantage at this school, because the coach won’t be as “invested” in your daughter as in the other players on the team.
Rick
My daughter has been offered a 1 year athletic scholarship to her #1 dream D1 school ( top 5 in the nation for her sport). They said they don’t know which of the four years the scholarship would be for, but she would get one year. I have read that her sport is a head count sport and that 12 are available per year. Is it possible to offer a 1 year scholarship to a D1 athlete? She is very excited as the school is her top choice. I am nervous because it doesn’t seem like they are offering her a lot. Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated.
OK. So, to answer your question, yes, you should try to get athletic money if at all possible. It is almost always better to go where the coach has a scholarship “invested” in your son. If the coach doesn’t provide a scholarship for your son, the coach has nothing to lose, whereas your son could be “losing” a better opportunity at another school where the coaches really want him and will provide him a scholarship, regardless of how far he can throw now.
Rick
Yes they’ve seen hi,m and said he has the ability to throw farther.iwth proper coaching
Joe,
I’m sorry, but your question doesn’t make sense. “…son has been offered to throw at a D1 school, while his throws are not far enough…”?? What?
Rick
My son has been offered to throw at a d1 school while his throws are not far enough to earn an athletic scholarship. They have certain standards . Coach said that could change in time. We should get need based Aid, should we force the issue for athletic money?They wanted him to apply first Early descision before coming for official visit. Has been to the school numerous times already knows this is hisnumber 1 choice. Does that make sense?
Edward,
If you are able to achieve at a high level academically, and earn a high GPA and ACT or SAT test score while in HS, it would be possible for you to receive academic scholarships in addition to your athletic scholarship. You could also apply for need-based financial scholarships or loans to pay for the room and board.
Rick
Hello I am attending college in the fall of 2015 as a D1 baseball player. I was given full tuition to my school which is $39,330 and it will be covered no matter how much it increases over my 4 years. The cost of room and board is $14,250. My question to you is, is there any way that I can receive any more money in order to cover the $14,250 such as financial aid or scholarships or what have you. I was wondering this because I really want my parents to have to pay no money because it has been what I’ve wanted to do since I was little, go to college for nothing. I was just wondering if this was possible. Thank you for your time.
Kathi,
It depends upon the policies of the school. Some schools require all athletes to fill out a FAFSA, but others do not.
Rick
My son has received a very nice athletic scholarship for football at a D2 university in New Mexico. It does not cover housing or food, but everything else. We will pay for that, and will not be asking for any financial aid. But my question is, my son was told by the school he did not have to fill out a FAFSA. But my sister said yes he does to get his scholarship. Do we need to fill one out?
RJ,
As my primary expertise is with NCAA rules, I’m not aware what the NAIA rules are regarding scholarship renewal and any requirements for notification. All I can tell you is that if this were an NCAA school, they would have been required to notify her by July 1 whether her scholarship would be renewed, increased, reduced, or cancelled.
Rick
Hi Rick,
My daughter received a half volleyball scholarship to a NAIA school her freshman year. I asked for more money at the time but the coach emailed me stating they usually increase scholarships after their sophomore year based on contribution and academics. Her scholarship letter was for her freshman year only. She had a great freshman year and was starting by the end of the season.
After the season, the coach never discussed the next season with us or my daughter other than asking if she was returning. A renewal of her scholarship was never discussed, just assumed. We received her tuition statement for the new school year and the scholarship was not showing. We have an email in to the coach to resolve.
What is the normal process for scholarship renewals from year to year? We assumed if we did not hear anything negative, she would get the same amount, if not more based on her performance last season and that it is the coaches responsibility to let us know if there would be a change. I know we will get this resolved, but I do not want this to happen again the next two years.
Thank you.
Hi Darren,
First of all, I would be very careful about paying money to a company to help you find a soccer scholarship opportunity in the US. Some cost more than they are worth. You may do just as well by sending video of your abilities to US soccer coaches directly, and you can find their e-mail addresses on their college athletic websites.
Regarding scholarships, it is possible to obtain a full athletic scholarship for your soccer abilities, but often the scholarship will be a partial one which only covers some of your educational expenses, and you or your family will need to provide the remainder.
Rick
Charles,
I stand corrected. Division I schools can make written offers beginning the August 1 prior to the prospect’s senior year of HS. I was thinking of the earliest possible date for an official visit to a Div. I school, which is the first day of a prospect’s senior year of HS (for all sports other than men’s basketball).
Rick
Rick,
Thanks for the info. Someone indicated to that they could make a written offer August 1st. School would not have started but her high school golf season starts August 1st. Would that make a difference?
Thank you,
Charles
Rick,
I am a 20 year old soccer player from England. I have the opportunity to join a soccer scholarship program here in the UK and they will help me find a NAIA scholarship in the US. However, I am paying for this by myself and would like to know what funding I could receive in the US. Also if you could give me any advise at all, that would be great.
Kind Regards
Darren.
Charles,
A Div. I school can’t put an offer in writing until your daughter begins her senior year of HS. She can’t sign a binding offer until the first day of the National Letter of Intent signing period, which is Wednesday, Nov. 13. Div. I schools can offer multiple year agreements, although not many are doing so.
Rick
My daughter is a rising senior and is receiving interest to play D1 golf. She has received several verbal offers. When can a coach put an offer in writing? When is the written offer binding? If at all. And, can the offer be for multiple years of athletic scholarship?
Thank you,
Charles
Michael,
Grants could possibly affect the athletic scholarship, depending upon circumstances, but loans will not.
Rick
Thank you for such a quick reply! Is it safe to assume that if were eligible for $35K in FAFSA, that amount will be reduced dollar for dollar by the athletic scholarship?
No.
Rick,
My daughter is a sophomore in HS and has received multiple scholarship offers from top D1 programs. The offers range from 35% to full tution, but nothing toward room, board and fees. Are we automatically disqualified from applying for FAFSA aid by virtue of the athletic scholarship? Thank you.
Regards,
Michael
Kris,
NCAA rules do not require her to live on campus. That is a school rule. You should try to negotiate for as much athletic scholarship as possible. The more money the coach has “invested” in your daughter, the more opportunities she will probably receive to be successful.
Rick
Krish,
NCAA rules do not require her to live on campus. That is a school rule. You should try to negotiate for as much athletic scholarship as possible. The more money the coach has “invested” in your daughter, the more opportunities she will probably receive to be successful.
Rick
Chris,
Depending upon where you go to college (NCAA, NAIA, or JUCO), the rules of that organization might allow some additional funds. For example, the NCAA has a “special assistance fund” that might be a possibility. Student loans are another possibility.
Rick
Coach,
There could be a number of different reasons for this. His academic status could be one. If he’s had disciplinary issues, that could be another. Schools are allowed to make verbal offers at this point, but nothing in writing until his senior year of school has started.
Rick
Hi rick, if an athlete like me is married with a baby on the way. Is there other ways than just federal grant and a possible scholarship to help pay for those other costs. Because obviously a student athlete does not have time to hold a job.
I have an athlete that is top shelf. He has size speed, really strong film. He has drawn a lot of attention at college and combine camps. Invited to JR day. Why has there not been any offers at this point. They stay in contact. Express interest. The numbers are not blown up. They timed him, measured him, evaluated him. Are they allowed to make offers at this point? What are we missing?
Rick,
Due to a financial loss, we are pretty certain our daughter will receive the maximum financial aid for a large D1 in-state Ohio college. We live less than 15 miles from the school but learned NCAA rules mandates athletes live on campus. How much or what type of softball athletic scholarship should we be asking for? Tuition or room and board or just books. The coach says there is little money to give but one spot is open for a preferred walk-on.
Kris
Rick,
Due to a large financial loss, we know our daughter will qualify for the maximum allowed financial aid at a very large D1 in-state Ohio school. How much and what should we negotiate for in a softball scholarship? We live within 15 miles of the school but we learned she must live on campus according to NCAA rules. Should we try for room and board or tuition? They say they have very little scholarship aid available but they have one preferred walk-on spot available.
Kris
Jennifer,
If your brother signed a National Letter of Intent with this school, he will need to be released from that NLI commitment to attend the school for one full academic year before he can move to an NCAA Div. I or II school. See this website – http://www.national-letter.org – for further information about an NLI release.
Rick
My brother has been awarded a scholarship at a D1 school for baseball. He just found out today that his head coach is leaving. What are his options as far as moving with the coach or to another school? Also does it matter what level if he does change schools could he sign with a D2?
Dennis,
If your daughter is offered 5k at an out of state school for which her total cost would be 30k, her percentage would be 16.67%.
Rick
OK. I am trying to be specific without being specific if you know what I mean. If it cost an out of state student 30k and and in state 15k and they both got 10k in money from the same sport. The in state player would’ve received 67% and the out of state 33% respectively. (2/3 and 1/3=1), but in real dollars the sport would’ve used 133% of the value of a scholarship excluding out of state or only 67% if the value includes out of state. I am trying to figure out the % of a scholarship (counted against the sport) that was offered and how out of state affects that. I am not worried about the % of our cost, but the % counted against said sport. If we were offered 5k at the school above. Would that be considered 33% against the sport or 16.67%? I hope I am making sense. I am trying to use the % offered as a way to gauge the value the coach is putting on our daughter if that helps.
Dennis,
Using your example, an out-of-state athlete having all costs covered by an athletic scholarship would be using 1 of the permissible scholarships that the soccer coach can award. The same is true for an in-state athlete on that same team. If the in-state player had all costs covered by an athletic scholarship, that athlete would also be using 1 of the 14 permissible soccer scholarships.
Rick
We have very recently recieved an offer for my daughter for soccer from a D1 school. It is a public out of state school. Her offer is combining athletic and academic scholarships based on her SAT score. The offer is in $ format. My question is about how schools count the out of state tuition. For simplicity, lets say ‘full’ cost for attendance including regualar tuition, books, and rooom and board is $15k and out of state is $15k. In theory, would a full ride to a local player only be considered a 1/2 scholarship or would the coach have to award 2 scholarships to an out of state player to be 100%. I am trying to figure out how the out of state affects the percentage of each and the total bag of the scholarship for that sport. I think I have heard that most coaches uses a total $ figure they are allowed. Like 10 scholarships x $20k (full ride) gives them $200k to spend each year on their athletes. Hope my question is making sense.
Thank you
Cg,
You are in a time period that is a bit dicey. The rules specifically state that “during the academic year” if you were to request permission to speak to other schools, that the school cannot cancel your scholarship for that reason alone. However, that “protection” doesn’t exist during the summer.
If you have not yet signed your scholarship renewal agreement for this upcoming year, it is certainly possible that the coach might withdraw your scholarship – or at least try to.
Rick
I currently play golf for a d1 golf program. I’m approaching my last year of eligibility and I want to transfer. If I request a permission to speak or a release from my institution, will I forfeit my scholarship even if I don’t transfer? I just want to know what I’m getting into before I ask my AD.
Renan,
If a team exceeds their allowable scholarship limit, the standard NCAA penalty is that they must reduce their limit by twice the amount of the overage. So, if they exceeded their team limit by half of a full scholarship, they would be required to be under their limit by one full scholarship the following year.
Rick
What happens if a school exceeds the allowable scholarship amount in a year? Lets say, just by a few percentage?
Hi Cynthia,
Yes, he can still get student loans. While I’m not familiar with the Tx Tomorrow Fund, as long as it has no connection to his athletic participation or ability, he should not have a problem using it to pay the remaining tuition costs.
Rick
Hello, I have a fin. aid question. My son is transferring from a JUCO to a D1 school to play baseball. He has been given a very nice scholarship but will still have housing costs-can he still get student loans? Also, we have a Tx Tomorrow fund to cover tuition-can he use this to pay the remaining costs of tuition? Thanks
Karen,
Most (but not all) college coaches will only offer a scholarship or spot on their team if they have seen the athlete perform in person, either at a game or showcase event (such as Perfect Game), or at a camp or tryout on their campus (tryouts not permitted at NCAA Div. I and III schools). I suggest that you ask his HS or travel ball coaches to contact college coaches on his behalf. Or, perhaps one of the Perfect Game staff members who have seen him at a PG event would be willing to make some contacts on his behalf.
Rick
Could you advise of the chances of a DII or DIII coach offering a spot/scholarship on the baseball team without any knowledge of the athlete, other than a video and Perfect Game stats? We have also sent emails to the colleges, but really didn’t have any high school stats.
Melissa,
I’ll send you a private e-mail.
Rick
Hi Rick,
My son has recently been offered a D2 scholarship. It is so recent that no amount has been discussed at this point. He is scheduled to attend a camp next week, when we will also sit with the coaching staff to discuss numbers. My husband and I are very new to the process and did not attend a 4 year college. I have some experience with loans and FAFSA with community college. Any advice on questions to ask coaches or important matters to consider? Thanks!
Hi Tayler,
The school is not required to pay for the surgery, but most colleges will do so as long as you see their designated team physician and follow all of their designated procedures. If you don’t see their team physician to arrange the surgery, then it is less likely that they will pay for it.
Rick
Hi there,
I got injured whilst training for my sport at the college i attend and I am an international student who is fully scholar- shipped. This injury requires surgery, and i’m wondering if the college is required to pay for the surgery to fix this problem?
Andrea,
I know how NCAA scholarships are “counted” but I’m not as well-versed on how NAIA scholarships are counted. I suggest you contact the Financial Aid office at the NAIA school to see if they have a person on their staff that can answer your question. Or, you might try to find a website for the conference that the NAIA school is a member of, and ask the conference commissioner or assistant commissioner.
Rick
My son has received an academic scholarship for a private school that belongs to NAIA. The baseball coach wants him to play on his team but is now telling my son that his scholarship amount is higher than his average rate. He needs to wait and see what he has available after his recruits. Does the coach have to use his “baseball” money to cover my son’s academic scholarship? Is there any way to work around this? Are there any other options?
Thank you!
Hi Sarita,
If you’re on a full scholarship, the athletic department will likely take care of most of this for you. They will most certainly assign you a room on campus. Regarding books, they may provide you with a “voucher” to pay for your course-required books, or they may have a book loan program, where they provide the books for your courses at the beginning of the semester, and require you to turn them back in after final exams are over.
Good luck!
Rick
I have received a full scholarship. I am an international student and do not have much info about US university system.
Please guide if I have to book rooms, pay for books ect myself and later I will be paid for all that or the university will do everything on their own? I play Tennis.
Chuck,
It will depend upon how the scholarship is awarded by the Div. I school. Some schools award a dollar amount for scholarship, while others will specifically state that the scholarship is to cover room and board expenses.
Rick
My son is a rising junior baseball player in Ga. He wants to play D1 baseball and hopes to get a scholarship offer. We have the HOPE scholarship here which pays for tuition at as percentage of the hourly rates of the particular school if you graduate with a 3.0 average and hold that in school. He has a chance to qualify for the zell miller scholarship (3.7gpa and higher award amount) and mitigate the majority of the hourly tuition costs, my question is related to room and board. Is that usually covered via the D1 baseball scholarships due to them being athletes in the athletic dorm or is the $$ applied however we need to use it?
I suggest that you discuss this with the coach. The coach might have some possible suggestions for additional financial aid, or an idea like possibly placing her at a less expensive JUCO for a year.
Another possibility, although not as desirable, is to suggest that your daughter delay enrollment for a year until you are able to apply for scholarships and other types of aid for the 2014-15 school year in a timely manner. The downside to that is that she gets out of her academic study habits, and her skills could drop off if she’s not practicing with a team consistently.
Rick
My daughter was set on attending a particular college and didnt do much to get herself recuited anywhere else.
The coach was upfront and said the school didnt have alot of money. (maybe $800 at most but had to wait for the budget to come out) After the budget came out she told her she didnt have anything to offer but had a spot on the roster. I knew I would qualify for grants due to being unemployed but once the numbers came out I realized there no way we can afford this school. What I didnt realize was we would not qualify for any state funding since the school is out-of-state. Also, we missed the deadlines for any school scholarships because we read the deadlines incorrect so we cant get any money that way either. Even after accepting all of the loans the out-of-pocket expense is way more than my budget. Is it too late for her to start the whole recruiting process now? Have schools already spent their scholarship money already? She is graduating in a few days. Should she discuss this with the coach and tell her she cant afford the school? I read in an earlier post someone asked about being granted in-state rates vs. having to pay the out-of-state tuition would this be something we ask the coach if this is possible or should we ask the financial aid office if they could grant it? If it is too late for other schools to offer athletic money then do you have any other suggestions? Or even in addition to that do most coahes already have thier 2013 graduates picked out already and arent even looking for new recuits from that graduating year anymore?
Brandon,
You should check with the athletic compliance office or the athletic liaison in the Financial Aid office to answer your questions. They will need to know specifically what those scholarships are. Also, any scholarships from those groups should be sent to the school’s Financial Aid office to be applied (if possible) to your account rather than being given directly to you.
Rick
James,
You pointed out an aspect of the rule that I forgot about. You must have two seasons of competition remaining in order to use the FBS-FCS transfer exception. You will have to have the FCS school submit a waiver on your behalf to the NCAA, and then the waiver decision is left up to an NCAA committee to make that decision. Your other options are to consider NCAA Div. II, III, or NAIA schools.
Rick
James,
It is possible to go from an FBS school to an FCS school and be immediately eligible as long as the FBS school will release you, and can state that you would be eligible if you were returning to their school next Fall rather than transferring to the FCS school.
Rick
Mr. Allen,
I’m currently a high school student and I have been awarded a full football scholarship to play football. I’m sure that my scholarship also covers the full cost of attendance. I was wondering if I am able to accept other scholarships from my school and social clubs for my academic performance and use it for my personal needs, school supplies, and for my dorm. These outside scholarships are not for my athletic performance.
Brandon
Also one additional aspect sir once again I am a red shirt Senior. My first year of college I had family issues and was unable to pursue any form of athletics. I read online that a new rule states if you are transferring FBS to FCS with less than 2 years of eligibility remaining you cant play. Is this true? And if so is there any way I can request a waiver for an additional year to make up for the year I had to work with my family and was unable to pursue any athletics in my true freshman year of College. Please get back to me as soon as possible I truly appreciate your help and knowledge
Ok Thank You for responding so quickly I needed that, and the school Im working to transfer to is in its first year of a Football program this upcoming year, its a technically a Division 1 school but will be playing as an FCS independent starting out. So with that being so going from the ACC to an FCS independent would that make me eligible? Just so I understand. Because the FCS school says they cant legally talk to me until I get the release first so Im having to learn as much as I can before I make that move. Please respond as soon as possible I appreciate your wisdom and want to make sure Im eligible and understand my situation completely before I make any moves. Please get back to me as soon as possible Thank You
James,
Because you received an athletic scholarship, you will be required to sit out for a year if you transfer to another Div. I football program, unless you are transferring down from an FBS program to an FCS program. Another option is that you can transfer to a Div. II program and have the chance to be immediately eligible next year.
Rick
Hello I worked my way on to a Division 1 Football Roster without ever being recruited by the school. Two years later a Coaching staff change was made, and the new staff gave me a scholarship for the Spring and summer sessions. I am looking to transfer to a new program for my final year of eligibility. I was never recruited by my current school but did earn an athletic scholarship. Am I still able to transfer and use this exception to not lose my final year because I was never recruited coming out of high school and joined the team completely on my own? Am I still considered a non recruited athlete? Please respond back as soon as you can, Im in the middle of the transfer process now and need to know before I get my release. Thank You Sir.
Kat,
They are eligible as long as they meet the NCAA academic eligibility requirements for a scholarship. Quitting the team has nothing to do with their eligibility, although it certainly could affect their recruitment by the college coaches.
Rick
Is a high school athlete eligible for an NCAA basketball scholarship even though they quit mid-season junior year due to team problems but will come back senior year?
Hi Robin,
Based on what you’ve stated, I believe your son will be able to accept the two scholarships that are not athletically-related. Regarding the Scholar Athlete of the Year scholarship, I suggest you check with the athletic compliance office at the school your son will be attending.
Rick
Hi Jane,
Yes. Athletic scholarship decisions are made by the coaches at each school.
Rick
Can a high school football player still get a scholarship if he has a child?
My son received a 70% athletic scholarship to play d1
Tennis. He received 3 outside scholarships as well. One is from ruritans for community involvement an academics, one is from my husbands company as they give to employees children is scores, GPA and well rounded. So these are
All made out to university and can be used for anything relating to educational expenses room board etc. the third is an award as scholar athlete of the year and he will get 2500 and 45% based on athletic 45% academic and 10% extra curricular. This is the only one that has an athletic component! Will he be able to keep all of them or at least the two outside scholarships that are non athletic related? It will not put him over total cost of school.
Jason,
Frankly, yes they can. Occasionally, an athletic director will step in and prevent such an action, but most of the time the coach has sole discretion over who they have on the team.
If your daughter’s scholarship wasn’t renewed for next year, the school must make a hearing opportunity available to her to appeal the loss of her scholarship, but even if she won that appeal, there’s still no requirement that the coach keep her on the team next year.
Rick
Rick,
My daughter was recruited and received a very small scholarship to swim at a large Div 1 school. Recently, after completing her sophomore season, her coach called her into his office and released her. The only reason he could cite was that he “just didn’t think she would get any faster.” There are slower swimmers on the team that did not get released. We feel our daughter’s weight may have been a part of the reason. Can an athlete get kicked of the team without a valid reason?
Alex,
This is a school policy.
Rick
Hi Rick,
My son is being recruited by D2 private university in the NE. We started getting the numbers, but they keep changing. The coach is telling me the FA money and Merit money(grades) cancels any baseball money. Basically, he said its an either or deal. Would this be a school policy or NCAA. Even with all three amounts, we are still slightly short of school cost.
Tom,
He can sign those at anytime before school starts (depending upon the policies of the school he’s signing with – but there is no national deadline or time period).
Rick
Does a transfer D1 basketball player need to sign his scholarship papers during the same time that the high schools student are signing their NLI? Or can they sign scholarship papers at anytime before school start?
Hi Roger,
There is not a standard answer as this can vary from one college to another. Generally speaking, however, coaches who are at schools that have to carefully watch their budget tend to prefer in-state athletes as that is less of an impact for them. This isn’t always true, however.
Rick
Is there a dollar value applied to an athletic scholarship or is it always a percentage and does it matter to a coach’s budget if said athlete is an out of state versus an in state?
I ask because the total cost for out of state versus in state is quite substantial… Thanks!
Hi Nicole,
Applying for need-based financial aid should not effect his baseball scholarship.
Rick
Hi, my son has been offered a scholarship(68%) from the offering school(private) to play D1 baseball.. He will also receive an academic scholarship per NCAA guidelines of $8,000 is he maintains his above 3.0 gpa. He will graduate with an AA in July to qualify for NCAA. Will applying for financial aid affect his baseball scholarship? He will more than likely not qualify for financial aid d/t my income , however, I would still like him to apply just in case. I would appreciate your help in this. I lack resources and this all is so confusing and overwhelming. Thanks so much.
Hi Sue,
When a Div. I school reduces or cancels a scholarship, they must provide the athlete with an opportunity to appeal that decision to a committee of faculty and/or staff from outside the athletic department. I suggest that your son go to the athletic compliance office to find out the steps to follow to request an appeal to that committee.
Rick
Hi Teresa,
Some schools follow the policy that the grant money is used to replace some of the athletic scholarship, and the athletic scholarship then pays the remainder of what was offered in the original athletic scholarship agreement. In other words, they will only fund what was in the original scholarship agreement, and won’t let you keep the remainder after the original amount is covered.
I suggest you contact the Financial Aid office at your son’s school and ask if this situation would be handled the same if your son had a music scholarship, for example, instead of an athletic scholarship.
Rick
Hi Suzanne,
Regarding your appeal, do you have that “promise” in writing or in an e-mail from the coaching staff? If so, you will want to be sure to present that. If nothing in writing, anybody outside your family that overheard that promise, such as a club coach?
I do have an attorney or two that I could suggest if you need them. If that’s the case, contact me directly at the contact info you can find here on the website.
Rick
Hi Rick,
My son has a NCAA Div 1 scholarship. He torn his UCL on the field and requires surgery. He is now a Medical redshirt.
The coaches met with him today. In the meeting they told him that he is on his own for rehabilitation and they will not give him any scholarship money next year. Can they do this?
On an earlier meeting (when he first found out he needed surgery) the coached suggested he would go home for a year. Can that affect his scholarship?
Does he have any protection in the case. How do we handle it?
thank you for your help
My son goes to a Div II private college. He is receiving $20,000 wrestling scholarship. He also receive Pell grant and Cal Grant. The school is using his Pell and Cal grant to pay for tuition and room and board first, then apply his Wrestling scholarship. When all his tuition, room and board is paid for, the school takes the money back. So, here is an example of what the school is doing. He receives $19,124 in wrestling, pell and cal grant. Tuition, room and board in $16,980 a semester. They apply the pell and cal grant first, then apply wrestling. There is a -$2,000 left over. The school takes that money back and He has to take out a loan to pay for books, etc. How is that fair that they apply the grants first, then wrestling $ and won’t give him money to pay for books, etc. Why not apply wrestling first, then what is left over give back some of the pell and cal grant money to live and pay for books, etc. HELP!
My daughter is a D1 gymnast entering her senior year and has received a letter of non-renewal for her athletic aid. When she was recruited she was promised a four year scholarship, and we confirmed this before we signed her NLI (that she would be renewed and resign each year unless she made herself ineligible), She is a model student- athlete, but was hurt freshman year in practice and had surgery, but she fought back into competition form. Any advice for our appeal? Do you know of any attorneys who specialize in this kind of thing should we need them?
Susan,
The NCAA rules have restrictions on whether and how much the coach can require the athletes to participate in lifting and other workouts during the summer. The rules frankly don’t address whether he can require them to be on campus and take classes during the summer.
In the end, however, does it really matter whether the rules allow him to do that or not? If your athlete doesn’t do what the coach says, it will probably effect his playing time, and possibly, could cause the coach to take away the scholarship for next year (since the coach has until July 1 to inform athletes whether or not their scholarship will be renewed).
Perhaps your athlete and the other team members should talk to the Athletic Director to let him know that this was just sprung on them with no prior warning, and that it’s going to cause financial hardship for the athletes, since they weren’t given adequate time to plan ahead.
Rick
My child is a basketball athlete on full scholarship to a D1 school. A new coach came in and is telling athletes that they must be on campus for the majority of the summer. However, the school only pays for one summer session (there are two). The time that the coach is saying that they have to be on campus covers the time of both summer sessions. Can the school require athletes to be on campus without paying for their expenses when they are on full scholarship?
Hi Eric,
Athletic scholarships are only issued for one year at a time, and are subject to renewal or non-renewal each year. So, yes, the coach can choose not to renew her scholarship for next year. The coach must notify your daughter by July 1, and if her scholarship is reduced or not renewed, the school must provide her with an appeal opportunity.
Rick
My daughter starts on a college D2 school. She was not recruited by the coach that is coaching the team now. She is being told the coach is cutting all of the girls the new coach did not recruit. Can the new coach take my daughters money away?
Hi Rose,
The NLI is a national document recognized by most NCAA Div. I and II programs. Once an athlete signs an NLI, all other schools that subscribe to the NLI understand that they are to no longer recruit that athlete. It confirms the offer of an athletic scholarship to the athlete in exchange for the athlete’s commitment to attend that school for at least one year. An NLI cannot be issued to a prospect unless it’s accompanied by an athletic scholarship agreement.
An institutional letter of intent can vary significantly from one school to another, and the meaning can vary significantly depending upon what it says. It could frankly mean nothing more than “we intend to offer you a walk-on spot.”
Rick
What is the difference between and NLI and an Institutional Letter of Intent? Benefits either way besides financial?
MC,
I’m not that familiar with the Pell Grant rules, especially as they are applied at the JUCO level. I suggest you anonymously contact the financial aid office at the college without identifying your son, and ask them to explain the process. You may want to say that your son is an incoming recruit this Fall, and that you’ve been talking to other parents with this type of situation, and are looking for an explanation.
Rick
Hi Rick I have the same question as J. My son plays for pearl river community college the coaches recruited him as their point guard, said he would receive a full scholarship. we applied for a pell grant for the semesters that he was attending, he has been there since July 2012. The school had a program for new recruites just coming out of high school called the Bridge Program,this was to help them with entering college for the first time, they had to take 9hrs of classes, so from what I understood,everything was provided (no pell grant $$ was used),but for the fall and spring semester they used his scholarship funds and took over half his pell grant, he also had to use what they left of pell grant money to pay for his books,why? and how are they able to do this? are they using his pell grant funds to put bck into their scholarsip fund for other players they may want to recruite. I want to understand the process before I contact the school, I don’t want to do anything that would hurt my son chances of continuing to play, he Loves! basketball and he is great! at it, the baskeball team won State Champs! this year. please enlighten me.
Hi Sam,
The school has the right to immediately cancel your scholarship if you quit the team. Whether they would make you pay some or all of it back, or pay a prorated share from now until the end of the season is a decision that is left up to the school.
Rick
I am on 85% scholarship at a d1 school. There are 3 weeks left in the year and the coach and I are not seeing eye to eye an I feel the test of the season will be wasted and in turn will hurt the team. I already know I am not returning next year. If I have been told by the coach that I can leave at any point if I don’t like what she is doing, am I free to go? Or would I have to pay the scholarship back?
Dan,
Some do and some don’t. It varies from school to school.
Rick
Do out-of-state public universities grant in-state costs to perspective out-of-state recruits?
Hi Rose,
If you’ve been a full-time employee at this school for at least five years, his tuition remission should not impact his ability to receive an athletic scholarship.
Rick
My son will attend college for free from tuition remission for my employment there. Will he also be able to receive athletic money from this D1 school with his NLI to be used for dorming, books, etc.?
Wendy,
That’s false – at least as far as NCAA rules. However, it is possible that his school, or the conference that they are a member of, might have a rule like this. It’s more likely, however, that they follow the regular NCAA rules, which means that the coach can choose to renew the scholarship for next year, or he can reduce it, or cancel it altogether.
Rick
My son is on a D1 baseball scholarship and is eligible for a red-shirt in his 4th season. I have been told that since he is already on scholarship and is injured, the coach must extend his scholarship for next year if he is healthy? Is that true?
Hi Brendan,
Keep in mind that the school has until July 1 (according to the NCAA rules) to inform returning athletes what their scholarship will be for the following year. Does your daughter already know she won’t be getting more next year? Don’t act too soon and make the coach mad if he/she hasn’t finalized his/her scholarship allotments for next year yet.
I would only fight this and go to the AD if your daughter is prepared for the potential fallout, which could include a damaged relationship with the coach, and even possibly being cut from the team because she isn’t “loyal.” Your daughter needs to consider whether she is happy with the school and her teammates, and whether she would be satisfied continuing at the school on 50% aid before going down this path.
Rick
Thanks for the great tips! My daughter swims at a D1 school. She has a 50% scholarship this freshman year. Before my daughter enrolled, the coach promised (in writing) that if my daughter improved she would earn a 100% scholarship. She improved in all her events, but the coach did not increase her scholarship. Should we fight this, and maybe go to Athletic Director?
Hi Jane,
If the athlete will be enrolling at the Div. II school as a freshman, the answer is yes. If the athlete is transferring from a JUCO, the answer is no, but the athlete would have to satisfy other academic requirements.
Rick
If a basketball coach from a div 2 accepts an athlete as a walk on; does the walk on have to meet the SAT 820 requirement to play for a div 2 program?
Hi Mrs. Davis,
No, I don’t consider this a reasonable request of an injured athlete, but unfortunately it is all too common. Frankly, the coach can reduce your son’s scholarship for next year for any reason he chooses, but if he does, the school must provide your son an opportunity to appeal that decision.
As far as whether it would allow him to go to another school in the same conference, that will depend upon the rules of the conference, which vary from one conference to another.
Rick
Dear Rick,
My son is an International student and was a target recruit to a Div 1 college,on a full scholarship for track and field.
As a freshman he made the NCAA outdoor champs 2012 as a relay member and has very good GPA approx 3.4 – 3.6
He only competed in three matches indoors and unfortunately still unable to compete due to hamstring injury.
He has been told that unless he makes NCAA outdoor his scholarship will be cut by half.
Even without this injury, i believe from what we have been told previously,that this is a tall request.
we cannot financially find the additional money for him to stay on at this institution and this means he cannot complete his degree.
At recruiting we asked about this and were told that as long as done everything asked of him,which he has, his scholarship would not be affected.
The injury was sustained during a practice session and my son has done everything else that was expected of him.
He now needs to look at transferring and securing a full scholarship in case he doesn’t fulfill their request.
Do you consider this a reasonable request by the college on an injured sophomore?
also would this situation allow him to transfer to a college in the same conference.
i’m very confused and stressed that my son can be treated this way.
Thanks
Hi Steven,
Need-based financial aid will not count against the tennis team’s limit for athletic scholarships.
Rick
If a student tennis recruit qualifies for financial needs $ from the state and gov is combined with athletic scholarship $ be combined would this count as 1 full athletic scolarship towards the team or just the % the financial needs aid did not cover ? I have been trying to figure out this as we get ready to look at offers and am very confused.
Hi Dennis,
Sure, many high schools do that. For guidelines, contact me directly at rick@informedathlete.com.
Rick
Can our booster club offer scholarships to our graduating Seniors, and if so, are there any guidelines that need to be followed?
Mike,
The NCAA rules state that once a student-athlete receives any amount of athletic scholarship, any other financial aid from the university becomes “countable” as if it were also awarded by the athletic department. The history behind the reason for this rule was to prevent a coach from going to the music department (using your son’s specific case as the example) and saying “I don’t have enough scholarship money to recruit this player to our school, do you have any additional scholarships that you can award him for music?” I know that’s not what happened in your son’s situation, but that’s the reason the rule was implemented.
Depending upon your son’s GPA at the school, it might be possible for him to receive scholarships that would not count against the basketball team’s scholarship limit, but they would need to be scholarships based on his academic performance rather than “geographic”, “ethnic” or “talent” scholarships (such as his music scholarship).
Rick
Rick,
My son started college on a music scholarship. He was a unknown basketball player, lol. Starting his sophomore year he was playing a pickup game and the coach approached him about walking on. My son decided to give it a try and thankfully it turned out great. Even starting a few games. The coach told him he would get him money this coming year. After talking to the financial aid office, they said that he would become a “counter” and all money received from the Music Dept. would have to be counted toward the basketball budget at that time. My question is why? he had the music scholarship before basketball, and it just seems another example of the ncaa trying to hurt the student athlete. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Melissa,
Depending upon the type of scholarship it is and the amount, she may be able to keep it. Because it can vary by school, it is best for you to ask the compliance administrator at the school your daughter signed with.
Good luck to your daughter!
Rick
My daughter will be playing D1 basketball and has been offered a full ride. My question is, can she apply for additional scholarships to have money for personal use? Or will they subtract it from her athletic scholarship?
Thanks
Clinton,
If your daughter meets all the admission requirements of the school (and any conditions that were stated in the scholarship agreement), and chooses to attend the school next Fall, the school should be required to provide her with the scholarship. However, it is possible that they will find some way to say that she doesn’t meet their admission standards, so the scholarship offer is “null and void.”
Rick
Dear Rick:
My daughter was extended an offer of a full scholarship for running in October by a Div 1 school. She is currently a senior in HS. The Div-1 school made the offer this October, based on her 2011-12 high school times.
She got hurt, and hasn’t run since. Now the school wants to revoke the offer. Any comment?
Hi Beth,
1. Depends upon the coach and how badly they want your son.
2. Since Div. III schools aren’t supposed to award scholarships based on athletic ability, they shouldn’t increase the award unless they can demonstrate a non-athletic reason for doing so.
3. He is not bound to a school if he makes a verbal commitment there.
Rick
Dear Rick,
Our son has received acceptance letters from 4 schools – 2 Div II and 2 Div III – to run track. With each acceptance letter, he was given an amount that would be offered for academic awards. I have three questions: 1) At what point does the coach tell him how much athletic money he will receive (div II schools)? Part of his decision as to which school he attends is based on “out of pocket” cost. 2) As for the D.III schools – can they increase the amount of his “academic award” to help entice him to be a member of their team? Two of the D.III schools he has applied to cost $40+K so obvisously he is hoping for as much money as possible from these two schools. 3) If he makes a “verbal” commitment to any of the 4 schools he has been accepted to thus far, is he bound to attend there? For instance, if he verbally commits to one of the D.II schools, but a D.III school gives him more money, making it more attractive financially, is he obligated to fulfill his verbal commitment to the D.II school?
Thank you!
Beth
Hi Sue,
I am unsure whether you declare the scholarship money on the FAFSA. You may want to contact the Financial Aid Office at your son’s school and ask that question. If you get a refund to pay for his room and board, that should be OK, as long as his total aid package doesn’t exceed the cost of attendance.
Rick
My son received a partial scholarship to a D2 school as a Jr. We have received financial aid only for the past 2 yrs. Do we declare the scholarship money somewhere on the fafsa? If we end up getting a refund that goes toward paying his room and board is this ok?
Hi J,
Without knowing what sport and NCAA Division you are inquiring about, it will be hard for me to answer your question.
Rick
i do not understand this fully because the manual says that an athletic department is not allowed to take into consideration the federal Pell grant (FAFSA) when considering how much aid will be given to an athlete. This would make the scholarship less than the “cost of attendance.”
Hi Jerry,
It would certainly depend upon what the document says and what the athlete is “committing” to, but it is fairly common for schools to issue “walk-on agreements” which basically state something along the lines of “you are expected to fully participate in all practices, workouts, and other required activities and follow all team rules, even though you are not receiving an athletic scholarship.”
Rick
Can players (Men’s D 1 Soccer) who are not receiving an athletic scholarship be asked to “sign” some form of commitment even though they are prohibited from signing National Letters of Intent?
Hi Barbara,
Yes, the summer school class would be a factor in determining the athlete’s eligibility for transferring if she transfers at the end of the academic year.
Rick
Hi Rick, Question regarding summer school and eligibility. If an athlete takes a summer school class and the school partially pays for the class (based on the % of athletic scholarship money from the prior year), does this affect the athlete’s eligibility if she transfers to another school the following academic year (and gets a release from the original program)?
Thank You
Hi TJ,
Unless your son’s academic qualifications would allow another university scholarship to be exempt from counting against his team’s financial aid limit, his acceptance of such a scholarship could cause the team to exceed the team limit. In that case, he would have to forfeit the scholarship or quit the team, which I’m sure he doesn’t want to do. If you want a detailed explanation of how this works, contact me directly at rick@informedathlete.com.
Rick
Rick, my son is receiving both an academic scholarship and an athletic scholarship to attend a D2 university. That’s awesome, but still leaves us with about another $12k that would essentially be out of pocket for us. Is my son prohibited though from receiving another “private” university scholarship if the amount stays under the annual total combined cost of tuition/room and board? I’m pretty sure you can bring in (stack) outside scholarships, ie: Rotary, Lions Club, etc., but wasn’t sure about other “inside” scholarships through the university. Thank you!
Hi Ken,
As long as the player is only getting an academic scholarship, it won’t affect the baseball team’s equivalency limit. The rule you’re referring to only applies to Div. I football and basketball.
Rick
Rick, if a h.s. senior baseball player makes a 32 on his ACT, and receives an academic scholarship from a D1 or D2 school and decides to walk-on, does his making the team have an impact on the baseball program’s scholarship allotment? I’ve heard of it happening in Football (current Dallas kicker had trouble with that rule and it caused him to leave Arkansas for OK State)
Kyle,
This is not my area of expertise. If you contact me directly at rick@informedathlete.com, I may be able to refer you to somebody that can answer your questions.
Rick
Hi Lendell,
He may have said that they couldn’t offer baseball money, but that would be because that was his choice, not because an NCAA rule prevented him from doing so.
Rick
Rick,
We got a call from a private D1 school tonight. We were expecting the call. The baseball coach said he wants my son, and that he has a roster spot, if we decide to take it. He said we will qualify for between 10k, and 23k toward costs through FASFA. He also said they could not offer baseball money with financial aid. Is this true, or did I misunderstand?
Hi Rick, all of this scholy/financial aid talk is quite confusing, but I appreciate your knowledge. My son has committed to play soccer for a DI University. The team has only 6.5 scholarships per team. His offer is 85% tuition for two years and 100 tuition last two. However, even with an 85% scholy we will still owe around $24,000 each year for the first two years. I went to their Net Price Calculator and it gives us a total of $19,000 for (Total Scholarship and Grant Estimate). Now, what does that actually mean? Will they let us add the $19,000 to the $30,200? It also lists our Estimated Family Contribution at $15,549. I’m confused and hoping you can help. Thanks.
Hi Donald,
It will depend upon the coach and the school. Schools and coaches have different policies and practices when awarding scholarships. One school may use dollar amounts for their scholarships, while another may issue an agreement that covers “room and board” or “tuition and fees only.”
Rick
Rick – This is awesome! I just left a D1 track recruiting visit. I understand that track has 12.6 scholarships. Scholarships generally include tuition, required fees, room, board, and books. My question, is if the coach has a dollar value for the scholarships. There is a $20k difference between in state and out of state tuition. If we get lucky and a scholarship is offered will it be for a certain dollar amount or will it be for say my child’s room and board?
Hi Alexandra,
As you’ll see, I’ve removed your last name, and revised your post to try to protect your identity. I suggest you contact me directly at rick@informedathlete.com to discuss your situation.
Rick
Hi Rick,
I was recruited to a Division 1 Women’s Volleyball program this past year. I am currently on full scholarship, and I am a redshirt. However my coach decided to “let me go” because she was not happy with my weight (even though I was thinner than when she recruited me!). Anyways, I’m wondering if thats even allowed? I’ve heard that in order to be released from a team, you have to break a team/school rule, or act out badly in any other way.
Also, since this ex coach of mine decided not to tell me anything about how to transfer, I’m stuck with not knowing what I can and cannot do. Please help?
Sidenote, I have not yet received any documented form of my release, nor have I signed anything.
Thank you!
Alexandra
Hi Nikol,
If you are not on an athletic scholarship, but are on need-based financial aid, or academic scholarships, there is no reason that quitting your sport should affect that. Also, as long as you are in good academic standing, you should not lose your “place” at the university.
Rick
Dear Rick,
I have a small question which by reading your previous replies to others I assume you might be able to answer. I am a freshman athlete for one of the better ranked NCAA teams at Notre Dame university. I was recruited and I’ve been taken to competitions as the first fill in after our starters. I am having a good season and the coaches are impressed with me but I did not get an athletic scholarship because all of the money was divided on the recruits of the previous years. I am able to attend due to financial aid. My problem is that I m tired of my sport. It is too costly,time consuming and I want to pursue other passions. I’m simply bored and stressed of having to play my sport which no longer feels fun or rewarding but more like a dead weight which is holding me back.
My question is will anything be affected if I quit my sport? Would i loose my financial aid or would it be reduced? would my university place be taken away?
Hi Kirsten,
The combination of athletic and academic scholarships is permissible, but can be complicated. I suggest you contact me directly at rick@informedathlete.com with your question.
Rick
Rick,
I was recently accepted to play field hockey at a D1 school. I only have a partial athletic scholarship, but was wondering about the NCAA stipulations on academic scholarships. I recently received an academic scholarship from the university after being accepted because of meeting certain academic requirements. Are academic scholarships allowed to be combined with athletic scholarships? Any help or direction with this would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Kirsten
For many Div. I programs, whether a prospect qualifies for need-based aid should not be a factor in the recruiting process. It will depend upon what schools are recruiting the prospect, and what schools the prospect is interested in.
Rick
Rick, thanks.
Last thing, as per my quesiton above the recruit is concerned that needing need based aid will somehow disadvantage him. Do you believe that needing and qualifying for need based aid is a positive, negative or neutral factor to D1 coaches who are not fully funded?
Martin,
I agree with you. It is usually better for the athlete to receive an athletic scholarship so that the coach has “invested” in them by providing something that’s quite valuable to the coach. An athlete receiving an athletic scholarship is often (though not always) considered more valuable to the success of the team than one who isn’t on scholarship. Coaches of programs that aren’t fully funded have to make the most efficient use of their resources, and so use need-based aid and academic scholarships to the best of their advantage.
Rick
Rick, thank you. I do believe one of the D1 schools does not fully fund. I believe they only fund 5 or 6 scholarships. From what you have said I am trying to determine if that D1 school would consider the recruits need and qualification for need based as as a negative, a positive or neutral consideration.
Based on what you said just before, it seems that if the recruit qualifies for significant need based aid a significant athletic scholarship wouldn’t be necessary. I’ve always felt though that that can be a negative for the recruit in that if the recruit does not get an athletic scholarship they are more likely to be cut, IF that ever becomes an issue.
Martin,
It appears to me that they may be interpreting the need-based aid as counting against a team’s scholarship limits (which they may choose to do from a budget standpoint). Many schools do not fully fund their scholarships, or, even if they do, in many cases have to pay for them through a transfer of funds from the athletic department budget to the school’s financial aid budget. So the school may require that an athlete accept the need-based aid that they are qualified for, and then base the amount of the athletic scholarship that they will offer on the remaining cost for the athlete to attend the school compared to the fund’s that sport has available in their scholarship budget.
Rick
Thanks! What do they mean they when they say that the need based aid of a counter is counted against the athletic funds available?
Hi Martin,
Need-based financial aid does not count against a team’s scholarship limits. It would not impact what would be available to other recruits.
Rick
Hi Tim,
It is quite common for athletes to have their scholarship reduced or cancelled for both reasons you’ve cited – poor decisions or lack of performance. Scholarships are usually issued for one year at a time, and the coach makes a decision each year whether to renew the athlete’s scholarship for the upcoming year.
Also, if your daughter’s at an NCAA Div. I or II school, her scholarship can be taken away during the year for academic ineligibility, for disciplinary action taken by the school’s student conduct board, or for “violation of team rules” (if such language was included in the conditions of the scholarship agreement).
Rick
If a young man qualifies for need based financial aid and is recruited for D1 lacrosse, does the fact that he qualifies for financial aid make him a less attractive D1 recruit? I believe the D1 school he is most interested in funds 6 out of a potential 12.6 scholarships. Would the need based aid the recruit receives be counted against the schools 6 funded schollys or would the school still have the same athletic funds available for other recruits because altho the school only funds 6 scholarships the NCAA allowance is 12.6 scholarships. In other words would the need based aid the recruit receives reduce what would be available for other recruits, or would the school be ok because they can grant up to 12.5 scholarships, so altho the need based aid is counted it does not effect athletic money available to distribute unless the teams total athletic aid Plus it total team need based aid exceeds the value of 12.6 scholarships.
I am trying to determine whether this young man is better off accepting a Div III offer or focusing on Div 1 where he also has offers.
My daughter is on a full scholarship for rowing and is in her second year. Due to poor decisions on her part, her coach has dismissed her from the team. My wife and I are disagreeing about the frequency of something like this. I think that there must be a number of athletes the “lose” their scholarship due to poor decisions or lack of performance, my wife thinks this is a rare occurance. I can’t seem to find any statistics on the web regarding the percent of athletes who lose their scholarships. Any insight on this?
Hi Paula,
As long as her daughter is continuing as a fully engaged member of the team, doing everything that is asked of her and she’s academically eligible, this should not affect her scholarship this year. It might mean that her scholarship is not renewed for next year by the new coach, but it shouldn’t affect the scholarship this year.
Rick
My co-worker’s daughter received a soccer scholarship and is currently a freshmen. Their soccer season is now ended and they made it to the play off’s but were eliminated after the first game. Her coach called her this morning to let her know that he was fired from the university. My co worker is wondering now — will this affect her daughter’s athletic scholarship?
Sam,
I’m sorry, but I don’t know the answer to that question. You may want to contact the financial aid office of one of the schools that is recruiting your son (you can contact them anonymously), and ask that question of the financial aid staff member who deals with athletic financial aid. Most Div. I schools will have one designated person in the financial aid office who monitors all scholarships for student-athletes, and I’m sure they can answer your question.
Rick
Thanks Rick. The heart of my question was – when calculating “financial aid” will the school use the “cost of attendance” as $50k or the net amount (after scholarship) of $25k (in my hypothetical)? As I understand it, financial aid (for the non-scholarship student) is calculated based upon a families “financial contribution” which theoretically reflects their ability to pay. So if the calculations originally determine that I can “afford” $25k of the 50K cost, does the athletic scholarship essentially benefit the school or do I benefit?
Hi Sam,
Each university has to calculate two important figures for athletes. One is the value of a full athletic scholarship, and the other is the Cost of Attendance. In broad general terms, the Cost of Attendance is often about $2000 more than the value of a full athletic scholarship. So in your example, if you are referring to $50K as the value of a full athletic scholarship and the coach offers 50%, you will probably be held accountable for more than $25K, maybe more like $27K or 28K, but how much of that will be covered by need-based financial aid and how much will come out of your own pocket, I can’t answer for you.
Hope this is at least somewhat helpful.
Rick
Hi Rick. My son is being recruited to play Division 1 lacrosse. At some point during his 4 years I will have 4 kids in college – so financial aid based on “need” will likely be available. Hypothetical: Assume full costs are $50k. Let’s say forms show FC at $25k (not factoring the scholarship). If the coach offers a 50% – do I still contribute $25k? Thanks for your thoughts.
Hi Randy,
If your daughter quits the team, the school has the right to immediately cancel her scholarship, and make her pay for the prorated period of time from when she quits until the end of the semester. If she finishes out the semester as a fully active member of the team, participating in practices, weight sessions, etc., she should not have to pay back any funds.
Rick
My daughter is in her sophomore year as a baskestball player for a DII program and had a great freshman year. However, coaching situation has changed and things are not good. She is considering leaving the team, effective immediately or at the end of the semester in December. She is on athletic scholarship. If she leaves the team she will transfer to a college closer to home, however, probably will not pursue basketball, therefore, transfer rules are not too big a concern. We are wondering what kind of financial consequences there could be. If she plays until the end of the semester, is there any way she would be required to pay back the fall semester scholarship funds since she will not finish the season? Is it as simple as just walking away once the semester is finished? Or what if she leaves the team immediately before the semester has ended? Thanks for your help!
Hi Mario,
It’s possible that the school could immediately cancel his athletic scholarship at the point that he voluntarily quits the team (or obviously if he leaves school). As far as his Pell Grant and student loans, it’s best if you contact the financial aid office at his school with that question.
Whether the school would seek repayment of the first semester after his semester bill has already been paid can only be answered by the school.
Rick
Rick,
My son is currently a freshman attending an NAIA school. He received both academic and ahtletic scholarship money from the school. Unfortunately, he feels that the school is not a good fit for him in addition to him wanting to attend a school closer to home. He is thinking about transferring after his first semester. He does not plan to continue to participate in his sport any longer if he does decide to transfer. My questions are. What steps should he/we take and what happens with the scholarship money? Will they apply some of that towards the semester he attended or will he lose it all? Will we be responsible for any of the costs for the semester. I would like to add that he also received pell grants and student loans thru fafsa. Thanks for any help you can provide
Kate,
It is the coach’s decision on whether your son will receive a scholarship, and what that amount will be. And the coach (and athletic department) has until the end of June to notify each student-athlete receiving a scholarship whether it will be renewed for the following academic year.
I understand that it would be helpful for the coach to inform your son and the other team members earlier in the academic year about their scholarship status for the next year, but the coach has many factors that he will base his decision on, among them including how the athletes perform in the spring, and how they are doing academically.
Rick
My son was not given the opportunity to talk about a raise or present a case for why he should receive a raise during his post season review with his soccer coach. The review did not consist of open ended questions. He was told he would be informed in May if there was a change to his athletic scholarship. Am I to presume the coach just doesn’t want to hear what the athletes have to say on why they feel they are worthy? It will just be a cut and dry decision on the coaches part with no room to discuss? And why wait until May to inform the athletes – so they can do nothing about it at that point?
Hi Lisa,
Your daughter can still apply for academic scholarships in her first and second years. In addition, if she is still open to considering other options, I recommend that she do so. There are too many things that can go wrong between now and her 3rd year (such as the coach leaving, getting fired, or deciding during your daughter’s first or second year, that she hasn’t developed as the coach hoped she would).
Rick
Rick,
My dauthter will play volleyball at a D1 college on a partial athletic scholarship. The scholarship applys to her 3rd and 4th years only. Can she still apply for academic scholarships for her 1st and 2nd years? Thanks.
Lisa
Hi Faith,
Congratulations on your tennis scholarship! Yes, you can still apply for other scholarships. Depending upon how they are classified, you may or may not be able to accept them. There are two important limits for scholarship athletes. The first is the value of a full athletic scholarship, which is equal to the cost of tuition, required fees, room, board, and books. The second is the Cost of Attendance, which is always more than the value of a full scholarship. You may be able to accept certain scholarships up to the Cost of Attendance.
Rick
Rick,
I’m currently a student in high school and I received a scholarship to play D1 tennis, covering about 99% of my schooling. Can I still apply for other scholarships?
Hi Benji,
There are to important financial aid limits for athletes. The first is the value of a full athletic scholarship – tuition, required fees, room, board, and books.
The second important limit is the institution’s Cost of Attendance. At many institutions across the country, the Cost of Attendance is roughly $2000 more than a full scholarship, but that can certainly vary widely between schools. Athletes that receive financial aid having no relationship to their athletic participation can keep financial aid above the cost of a full athletic scholarship, but most of the time cannot keep financial aid above the Cost of Attendance.
Does this help answer your question?
Rick
Hello my son received a full scholarship to attend school for basketball. He also filed for financial aid. He received fatsa money but the school took it and said that they had to reduce his scholarship so that with the financial aid money it wouldn’t go over the “cost of attendance amount.” other athletes offered the same scholarship as my son do not get there scholarship reduced because they did not file for financial aid. Is there something wrong with this picture I’ve never heard of anything like this before. I thought financial aid can be awarded on top of a full scholarship and serve as pocket money or money for school supplies.
Hi Terry,
Yes, the coach can offer your daughter a scholarship next year, however, in the majority of cases, that doesn’t happen. The coach’s position is often that the athlete is already there, has already shown that she’s willing to be a member of the team without a scholarship, so what incentive does the coach have to give her one? Usually, a walk-on is not taking a scholarship away from a recruited athlete, but is receiving a “leftover” scholarship if a recruited athlete chooses not to attend the school, or doesn’t qualify under the NCAA rules or the school’s admission standards.
Rick
Thank you Rick. Since my daughter was a recruited walk on, can the coach offer her scholarship money next year and do you think that it is even a possibility? Would that mean she would have to take away scholarship money from a recruited athlete receiving a scholarship?
Again, thank you for responding
Hi Rick,
Just wanted to follow-up with you. The coach didn’t want to discuss scholarship $$ during the end of the season coach/player talk, but did call my daughter over the summer to let her know they were going to increase her scholarship from 25% to 33%. We were happy they did give her some financial bonus, but a bit disappointed it wasn’t higher. She ended the season leading the team in 3 of 4 key offensive categories (and 3rd in the 4th category). Hopefully she continues to have success and happiness in college. Thank you for your wonderful website.
Hi Terry,
Yes, the coach is allotted 12 scholarships each year that can be awarded to the athletes on the team. Although the NCAA rules changed this year to allow multi-year scholarships, in the vast majority of cases, the scholarships are issued on a yearly basis, and the school has to inform those athletes by July 1 if their scholarship will be increased, decreased, or cancelled for the upcoming year.
Rick
Hi Rick,
My daughter was recruited as a walk-on recruit for a D1 university. We were told the coach did not have any money left. Do the 12 scholarships that are available to the coach every year have to be divided up between all the scholarship receiving players every year. As an example, for a freshman receiving a scholarship this year, does her scholarship money again come out of the 12 scholarships the coach receives for next year. I hope I asked this correctly. Thank you
Hi Judi,
Yes it is.
Rick
Is an athletic scholarship considered financial aid?
Hi Bobbie,
I had a discussion with a father yesterday about his son on this very same topic. In many (if not most) cases, coaches will NOT reward a current player who is already on their team with an increased athletic scholarship. Their thinking seems to be that “The athlete is already on the team and odds are that they will be loyal to the team, so I don’t need to give them any additional scholarship money. I’m going to use my available scholarship money to recruit new athletes.”
Best wishes to you and your daughter!
Rick
Hi Rick,
My daughter is a freshman player on a team of 21 athletes, div 1 softball. She has had a great freshman year and has started every game since the 3rd week of the season. She has been extremely productive in the line-up(she is in the top 15 players of the significant offensive categories in her conference). Her current athletic scholarship is minimal. Do coaches tend to reward the athlete who has performed with an increase in athletic money? I know a lot is based on what is available to the team, but would like to guide her with discussion points for the end of the season talk between player & coach.
Cliff,
Congratulations to your son on being recruited by a DI university! That in itself is an accomplishment.
Regarding the term “tag”, that’s a term I haven’t heard used in that way before. I’m assuming it’s the same or similar to a “preferred walk-on” who is invited to be a member of the team without a scholarship, as opposed to a “pure walk-on” who gets a chance to join the team after an open tryout.
As a “tag” the coaches and athletic department may be able to help him gain admission or be expedited through the admission process. If your son is a good student and will meet the admission requirements anyway, then that’s really not much of a benefit, unless the school has a cap on admissions.
If your son is admitted to the school, he’ll still be able to attend the school. Whether your son makes the team or not won’t affect his enrollment. He’ll be on the practice roster through the fall term and perhaps into January, but without a scholarship he has an increased risk of not making the 35-man roster for the season if the team has more than 35 guys in the fall. That’s because players who receive an athletic scholarship are automatically counted on the 35-man roster, even if they are injured.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck!
Rick
Hello Rick,
My son is being recruited for baseball by a D1 university as a position player. They have told him: that they like, want him very much; not that they don’t want to provide any money, but there’s no scholarship money as it is tied up in all the ‘young’ returning players and for incoming recruits who are pitchers, catchers.
They have offered my son as a “tag” recruit. What exactly is that? (no scholarship $, but accepted into the school). Will he be on the roster? Or is this basically a walk-on recruit that does not have a guarantee to play baseball, but has an opportunity to go to a great school? And if he didn’t make the team, would he still be able to attend the school?