By Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Posted: October 4th, 2021

Sports are an important part of the high school experience. Practice, games, matches, and lots of hard work are put into your sport(s). Whether you are a football player, a tennis player, or a cross country runner, you will also have to think about how you will pay for college when the time comes. For athletes, athletic scholarships are one of the best ways to use your talent on the field to win money for college!

Jump ahead to:

• Top athletic scholarships in 2021
• How to win a college athletic scholarship
• Summary of top scholarships for athletic students
• Upcoming scholarships

While many Division 1 and Division 3 colleges offer athletic scholarships to the top athletes on their varsity teams, many students are not able to going to be star varsity athletes in college. But don’t worry–there are tons of great athletics scholarship opportunities available for other students who do not intend to play sports in college. Keep on reading to learn more!

Top athletic scholarships to apply for in 2021:

$1,000 Next College Athlete No-Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school student athletes
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: October 31, 2021

$1,000 Sportsletter Sports News Scholarship

• Eligibility: All students who sign up for the Sportsletter
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: October 31, 2021

TrophyCentral Sportsmanship & Compassion Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors with a 3.25 GPA or above who writes the most moving essay about sportsmanship 
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: September 1, 2021

Heisman High School Scholarship

• Eligibility: High achieving high school senior student athletes
• Amount: $500 to $5,000
• Deadline: October 19, 2021

Burger King Scholars

• Eligibility: High school seniors or college students who are leaders in community service, athletics, or another extracurricular activity.
• Amount: Up to $50,000
• Deadline: December 15, 2021

Sara Scholarship

• Eligibility: Female golfers who are high school seniors.
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: April 30, 2022

Big Sun Scholarship

• Eligibility: Student athletes who are high school seniors or in college
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: June 19, 2022

United States Bowling Congress Scholarships

• Eligibility: Various criteria for high school and college students. All applicants must have USBC Youth membership
•  Amount: Varies
• Deadline: Varies

How to win a college athletic scholarship

College scholarships for student athletes are available for students playing college sports at the Division 1 and Division 2 level. These scholarships can range from a partial scholarship to a full ride. Being a scholarship varsity athlete is a bit like having a full time job, which is why these scholarships can be so generous.

The catch is that in order to receive an athletic scholarship at a Division 1 or Division 2 college, you must be recruited to play. The recruitment process tends to be very competitive and can be quite complex.

If you are interested in this or wondering if you may be good enough to be recruited, we suggest that you talk to your high school coach for more information. Chances are that they have coached a student or two who has gone through the process and will be able to provide some insight to you.

Also, the National College Athletic Association has rules about eligilbity for potential varsity student athletes. Students will need to meet the eligilbity requirements, which include specific academic standards.

Summary of top scholarships for athletic students:

1. $1,000 Next College Athlete No-Essay Scholarship
2. $1,000 Sportsletter Sports News Scholarship
3. TrophyCentral Sportsmanship & Compassion Scholarship
4. Heisman High School Scholarship
5. Burger King Scholars
6. Sara Scholarship
7. Big Sun Scholarship
8. United States Bowling Congress Scholarships

Upcoming athletic scholarships

Billy Welu Scholarship

• Eligibility: College students who combine outstanding bowling talents with academic excellence
• Amount: $1,000

Foot Locker Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors who are athletes
• Amount: $20,000
• Opens: Fall 2021

Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarships

• Eligibility: High school juniors (class of 2022) residing in the USA who play a high school or club sport (must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher)
• Amount: $1,000 (over 100 awarded!)
• Opens: January 1, 2o22