College Soccer Scholarships and Recruiting
How do I Get a College Soccer Scholarship?
There are over one thousand universities that offer the chance to play college soccer, and coaches do not have the resources to find every qualified athlete. Coaches expect you to take the initiative and contact them first. If you want to increase your chances of being considered for a soccer scholarship, follow our guide.
How to Get College Coaches to Watch Your Matches
Getting college coaches to your matches is not easy. Because of small recruiting budgets, many soccer coaches require you to come to them. In fact, for the top schools in the country it is mandatory that prospects attend their summer camps for further consideration. Find out what else you can do by following our tips.
How the Soccer Recruiting Process Works
There are thousands of international and domestic athletes for soccer coaches to choose from, and it takes a lot of hard work to show coaches that you are exactly what they are looking for. If you want to play at the top level, it is mandatory that coaches watch you in person. Finding those opportunities is up to you; here is our advice.
Make Sure You Are Academic Eligible
Based on what level you want to compete, the requirements change. Keep in mind that just meeting the minimums does not guarantee you admission into your school of choice. Check here to see if you have met the academic eligibility standards of each division level.
How Good do I Need to be to Get a Scholarship?
These marks were gathered by evaluating the freshman classes of some of the top programs at each level. There are always exceptions if you fit what a program is looking for. Use these as a guide and do some research on your own.
Men’s Soccer
NCAA D1
- Olympic Development Program (ODP) Experience
- All-American
- All-State
- All-League/District
- 3-4 year varsity starter
- Extensive club team experience
- Participation in major tournaments and showcases
NCAA D2
- Olympic Development (ODP) Experience
- All-State
- All-League/District
- 2-3 years varsity starter
- Team MVP
- Extensive club team experience
- Participation in tournaments and showcases
NCAA D3/NAIA
- Extensive club team experience
- 2 years varsity starter
- Club Experience:
Women’s Soccer
NCAA D1
- Olympic Development Program (ODP) Experience
- All-American
- All-State
- All-League/District
- 3-4 year varsity starter
- Extensive club team experience
NCAA D2
- Olympic Development (ODP) Experience
- All-State
- All-League/District
- 2-3 years varsity starter
- Team MVP
- Extensive club team experience
NCAA D3/NAIA
- Extensive club team experience
- 2 years varsity starter
- Club Experience:
How Many Soccer Scholarships are Available and What Schools Offer Them?
Scholarships are only awarded to the best players. Getting a scholarship is a matter of being honest in your abilities and your contribution to the team.
Number of Scholarships Offered per Team, per Year, by Division
Competition for scholarship money is extremely competitive. If getting a scholarship is the most important thing maybe looking at the NAIA level would be better than the NCAA DII level.Remember, soccer 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.
Men’s Soccer
NCAA D1: 9.9
NCAA D2: 9
NAIA: 12
NJCAA: 18
Women’s Soccer
NCAA D1: 14
NCAA D2: 9.9
NAIA: 12
NJCAA: 18
Number of College Soccer Programs
Men’s Soccer
NCAA D1: 204
NCAA D2: 172
*NCAA D3: 394
NAIA: 216
NJCAA: 291
Total: 1,277
Women’s Soccer
NCAA D1: 314
NCAA D2: 223
*NCAA D3: 409
NAIA: 221
NJCAA: 276
Total: 1,443
*NCAA Division 3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but do offer other forms of financial aid.
The Top College Programs in Each Division
The top programs on any given year can change but these are some of the best programs over the past few years.
Men’s Soccer
NCAA D1:Louisville, Akron, Maryland, North Carolina, Butler, California, SMU, UCLA, Connecticut, Princeton, Monmouth, William & Mary, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Notre Dame, Charlotte, Creighton, South Carolina, Michigan, Virginia, Brown, Providence
NCAA D2:Franklin Pierce, Midwestern State, Colorado Mines, Northern Kentucky, Rollins, Charlestown, Grand Canyon, Truman, Montevallo, Dowling, Regis, Ashland, Flagler, West Virginia Wesleyan, Tampa
NCAA D3:Trinity, Ohio Wesleyan, Messiah, Christopher Newport, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Bowdoin, St. Lawrence, Washington-St. Louise, Swarthmore, Dominican, DePauw, Emory, Stevens, Middlebury, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Texas-Tyler, Calvin, York
NAIA:University of Rio Grande, Notre Dame College (Ohio), Hastings College, Simon Fraser University, Lindsey Wilson College, University of Maine at Fort Kent, University of Mobile, Kansas Wesleyan University, Bryan College, Belhaven University, Vanguard University
Women’s Soccer
NCAA D1: Stanford, Portland, North Carolina, Maryland, Florida, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Virginia, Texas A&M, UNC Greensboro, Florida State, Marquette, Illinois, West Virginia, Oregon State, UC Irvine, Ohio State
NCAA D2: St. Rose, Central Missouri, Fort Lewis, West Chester, Grand Valley State, West Florida, Columbus State, St. Edward’s, Seattle Pacific, California (Pennsylvania), Armstrong Atlantic, UC San Diego, CW Post, Tampa
NCAA D3: Messiah, Hardin-Simmons, Otterbein, Loras, Wheaton, Trinity, Emory, Illinois Western, Williams, William Smith, TCNJ, Johns Hopkins, Oneonta State, Eastern Connecticut State
NAIA: Concordia University, Lee University, Azusa Pacific University, Martin Methodist College, Indiana Wesleyan University, The Master’s College, Graceland University, Lindsey Wilson College, Robert Morris University, California Baptist University, University of Mobile, Oklahoma City University
IMPORTANT: NAIA Rule Changes. You must now register with the NAIA Clearinghouse.
Attending a college soccer summer camp could be the best recruiting move you ever make.
Author: David Frank
