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Top 15 Soccer Scholarships in June 2023
Score a goal with your financial aid and check out these soccer scholarships now. As soccer continues to grow in popularity in the U.S., so do scholarship opportunities for soccer players. Colleges and universities are looking for driven soccer players to join their teams. They are also on the hunt for hardworking and passionate individuals—a background in soccer can show schools that you’re one of these.
In the following article, we’ll examine the scholarship guidelines of each NCAA division, NAIA, and NJCAA. These establish rules for school-based soccer scholarships. We’ll also take a look at some scholarships for soccer players provided by third parties. Ultimately, you may be able to earn money from both your school, and an alternate program. Hopefully after reading this article, you’ll have a better idea of how to qualify for financial aid as a soccer player.
Related: What does being a D1, D2, and D3 athlete mean?
Jump ahead to…
- Top soccer scholarships
- Soccer scholarships by NCAA division
- How to win soccer scholarships
- Resources for soccer players
- Frequently asked questions
- Additional scholarship categories to explore
Top 9 Soccer Scholarships in June 2023
The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:
- The scholarship requires a fee to apply
- The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
- The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
- Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
- The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
- The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
- The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
- There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
- The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
- There is no available contact information
If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!
* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system.
** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements.
***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.
$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship
The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high…
The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high…
The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to go to college, a graduate student who’s in a master’s program, or an adult learner who wants to return to school, you are eligible for our no essay scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. Finalists for this scholarship will be interviewed about their process for funding their education.
Eligibility information
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Citizenship: US Citizens, Permanent Residents
Minimum GPA: No GPA requirement
Next steps
Check your eligibility through the Scholarships360 app.
$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay
Easy scholarship from Nitro College open to all high school, college, community and graduate students.
Easy scholarship from Nitro College open to all high school, college, community and graduate students.
Easy scholarship from Nitro College open to all high school, college, community and graduate students.
Eligibility information
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Citizenship: US Citizens, Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, DACA, Other
Minimum GPA: No GPA requirement
Next steps
Check your eligibility through the Scholarships360 app.
Niche $15,000 No Essay Scholarship
Open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.
Open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.
Open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year.
Eligibility information
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Citizenship: US Citizens, Permanent Residents
Minimum GPA: No GPA requirement
Next steps
Check your eligibility through the Scholarships360 app.
Big Sun Scholarship
Are you a high school senior or college student involved in a sport? If so, consider applying for the Big Sun Scholarship! Each year, the…
Are you a high school senior or college student involved in a sport? If so, consider applying for the Big Sun Scholarship! Each year, the…
Are you a high school senior or college student involved in a sport? If so, consider applying for the Big Sun Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards $500 to multiple applicants who submit 500 - 1,000 word essays about how their participation in their sport has influenced their lives. The scholarship is offered by The Big Sun Athletic Organization, a group dedicated to providing an opportunity for young athletes to learn and excel. Applicants may be involved in any sport with any level of engagement, so long as they submit their essays to [email protected]. With that said, if you’re passionate about your sport and are looking for some help paying for college, we encourage you to apply!
Eligibility information
Grade Level: High School Seniors & College Students
Other Category: Athletic
Next steps
Check your eligibility through the Scholarships360 app.
TrophyCentral Sportsmanship Scholarship Award
Are you a college-bound high school senior in the U.S.? Further, do you play a sport and actively demonstrate sportsmanship, kindness, or compassion while doing…
Are you a college-bound high school senior in the U.S.? Further, do you play a sport and actively demonstrate sportsmanship, kindness, or compassion while doing…
Are you a college-bound high school senior in the U.S.? Further, do you play a sport and actively demonstrate sportsmanship, kindness, or compassion while doing so? If so, consider applying for the TrophyCentral Sportsmanship Scholarship Award! Each year, the award offers $1,000 to an eligible high school senior who submits a written statement (500 words or less) about their sportsmanship or acts of compassion, in addition to other required application materials. The scholarship is offered by TrophyCentral, an online platform specializing in creating and selling trophies, medals, plaques, and the works. With that said, if you fit the criteria, consider applying and let TrophyCentral reward you for your kindness!
Eligibility information
Grade Level: High School Senior
Minimum GPA: 3.3
Other Category: Athletic
Next steps
Check your eligibility through the Scholarships360 app.
Massachusetts Youth Soccer Scholarship Program
Are you a high school senior who has participated in Massachusetts Youth Soccer? If so, consider applying for the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Scholarship Program! The…
Are you a high school senior who has participated in Massachusetts Youth Soccer? If so, consider applying for the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Scholarship Program! The…
Are you a high school senior who has participated in Massachusetts Youth Soccer? If so, consider applying for the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Scholarship Program! The program is open to college-bound high school seniors who have played in a Massachusetts Youth Soccer league for at least the past two years. The Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association is a nonprofit educational and service organization dedicated to the “ongoing development of youth soccer players, coaches, clubs, and leagues in an inclusive, safe, and fun environment.” Every year, their Scholarship Program awards $1,000 in addition to an invitation to the Annual Awards Banquet to two lucky applicants. If you are a college-bound high school senior who has played in the Massachusetts Youth Soccer for the past two years, we encourage you to apply!
Eligibility information
Grade Level: High School Senior
Other Category: Athletic
State: Massachusetts
Next steps
Check your eligibility through the Scholarships360 app.
New York Ramblers Scholarship
Are you a student athlete who identifies as LGBTQI, or a committed ally to this community? If so, the Ramblers Scholarship could be the perfect…
Are you a student athlete who identifies as LGBTQI, or a committed ally to this community? If so, the Ramblers Scholarship could be the perfect…
Are you a student athlete who identifies as LGBTQI, or a committed ally to this community? If so, the Ramblers Scholarship could be the perfect opportunity to support your undergraduate education in the U.S.! To apply, you'll need to write five brief essays and secure two letters of recommendation. The selected awardees will receive a one-time scholarship of up to $2,500 each, paid directly to their school to cover tuition fees. The scholarship is awarded publicly each summer, with the application process open annually from January 1 to May 1.
Eligibility information
Grade Level: High School Senior
Other Category: Athletic, LGBTQ+
Next steps
Check your eligibility through the Scholarships360 app.
Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program
The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program is funded by the Foot Locker Foundation, an organization that helps “phenomenal student-athletes pursue their goals of attending and…
The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program is funded by the Foot Locker Foundation, an organization that helps “phenomenal student-athletes pursue their goals of attending and…
The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program is funded by the Foot Locker Foundation, an organization that helps “phenomenal student-athletes pursue their goals of attending and excelling at a two-year or four-year community college or four-year school.” Each year, Foot Locker awards $20,000 to twenty students to help them fund their education. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.
Eligibility information
Grade Level: High School Senior
Citizenship: US Citizens, Permanent Residents
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Other Category: Athletic
Next steps
Check your eligibility through the Scholarships360 app.
Burger King Scholars Program
Are you a graduating high school senior living in the U.S, Puerto Rico, Guam, or Canada and working at Burger King or are related to…
Are you a graduating high school senior living in the U.S, Puerto Rico, Guam, or Canada and working at Burger King or are related to…
Are you a graduating high school senior living in the U.S, Puerto Rico, Guam, or Canada and working at Burger King or are related to an employee? If so, consider applying for the Burger King Scholars Program! The scholarship is open to college-bound high school seniors who work at Burger King or are related to an employee and plan to enroll in college full-time for the upcoming academic year. The scholarship is funded by Burger King Foundation, a non-profit organization and a leader in education that aims to create brighter futures by empowering individuals and feeding potential through education and emergency relief. Awards worth between $1,000 and $50,000 will be granted to help winning students pay for college costs. If you’re passionate about your postsecondary education and you or a relative work at Burger King, we encourage you to apply!
Eligibility information
Grade Level: High School Senior
Minimum GPA: 2.5
Other Category: Athletic
Next steps
Check your eligibility through the Scholarships360 app.
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Soccer scholarships by NCAA division
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is broken down into three divisions. Each has different rules for scholarship allocation, so we will take a tour of all of them.
NCAA Division I
Division I teams are the biggest and best of college athletics. They will be the hardest teams to make, and also the hardest to get money from. That being said, these programs do offer scholarships. To be exact, women’s programs are allowed to give up to 14 full ride scholarships, while men’s teams are capped at 9. However, coaches can choose to split these scholarships up, to spread out the scholarship money.
NCAA Division II
Division II schools tend to be smaller universities and private colleges. They are still allowed to offer soccer scholarships, but less of them. Both women’s and men’s teams can only offer 9 full ride scholarships. Similarly to Division I teams, coaches can divvy up this money to accommodate more players.
NCAA Division III
Division III schools are the smallest schools, and usually prioritize academics over athletics. For this reason, Division III schools do not offer sports scholarships. They confine their scholarship money to need-based and merit-based aid. This is not to say that these schools do not want outstanding soccer players on their teams. What they do want are outstanding soccer players who also excel in their academics.
NAIA Soccer
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is an alternative to the NCAA. It also offers scholarships for soccer players. Athletes who are more interested in earning a degree than pursuing a professional soccer career might find a home at an NAIA school. Both women’s and men’s teams can give out 12 full ride scholarships, with the option of splitting up the money.
NJCAA Soccer
The National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) oversees community and junior college athletics. NJCAA teams do offer scholarships, and can provide a productive environment for soccer players who want to keep playing while studying, but don’t feel ready to commit to a four-year college. Both men’s and women’s teams can offer 18 full ride scholarships, divided as the coach sees fit.
Related: Do college athletes get paid?
How to win soccer scholarships
Writing a winning scholarship essay is all about sharing what you’re passionate about and how that impacts you. Whether it’s 250 words or 500, telling your story is instrumental in showing you’re a worthy recipient of the scholarship you’ve applied to. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so get kicking! Be sure to check out our guide to finding scholarships, so that you can apply to the ones that fit you.
Resources for students that play soccer
U.S. Soccer Foundation
This organization is focused on offering soccer programs to underserved communities and helping them achieve their goals. One of their initiatives involved revitalizing parts of the community to provide a safe space to play soccer. The U.S. Soccer Foundation also has a number of grants that players can apply for and a mentorship program.
Soccer camps
Even when the school year is over, you can still practice what you love! Joining a soccer camp like the U.S. Sports Camp is a great way to help you stay in shape and improve your soccer skills. Soccer academies also hold summer camps even if you don’t attend their school during the year, such as the IMG Academy.
Frequently asked questions