FAQ about sport scholarships & being a student-athlete
See the most common questions and answers about sport scholarships, college sports and being a student-athlete in our FAQ.
Sport Scholarships
- Sport Scholarships
- Academic Scholarships
- International Scholarships
A sports scholarship is financial aid awarded to students who participate in college sports while pursuing their college or university studies.
Sports scholarships help student-athletes cover college costs such as tuition, books, dormitory fees, and expenses related to their sports practice. Scholarships can be either full or partial.Â
To obtain a college sports scholarship, you need an excellent track record in your sport, both in the past and currently. Additionally, you require a strong academic profile, which includes not only a high GPA (grade point average) but also strong performance on college admission tests.Â
Yes, different scholarships can be combined, such as a sports scholarship, an academic scholarship and scholarships for international students. This allows you to maximize the benefits and financial support during your time studying abroad.Â
The costs of studying at universities in America typically consist of three main areas: tuition fees, meals, and accommodation. Additionally, there are often other expenses such as insurance, textbooks, personal expenses, and travel costs. A sports scholarship reduces the costs and is applied to the three main areas.
For example, if a university charges $39,000 annually for these three areas and you receive a sports scholarship worth 90%, then your remaining costs for the year amount to only 10% of these total costs, which is $3,900. The rest is covered by the university! Sometimes, the university also covers insurance and book costs, while you may have to cover flights and personal expenses yourself. Additionally, there is also the possibility of receiving a full scholarship, where all costs are covered.
1. Athletic Performance
The better your athletic level is, the more interesting your profile becomes for college coaches.
2. Academic Performance
The same applies here: better high school grades mean more opportunities. Every university has a certain benchmark when it comes to grades, and with a good to excellent grade point average, you are naturally more academically qualified. At the same time, this also increases your chances of receiving an academic scholarship.
3. Timing
Perhaps the most important factor is the timing of your application. Because no matter how good you are, if you apply too late and all roster spots and scholarships have already been allocated, you won’t have a chance anymore. Therefore, we recommend starting the process up to 2 years in advance. This way, you have enough time to prepare optimally with us, establish contact with coaches, and convince them of your talent.
Sports scholarships typically have an initial term of one year, but are usually extended until the completion of the degree if the athlete maintains their level of performance and remains eligible to play in the league. The maximum duration of an athletic scholarship is usually 4 years if you start your studies as a freshman, which corresponds to the time needed for a complete bachelor’s degree. If you are already a student and transfer to a US university with a sports scholarship after a few semesters, there may be different rules that can shorten the duration of your eligibility to play. In such cases, we consider each situation individually and provide appropriate guidance.
Your scholarship will not be immediately revoked due to poor athletic performance or injuries, at most, it may be reduced. However, this rarely happens. However, you could lose your scholarship if, for example, you cheat on exams, fail your courses, behave unsportsmanlike, or fail to comply with campus policies (e.g., regarding alcohol, drugs, etc.).
College Sports in the US
A student-athlete is a student who practices sports while being enrolled in an educational program. Student-athletes are common in the US and Canada, thanks to the countries’ college sports systems, which also offer the possibility of students being rewarded with sports scholarships to help finance the studies and sports practice.
Yes, international students are also eligible for athletic scholarships. Keystone Sports have more than 20 years of experience in assisting athletes from all over the world to combine college sports with higher education in the US and Canada. Fill out our assessment form, and our sport placement experts will evaluate your scholarship opportunities for free!Â
You can obtain sports scholarships for over 20 college sports. Find out more about the various college sports here. We at Keystone Sports have experience in supporting athletes from all types of sporting backgrounds – we find the perfect fit for you!Â
Many top athletes worldwide have benefited from athletic scholarships. College sports provide athletes with the ideal environment to develop alongside their studies. The intensive daily training at college under the guidance of professional coaches is crucial.
The path to professional sports is undoubtedly challenging and also depends on the sport in which many college athletes make the leap. In recent years, however, we have already helped several athletes achieve their dream, whether in the MLS, track and field, or other disciplines.
Additionally, our clients gain a respected degree and valuable international experience, significantly increasing their chances of a successful career in other areas.
American universities compete in various divisions of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics), which primarily vary in terms of the size of the universities. NCAA Division I is the largest and most competitive, while NCAA Division II and NAIA are roughly comparable but slightly less competitive. Universities in NCAA Division III do not offer athletic scholarships, unlike all other divisions, but usually still have coached teams. It is important to note that the top teams in NCAA Division II or NAIA are often stronger and more professional than average or weaker teams in NCAA Division I. Therefore, it is always crucial to examine the best opportunities on a case-by-case basis!
There are different college divisions because there are various associations for college sports. The two major ones are the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). There are three NCAA divisions (D1, D2, and D3) and NAIA division 1 and Division 2. There is also NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association), which oversees athletics on community colleges and junior colleges in the US.Â
NCAA and NAIA are two different associations overseeing student-athletes in the US. They each have their own set of rules, regulations, terms, sport scholarships, and college sports divisions.Â
The Recruiting Process
Keystone Sports is Europe’s largest network of college agencies and can build on over 20 years of experience in the market. For this reason, we have an extensive network of players, coaches and alumni that enable us to offer the best service on the market. We are all about consulting from A to Z, always putting the priorities of our athletes first. We also provide unique resources and events like Keystone Campus, Alliance Athlete App, college showcases and our Performance Program to help you create a strong profile. But see for yourself and talk to one of our college experts about your personal opportunities: Contact us now!
Assess your chances of an athletic scholarship with Keystone Sports by filling out our free assessment form. Our experts analyze your information and quickly give you an individual assessment of your scholarship opportunities. If you are interested, after a non-binding consultation, we can tackle the next steps together on the way to your scholarship. Keystone Sports supports you in completing all necessary steps carefully. We apply to coaches in the US on your behalf, help you with language tests, creating application videos, and other administrative tasks. With us as a professional partner by your side, you can be sure that we will accompany and support you on the way to your goal.
College sports recruiting refers to the process in which a college or university representative recruits an athlete to play for their college team. This representative, often the team coach, can discover athletes at regular competitions and tournaments. Other excellent opportunities for recruitment to attend showcases and events where college coaches are invited for recruiting purposes. Another way to increase the chances of getting discovered is by using the Alliance app—a student-athlete recruiting app used by over 2,000 U.S. college coaches.Â
There are several ways to get recruited by a college coach and obtain a sports scholarship. With Keystone Sports’ college sports recruiting service, our sports placement experts successfully connect you with college coaches across the US and Canada, all based on your wishes, skills, and needs.Â
Showcases are events where athletes can showcase their talent live in front of college coaches. We offer college showcases in different countries. Every year we have many coaches live on site who want to see our talented international athletes. If you are interested in attending our showcase, get more info and register on our college showcase page.
To be eligible to compete for an American college, a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Under certain conditions, it is also possible to be eligible with a secondary school leaving certificate (+ GED test or completed apprenticeship) for some universities. If you are already studying, it is mostly possible to transfer previously earned credits.
To qualify for an athletic scholarship, you should pay attention to the specific regulations regarding maximum age and number of semesters already completed. In Division 1, there is a maximum age of 25, while in Division 2 and the NAIA, there is no maximum age. In all leagues, a total of 8 full-time semesters may be studied. So, if you have, for example, studied 4 full-time semesters, whether in your home country or the USA, you still have 4 semesters available to start at a university.
Yes, you’ll need to take either the TOEFL or Duolingo test, as each university sets its own required score for academic qualifications. Additionally, most universities also require the SAT. We’re here to help you prepare for all these tests, ensuring you can achieve your best results.
We recommend that you start the college recruiting process during your junior year, ideally 1-2 years prior to graduation. By starting early, you will have enough time for all the necessary steps. With Keystone Sports, you have a dedicated team supporting you every step of the way. From finding your dream college and getting in touch with your future college coach to preparing for admission tests (TOEFL and SAT) and completing the necessary paperwork for the student visa and the college application.
Study in the US
A standard degree in the US takes 4 years until you receive your bachelor’s degree. Depending on the subject of study and your performance, it is possible to complete your degree faster. However, this requires more effort during the semesters or, for example, during the summer vacations, where additional courses can be taken.
In the US, semester times vary depending on the university and study program, but generally, most universities follow a similar semester schedule. Most colleges and universities have two main semesters per year: the fall semester and the spring semester. The fall semester usually begins in August or September and ends in December or January. The spring semester usually starts in January or February and ends in May or June.
Accordingly, students have breaks between the semesters. In summer between May/June and August, and in winter from around mid-December to early/mid-January.
You have the freedom to study almost any subject offered by your university. The scholarship only covers the costs of your studies and is completely independent of your choice of field of study. You enroll as a regular student in your desired field of study at the university. In the US, there is a wider range of fields of study and specializations. Your sport scholarship is awarded regardless of your field of study and is solely for funding your studies. Thus, you can choose any combination of subjects offered by the university.
Bachelor‘s Degree: A bachelor‘s degree is a four-year degree awarded by colleges and universities. There are various types of bachelor‘s degrees, including the Bachelor of Arts (BA), the Bachelor of Science (BS), the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), and many more, depending on the field of study.
Master‘s Degree: A master‘s degree is an advanced degree that can be obtained after completing a bachelor‘s degree. It usually requires an additional one to two years of study and includes programs such as the Master of Arts (MA), the Master of Science (MS), the Master of Business Administration (MBA), and many others.
The US is internationally known for its excellent higher education system, so a degree from the US is highly regarded worldwide.
For parents
Like all other athletes, your child will be accommodated in a student dormitory during the time on campus. Occasionally, there are even special dormitories for athletes where only athletes live – however, this varies depending on the university. Under certain circumstances, from the third semester onwards, your child may also be accommodated in shared apartments off-campus, but this usually only happens at this time.
Your child will receive this information directly from the universities that have offered a scholarship. Typically, your child will be covered by the university’s local health insurance, but it may be necessary to obtain additional health insurance as well. As this topic is always relevant, we will provide you with comprehensive guidance when the time comes.
In the event that the previously chosen university does not meet your child’s expectations, there are 2 options:
- We support with a university transfer within the US
- Studies can be discontinued at any time, and your child return to the home country.
This question is common among parents. However, the exact answer can vary based on individual circumstances, making a consultation with one of our college consultants essential. With over 20 years of experience, we provide honest and realistic assessments tailored to your situation.