Class of 2026: A new milestone with $1 billion in scholarships
Inside the year of record scholarships, new countries and field hockey on the rise
We’re proud to present our Class of 2026, a group of student-athletes who are starting an exciting new chapter in the US. They also helped us reach a milestone: our lifetime scholarship total has now passed $1 billion, across more than 17,300 student-athletes since 2004. After more than two decades of helping international athletes study and compete in the US, this is an important and exciting milestone for everyone at Keystone Sports.
This year, we placed 846 athletes from 24 countries, at 343 colleges and universities in 45 states. The average scholarship rose to $25,970 per year, and the results include a record single scholarship of $124,000 and 41 full-ride scholarships, a 46.4% increase on last year.
Here’s a look at the highlights of the year, in numbers, in firsts and in our student-athletes’ achievements.
The map keeps growing
Our Class of 2026 is another example of our mission: making it possible for international athletes to study and compete in the US college system. This year, we guided athletes from 24 different countries, with Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway and Spain sending the most. For the first time, we helped students from Croatia, the Faroe Islands, Lithuania, Qatar and Turkey.
Looking ahead to the Class of 2027, we expect to welcome more students from China, South Korea and Japan. We expanded into these markets in 2026, with Chris Chan leading the effort as Country Head and a sales team in China.
We placed our athletes at 343 colleges and universities in 45 states across the US. New York was the top destination this year, with 46 placements, taking the number one spot from Florida, which led in the Class of 2025. California and Iowa followed. Just as we welcomed new countries, we also welcomed a new state: Vermont, where we placed athletes for the first time.
What college scholarships are worth
For many international families, a sports scholarship is what makes studying in the US realistic. With tuition and living costs rising worldwide, financial support often decides whether the college sports pathway is possible at all.
With that in mind, we’re delighted that the average scholarship for our athletes rose to $25,970 per year, up from 2025. At the top end, one of our athletes secured a record single scholarship of $124,000, the largest in our history.
The number of full rides also grew, up 46.4% from last year to 41 in 2026. A full ride covers all major college costs and is awarded to exceptional athletes. The full-ride numbers show an interesting contrast. Female athletes make up 31.4% of our Class of 2026, yet they received 75.6% of all full-ride scholarships.
Division by division: where our athletes go
Division I gets the headlines, but more of our athletes chose the NAIA than any other association, followed by junior college and NCAA Division II. Athletes from Germany and the Nordics mostly chose the NAIA, then Division II, while in the UK junior college came first and the NAIA second.
The value of a scholarship varies considerably depending on where an athlete lands. NCAA Division I leads at $45,997 per year, followed by Division II at $25,350, NAIA at $22,002 and junior college at $8,151. Division III averages $28,288, but those institutions don’t award athletic scholarships, so that figure reflects academic, merit-based and other institutional aid.
The NAIA has no recruiting dead periods and allows partial scholarships, which suits international athletes. Junior college gives athletes room to develop before moving on to a four-year school. For every athlete, we look at their goals, level and priorities to find the right fit.
212 days from signing to commitment
For our athletes, the median recruiting process takes 212 days. That is measured from the day an athlete signs with Keystone Sports to the day they are recruited by a coach and commit to a college or university.
The timeline reflects how our process is built. We have a dedicated team for each step, including commercial, placement, operations, compliance and admissions, working together from building the athlete’s profile and reaching out to coaches through to the final commitment. Most athletes then start in the fall: 90% of the Class of 2026 enrolled in the fall semester, though spring can also be a very good option.
A new college sport on the rise
Soccer and tennis are still our biggest sports, with 332 and 136 athletes placed. The story of the year, though, is field hockey. It grew 122% and tied with track and field for fifth place for the first time. Our integration with Aspire USA, founded by former player Holly Cram, brought field hockey expertise into the team, and clinics with Division I coaches and scouting days in Germany and the UK built on it. On December 6, we host our first US College Field Hockey Showcases in London (UK) and Mönchengladbach (Germany).
Two NCAA eligibility changes to know about
US college sports keeps changing, and two NCAA changes stood out in 2026. The NCAA is moving from four seasons of competition in a five-year window to a five-year competition model, which helps athletes who redshirt, transfer or face interruptions. Division II is also introducing an age-based eligibility system, where the clock starts at full-time enrollment or a set age. Both become standard from 2027. Our placement and compliance teams track every change to keep families informed.
Beyond the numbers
Our role doesn’t end at placement. Former Keystone Sports athlete Henry Patten won his second Wimbledon Men’s Doubles title, a standout achievement at the highest level of the sport. Angela McAuslan-Kelly represented Scotland in the hammer throw on home soil at the Commonwealth Games. She is completing her third year at Princeton University, where she competes in Division I and studies Politics.
Their journeys show the long-term impact of the college sports pathway, and we’re proud to stay invested in our athletes as they progress through college and beyond.
This article covers the highlights, but there is much more behind the numbers: every country, state, sport and division, plus the full scholarship data. Explore the complete Class of 2026 report on our interactive page and see how the pathway to US college sports is changing.
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About the author
Paulina Romo
Paulina Romo, Communications Manager at Keystone Sports, holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and has a background in equestrian sports, specializing in dressage. Shaped by international experience gained from work and studies in Sweden, South Korea, Germany, and Spain, Paulina brings a diverse blend of marketing skills and perspectives to her role.
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