Securing Your Future: A Comprehensive Guide to Women's Soccer Scholarships

Soccer is a globally cherished sport, and the dream of playing college soccer while earning a degree is a reality for many student-athletes. Women's soccer scholarships offer a pathway to higher education, but understanding the landscape and requirements is essential. This article provides a comprehensive overview of women's soccer scholarships, covering everything from eligibility and recruitment to financial aid and ways to enhance your chances of securing funding.

Understanding Soccer Scholarships

Like any athletic scholarship, securing a soccer scholarship is an extremely competitive game, especially for high school students. However, it's not impossible to secure a solid soccer scholarship for your college education. It's crucial to grasp the fundamentals of these scholarships and the associated processes.

Types of Scholarships

There are typically two main types of soccer scholarships:

Full Scholarships: These cover tuition, room, board, and fees, providing comprehensive financial support.
Partial Scholarships: These cover only a portion of the overall costs, requiring students to find additional funding sources.

The Recruitment Process

Coaches actively scout athletic talent through high school games and championships. Student-athletes can also proactively send highlight reels and athletic resumes to coaches of their preferred soccer teams.

Eligibility Requirements

Athletes must meet specific academic eligibility requirements, which may include GPA minimums and standardized test scores like the ACT or SAT.

Scholarship Renewal and Conditions

Scholarships are often renewed annually, contingent upon academic performance and adherence to team rules. Coaches can adjust scholarship amounts based on performance, injuries, or other factors. It's essential to consult with your soccer coach for specific details.

Financial Aid Application

Athletes can apply for additional financial aid through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to help cover costs not fully included in their scholarship.

Staying proactive, maintaining good grades, and staying informed about all scholarship requirements are key if you’re considering pursuing a soccer scholarship.

Navigating the College Soccer Landscape

Women’s soccer scholarships are available across various levels, including NCAA Division 1 and Division 2, NAIA schools, and junior colleges (JUCO). Each division offers different opportunities and levels of competition.

NCAA Division 1

NCAA Division 1 soccer programs are highly competitive and often offer the largest athletic scholarships. These scholarships can be full or partial rides, covering tuition, room, board, and other expenses. Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, the NCAA eliminated most D1 scholarship limits, enabling all sports to distribute scholarships more flexibly among athletes. This change is expected to significantly impact college recruiting. As part of the House v. NCAA proposed settlement, scholarship limits for Division I sports will be eliminated and roster limits will apply instead. Beginning in the 2025-26 season, NCAA I Soccer teams would have a roster limit of 28 players, all of whom would be eligible for full scholarships. Additionally, under the proposed settlement NCAA I schools will be allowed to share athletic revenues with their varsity athletes up to an initial cap of $ 20.5 million per year. Football and Men’s basketball account for over 90% of team specific revenues at most Power Conference schools, and athletes on these two teams will be the major beneficiaries under the revenue sharing model.

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The average scholarship amount for a women’s soccer player in NCAA Division 1 is approximately $12,742 per year, according to Worldmetrics. However, it’s important to remember that coaches are not obligated to award full scholarships and can distribute available funding as they see fit.

The odds of playing NCAA I soccer are much tougher for US male players (108:1) than female players (41:1) for three primary reasons: There are almost 40% fewer Men’s D1 soccer teams (212) than Women’s teams (348), there are 16% more US high school male soccer players competing for college roster spots than female players, and there is a significantly higher percentage of foreign student athletes playing Division I soccer on men’s teams (37%) than on Women’s teams (11%). These are the odds of a random US high school soccer player making a college roster. Actual odds are likely better for most athletes motivated to play in college due to several factors: High school participation includes multi-sport athletes who typically play only one sport in college, many high school athletes do not intend to compete at the college level, and unfortunately, a significant portion of high school students - including athletes - do not go on to college.

NCAA Division 2

DII colleges have talented teams with high-level soccer. In fact, at many top-tier DII soccer colleges, it’s common to see DI-level athletes. NCAA D2 schools also offer athletic scholarships, but they are more commonly partial rather than full rides. There are 9.9 scholarships available to women’s soccer players at the D2 level. D2 schools can offer full-ride soccer scholarships. However, because women’s soccer is deemed an equivalency sport by the NCAA, schools are not required to give out full rides.

NCAA Division 3

There are 441 DIII soccer colleges. Unlike D1 and D2, NCAA Division 3 does not offer athletic scholarships. Instead, schools in this division focus on academic and need-based financial aid. However, academic-related grants can be used in lieu of athletic scholarships.

NAIA

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) can give student-athletes a more well-rounded college experience than even DIII schools. There are 188 NAIA schools that offer women’s soccer. NAIA schools are typically smaller than NCAA institutions, but they can be just as competitive, especially at the top level. NAIA is known for its openness to international players, providing a smoother pathway for student-athletes from abroad. The amount of scholarship money athletes can receive will depend on the school, coach, talent level and position. NAIA schools also have other financial aid opportunities outside of athletic scholarships.

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Junior Colleges (JUCO)

Junior Colleges (JUCO), governed by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), offer a unique pathway for student-athletes looking to develop their skills, improve academics, or gain more exposure before transferring to a four-year school. One of the greatest benefits of playing at the JUCO level is the opportunity to transfer to a four-year NCAA or NAIA program. JUCO is the most cost-effective option with easier pathways to transfer to NCAA or NAIA.

Equivalency Sports

Soccer is considered an equivalency sport by the NCAA. This means that coaches are given a lump sum of scholarship money and can divide it among their players as they see fit. Schools aren’t required to provide the maximum scholarships allowed by the NCAA. The number of scholarships available depends on various factors, such as whether the program is fully or partially funded.

The College Soccer Recruiting Process

Soccer recruitment can begin as early as middle school, but it is certainly not too late to start later. A survey conducted by NCSA found that 74% of college coaches for men's soccer reported evaluating talent in 10th grade, and 22% reported evaluating talent in 11th grade.

If you have strong soccer skills and are confident that you can play in college-level soccer programs, you should begin reaching out to college coaches early on. Conduct research on what kind of college team you want to play soccer for to help you find the right schools. From there, you can begin reaching out to college coaches. Introduce yourself and invite them to come to watch you play. College coaches usually prefer to evaluate players in person, so they may even be in attendance at important national high school games and high-level tournaments.

You should also put effort into creating a recruiting video to send out to soccer team recruiters. The video should primarily be game footage to show college coaches your skills. Talk to your coach from your competitive or high school team to ask them for tips and advice about being recruited. Your profile should showcase your stats and skills to show college coaches that you are the best candidate to play soccer on their college team.

The NCAA dictates when and how college coaches can contact recruits. For NCAA DI and DII coaches, contact is off-limits until June 15 after the recruit’s sophomore year in high school. On August 1 before junior year, NCAA soccer recruiting rules permit student-athletes and their families to make an “official visit.” This means that recruiting efforts really ramp up during junior year. Coaches can send non-recruiting material, like brochures or camp information, at any time. In creating these rules, the NCAA was trying to make sure elite recruits didn’t get overwhelmed by contact from coaches. However, coaches begin building their potential list of recruits far earlier.

Benchmarks for College Soccer

With so many women’s college soccer programs out there, athletic requirements to play on each team vary wildly. Use the following guidelines as general benchmarks as you start to think about how your soccer skills match up against what college coaches will be looking for.

Goalkeeper: Taller than average. Can out-jump opposing forwards. Catches everything when able to get two hands on the ball. Is able to consistently catch crosses. Punts and dropkicks travel past midfield. Can throw balls up to 35-45 yards.
Outside Back: Fast. Great first touch. Looks to get involved in the attack and dribble up the wing. Defends well one-on-one. Clearly looks to force the ball one way or the other.
Center Back: Fast. Great first touch. Ability to consistently win headers. Vocal communicator to defenders and midfielders. Controls the backline in regards to pushing up and dropping back.
Center Midfielder: Makes smart passes. Very comfortable with the ball. Connects a large majority of passes. Has vision to see and make passes that others can’t. Completely comfortable using both feet. Can take deep shots.
Outside Midfielder: Fast. Good endurance. Good one-on-one. Ability to get up and down the field (attack and defend). Ability to get in behind the backline.
Forward: One-on-one ability. More than just fast (has multiple moves to beat defenders). Good shot placement and selection (knows when and where to put the ball). Can use both feet equally. Ability to receive the ball with back to goal and then turn to attack goal.

Funding Options for Soccer Players

Due to the high cost of a college education, part of this preparation involves getting financial aid. A soccer scholarship could be extremely helpful to a student-athlete in need, but securing one is a much different process than getting on the team.

Financial Need

While there is no way to guarantee that you get a college soccer scholarship, demonstrating financial need can definitely increase your chances. Consider talking honestly about your financial needs with your college coach. If they are aware of your financial situation, they may be more inclined to offer you a soccer scholarship.

Academics

As discussed, athletes must meet academic eligibility requirements. This can include, but is not limited to, GPA and standardized (ACT, SAT) test scores. Be sure to review all scholarship requirements before applying to ensure you qualify for aid.

Commitment

Once offered a scholarship, athletes typically need to sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI), solidifying their commitment to play for that school for a certain period. So, before you sign your time away, make sure you are 100% aligned with the school and school team of your choice.

Additional Resources

Several resources can help student-athletes find funding for their college education:

Bold.org: This platform offers a wide range of scholarships based on various criteria, including interests like soccer. New scholarships are added daily, increasing the chances of finding a suitable fund.
NCAA: The National Collegiate Athletic Association provides financial aid to student-athletes.
NAIA: The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes is another source of funding for student-athletes.
High School Coaches and Advisors: Don't hesitate to reach out to your high school soccer coach, advisors, or even college soccer coaches for guidance and information on scholarship opportunities.

Ways to Increase Your Chances

Securing a soccer scholarship requires dedication and a strategic approach. Here are several ways to increase your chances:

Focus on Soccer: Being one of the best players on the team can greatly improve your chances of receiving a soccer scholarship. Working hard during practice and taking the initiative to show your leadership skills can be a great way to show your coach that playing soccer is a priority of yours and that you deserve a soccer scholarship.
Academics: Receiving good grades is also a good way to increase your chances of getting a soccer scholarship. College soccer coaches want to give soccer scholarships to players who will make the most of them, so demonstrating that you care about your academics is a good way to show this.
Negotiation: If you are unsatisfied with your soccer scholarship, you can always speak to your coach or financial aid office about changing it. You can also increase the scholarship money you receive by becoming a more valuable player on the team. Be sure to put in your best effort at practice and during games to demonstrate your skills.
Develop Your Skills: Having fantastic technical ability is crucial, but there are other ways to get the attention of a coach. How do you respond to adversity? How do you manage stress or pressure?
Get Your Name Out There: Getting recruited also takes name recognition. In almost all instances, you need to let coaches know you’re interested in getting into their soccer programs. Don’t waste time pursuing programs that aren’t a good match. Think like an influencer, i.e., you need a platform to get noticed. You can’t sit around and wait to be discovered.
Attend Tournaments: Tournaments are an opportunity to test your skills against top talent and compete in front of college coaches.
Consider Lower-Division Programs: If you’re an upperclassman who isn’t being actively recruited, rework your target list. Consider new opportunities, including lower-division programs where you might be more competitive.
Make Visits: You may have talent and self-discipline, but unless you get your name out there in a consistent and respectful way, you may also fly under your preferred program’s radar. Show those coaches and scouts how much you want to compete for them in their soccer program.
Create a Highlight Video: The key to securing a college soccer scholarship is preparation. This includes building a strong highlight video, networking with coaches, and attending showcases.

Understanding Scholarship Amounts and Odds

The value of a soccer scholarship can vary greatly, so there is no specific number. However, on average, a women's soccer team will have enough collegiate NCAA funding for roughly 14 full soccer scholarships, and a men's soccer team will have enough for roughly 9. This does not mean that a women's soccer team will receive exactly 14 full scholarships and a men's soccer team will receive exactly 9 scholarships; but the total funds awarded to the teams are equivalent to this amount.

Outside of university and NCAA-funded scholarships, the scholarship money available to student-athletes who play soccer can range from hundreds to thousands.

The percentage of soccer players who actually get a soccer scholarship is incredibly low. Only about 2% of high school students receive some form of an athletic scholarship, and the percentage of those who get a soccer scholarship is even lower.

Key Takeaways

Scholarship Limits: Starting in the 2025-26 school year, a new NCAA rule will lift the scholarship limits for D1 women’s soccer. However, teams will need to keep their roster to 28 players.
Equivalency Sport: Because women’s soccer is deemed an equivalency sport by the NCAA, schools are not required to give out full rides.
D3 Schools: Student-athletes interested in competing at a D3 school shouldn’t let the lack of soccer scholarships deter them. Student-athletes engaged in extracurricular activities and community service might qualify for merit-based scholarships.
Multiple Funding Options: Soccer scholarships are just one of many options for funding college.

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