Who gives out athletic scholarships?
Are full ride scholarships for all 4 years? No, athletic scholarships are typically one-year agreements between the college and the athlete, although some are multi-year. They are offered at the NCAA DI and DII levels, as well as at the NAIA and NJCAA levels—combined, that’s thousands of schools.
| Athletic Association | Number of Schools | Number of Athletes | Maximum Number of Scholarships |
| NCAA Division I | 348 | 139,063 | 74,243 |
| NCAA Division II | 292 | 85,385 | 36,343 |
| NCAA Division III | 418 | 144,062 | 0 |
| NAIA | 260 | 56,354 | 25,778 |
| NJCAA | 464 | 53,248 | 41,195 |
| Other | 276 | 39,737 | N/A |
| Total | 2,058 | 517,849 | 177,559 |
Do you have to get a scholarship to compete in college sports?
Typically, there are more spots available on a team than coaches have scholarships to offer. So, not getting a scholarship doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Student-athletes can walk onto a team, which means trying out without receiving a scholarship. Sometimes, athletes are asked to walk on, in which case they are called “preferred walk-ons.” You may also walk on to a team without a scholarship one year and be given a scholarship the next year, depending on your perceived value.