Top Colleges for Cheerleading: A Comprehensive Guide
Cheerleading in college offers an incredible blend of athleticism, school spirit, and competitive drive. For those passionate about cheer, selecting the right college program is a crucial decision. This guide explores top colleges known for their outstanding cheerleading squads, considering factors beyond just winning titles.
The Varsity Spirit Championship
Each year, the UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship showcases the pinnacle of collegiate cheer and dance talent. In 2026, the University of Memphis, University of Alabama, and University of South Florida cheerleading teams, alongside The Ohio State University, University of Minnesota and University of Nevada - Las Vegas dance teams, secured first-place finishes. This prestigious event, held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, draws teams from across the United States and even five other countries.
Cheerleading teams are evaluated on their stunting and tumbling skills, crowd-leading ability, and overall performance. The dance competition focuses on choreography, technique, execution, and overall effect. A unique aspect of the championship is the College Game Day Live division, where entire spirit programs, including cheer squads, dance teams, and bands, recreate their sideline performances and traditions. The event's popularity continues to surge, with both live attendance and Varsity TV viewership increasing by 10 percent compared to the previous year.
Varsity Spirit, a division of Varsity Brands, plays a pivotal role in cheerleading's evolution into a high-energy, athletic activity. As the leading global source for all things spirit, including cheerleading, dance team, performing arts, and yearbook, Varsity Spirit impacts over a million athletes annually through uniform innovation, educational camps, clinics, and competitions. Since 1974, Varsity Spirit has remained dedicated to celebrating spirit through its various brands.
Evaluating Cheerleading Programs
When assessing college cheerleading programs, several factors come into play:
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- Scholarships: The availability and amount of financial aid offered can significantly influence a student's decision. Schools offering full rides or substantial scholarships demonstrate a commitment to their cheerleading program.
- Game Day Atmosphere: The excitement and energy of cheering at college games, especially football and basketball, are integral to the experience. Schools with strong athletic programs and enthusiastic fan bases provide unforgettable opportunities.
- Competitiveness: A team's history of success, including national titles and consistent top finishes, reflects the program's quality and dedication to excellence.
Top Cheerleading Colleges
Here’s a look at some of the top colleges for cheerleading, considering the factors mentioned above:
- University of Kentucky: The University of Kentucky is renowned as the 20-time UCA National Champions. Game day in Kentucky, whether for football or basketball, is a spectacle. Kentucky fans create an electric atmosphere. This makes UK not only one of the most competitive places to cheer but also one of the most fun.
- University of Alabama: Alabama offers access to some of the best athletic facilities in the country. It also has one of the best cheerleading teams in the nation. Cheerleaders get to cheer for the 15-time national championship football team.
- University of Central Florida (UCF): UCF is a perennial powerhouse in college cheerleading. They consistently rank among the top three in Division 1A Coed cheer. They offer scholarships to up to 16 of its cheerleading squad members.
- University of Louisville (U of L): U of L boasts the winningest program in NCA National titles. Each team, all girl, coed, and small coed, has won the national competition multiple times.
- Oklahoma State University: Oklahoma State University is ranked almost every year not only in cheerleading, but also in football and basketball. This makes it a great place to cheer.
- University of Texas (UT): Cheering in front of 103 thousand fans at every home football game says game day atmosphere.
- University of Mississippi (Ole Miss): Ole Miss not only has a great cheerleading program but also one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. They also have great athletic programs to cheer for.
- Louisiana State University (LSU): LSU cheerleaders lead the crowds at one of the nation’s best college football venues, Tiger Stadium. They are no strangers to being on College Gameday on Saturdays and cheering huge games.
- University of Memphis: The University of Memphis consistently has a strong cheerleading program. They offer 12 full rides for the coed team and up to $1,000 per semester for qualifying all girl team members. Which is some of the most amount of scholarships offered out of anyone on this list.
- Ohio State University: The Buckeye cheerleaders had the best seats in the house for their football teams national championship. They then represented themselves well at their own nationals just a few weeks later.
- University of Kansas: The University of Kansas has become a top competitor at UCA College Nationals. They finished fourth in the most recent competition.
- Morehead State University: If you want to be on one of the best cheerleading squads year in and year out, head on down to Morehead, Kentucky. Both their all girl and coed programs have 10 titles or more EACH.
- Indiana University (IU): IU’s athletic department is known for their strong basketball history. The all girl cheerleaders at Indiana have made a name for themselves in the last few years after a 3-peat in the All Girl Division 1A category at UCA College Nationals.
- Western Kentucky University (WKU): WKU was one of only two universities at the 2015 UCA College National Championship to have two top ten finishes for Division 1A All Girl (8th place) and Coed (5th place). Though it is a smaller school in a smaller conference, the Hilltopper’s consistently have good athletic programs and make many postseason appearances at tournaments and bowl games.
- University of Oklahoma: The University of Oklahoma has a storied athletic program with great teams for the cheerleaders to cheer for year round. They also have a strong cheerleading program composed of an all girl and coed team.
- Washington State University: While Washington State is and up and coming team in the competition world, they have made finals and put on great performances at UCA Nationals the last two years. They made this list mainly because of the awesome college atmosphere in Pullman, Washington.
- University of Oregon: Though Oregon does not compete, how cool would it be to cheer for the Ducks? Oregon is notoriously known for their sponsorship by Nike and all of the apparel they receive, so imagine the cool gear you would get being on the cheer squad. They also offer small scholarships for their cheerleaders.
- Trinity Valley Community College: This two year school in Texas has one of the best cheerleading squads in the nation. Not only have they won the Junior College division at NCA College Nationals the last six years, but they have also been grand champions for the last three years.
- Mississippi State University: The Bulldogs of Mississippi State have it pretty nicely. They cheer for athletics that are strong year after year in one of the biggest athletic conferences (Southeastern Conference). They also represent their university in both the all girl and coed divisions at UCA College Nationals.
- University of Minnesota: The Minnesota Gophers have one of the largest spirit programs in the country. They field an all girl and coed team that competes, and a small coed team.
- Florida State University (FSU): FSU fields both a coed and all girl cheerleading squad that competes at UCA Nationals.
- Hofstra University: Hofstra University is home to the 9-time UCA College National Champions in the Small Coed Division I division. You could say they are the Kentucky of UCA Small Coed.
- Penn State University: Penn State is a cheerleading program on the rise with a great college and game day atmosphere to go with it.
- University of West Georgia: The D II dynasty - West Georgia has won 18 titles since 2002. Their coed squad has won 11 of those in Division II Coed at UCA Nationals, the most recent coming this year.
- Sam Houston State University: Sam Houston is a solid destination to be a college cheerleader for both all girl and coed athletes. They offer up to $2,000 scholarships for their athletes and are a competitive program at NCA Nationals.
- Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech is probably the strongest school academically on this list. They are unique in terms of college cheerleading because they compete twice, not just once, a year.
- University of Delaware (UD): The back to back Division I UCA National Champions come from UD. They also have an all girl cheerleading squad.
- North Carolina State University (NC State): NC State is a program that is strengthening every year. They field division IA large and small coed teams that compete at NCA College Nationals as well as cheer for one of the nation’s top basketball programs.
- Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA): SFA has a small and large coed cheerleading squad that competes at NCA Nationals and is known as being one of the most close knit cheerleading programs out there.
- Washburn University (WU): Another strong D II competitor and the 2015 Small Coed D II UCA National Champs come from WU.
- Columbus State University (CSU): CSU has won 11 Division II titles since 2002 in the large and small coed divisions.
- Austin Peay State University (APSU): APSU has had a consistently strong cheerleading program for years and has, in recent years, become a strong large coed division II competitor at NCA Nationals. Lead by two former University of Kentucky cheerleaders, Austin Peay has great leadership and is moving in the right direction.
- Davenport University: The all girl squad from Davenport University could easily compete with the big dogs from Division I. They are the only D III on this list, but they are as deserving as any.
- Central Michigan University (CMU): CMU was one of the few teams at UCA College nationals to have an all girl and coed IA team to make finals.
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