College Cross Country Scholarships and Recruiting
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How do I get a college cross country scholarship? Thousands of athletes have 5k times that are good enough to compete at the college level. Runners who succeeded in earning a scholarship found the right fit and showed the desire to compete for that team. Here is more advice to help you identifying yourself as a scholarship worthy runner. |
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How do I get a college cross country coach to see me? Coaches don’t recruit you based on in-person evaluations in cross country. If you want to run in front of coaches when it matters most, wait for the track and field season.Here is what to do for the track and field season. |
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How do I improve my chances of earning a college cross country scholarship? The easiest way to improve your chances of getting a cross country scholarship is to improve your 5k time. This is a very easy qualification for coaches to measure and the numbers won’t lie. With a solid 5k time you can use this plan to better your opportunities. |
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How do I get recruited for a cross country scholarship? Being recruited for a cross country scholarship can be difficult because of the large number of athletes who are going to be equally as talented. If you want coaches to believe you are a better candidate than the rest then you need to have a strict plan of action. This is what you should be doing. |
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What are the academic requirements to be eligible for a cross country scholarship? Because cross country is a non-revenue sport, recruiting athletes with strong academics is important to coaches. The necessary academic achievements can be found here. |
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What are the athletic requirements to receive a cross country scholarship? All times should be established on a track. Coaches typically do not look at times run during cross country because courses and conditions can be so different. Just because you run the minimum time here doesn’t mean you meet a programs requirement. If you want to know if you are good enough to run at a specific college, check their team website to see what times their runners are posting at meets.Men’s Cross Country
Women’s Cross Country
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How many cross country scholarships are available and what schools offer them?All scholarship numbers are based on a fully funded program. Not all programs use the maximum number of scholarships. Also, many schools have requirements on the number of scholarship they can use on out of state and international athletes.Men’s Cross CountryNCAA D1: 305 NCAA D2: 231 *NCAA D3: 369 NAIA: 203 NJCAA: 176 Total: 1,284 Women’s Cross Country *NCAA Division 3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but do offer other forms of financial aid. Number of scholarships offered per team, per year, by Division: Cross country is an equivalency sport which means all scholarships are NOT full scholarships, and coaches may divide the total number of scholarships allotted to them between as many athletes as they wish. Track and Cross Country share scholarship money which means that they have to divide up the scholarship amounts in both sports between them. Men’s Cross Country NCAA D1: 12.6 Women’s Cross Country NCAA D1: 18 |
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Who are the top college cross country programs in each division? Most cross country programs expect runners to compete in track as well. There are opportunities for almost every level of runner.Men’s Cross CountryNCAA D1:Stanford, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iona, Arkansas, Syracuse, Florida State, Alabama, Indiana, Northern Arizona, BYU, California, Princeton, Duke, Portland NCAA D2:Adams State, Western State, Colorado Mines, Cal State Chico, Grand Valley State, Shippensburg, Queens (NC), Alaska Anchorage, Lock Haven, Western Washington, Augustana, Harding NCAA D3: North Central Illinois, Haverford, Geneseo Street, Calvin, St. Lawrence, Wisconsin Platteville, Wisconsin Stevens Point, Dickinson, Washington-St. Louis, New York University, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Wisconsin Oshkosh NAIA: Southern Oregon University, Wayland Baptist University, Shawnee State University, Malone University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Bryan College, California State University-San Marcos, Concordia University, Oklahoma Christian University, Eastern Oregon University Women’s Cross Country NCAA D1: Villanova, Florida State, Georgetown, Washington, New Mexico, Oregon, Stanford, Colorado, Arizona, Texas Tech, Syracuse, Iowa State, Virginia, Stony Brook, Providence, Michigan, Michigan State NCAA D2: Grand Valley State, Western State, Adams State, Shippensburg, Alaska Anchorage, Cal State Chico, Western Washington, Ferris State, Pittsburg State, Augustana, Mary, Edinboro, Minnesota Duluth, Bellarmine, Tampa NCAA D3: Middlebury, St. Lawrence, Williams, Johns Hopkins, Wisconsin Eau Claire, Calvin, Geneseo State, Washington – St. Louise, Luther, Amherst, Wisconsin Stevens Point, MIT NAIA: California State – San Marcos, Biola University, Azusa Pacific University, Simon Fraser University, Malone University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Concordia University, Black Hills State University, University of British Columbia, Southern Oregon University, College of Idaho, Cedarville University, Indiana Wesleyan University |
IMPORTANT: NAIA Rule Changes. You must now register with the NAIA Clearinghouse.
