Many student-athletes qualify for financial aid options beyond just athletic scholarships. Understanding these options helps you build a smart list of target schools where you might get the most financial support. Knowing about these opportunities is also important when it comes time to apply, so you can meet all deadlines and have productive conversations with coaches about financial aid possibilities.
Need-Based Aid
Need-based financial aid is awarded based on your family's financial circumstances rather than on the student-athlete’s achievements. Federal aid programs (including Pell Grants and subsidized loans) are available at nearly all accredited institutions, whereas institutional aid varies by school.
Federal Aid
Federal aid is a type of need-based aid available to students who demonstrate financial need in their submitted FAFSA application.
- Federal Grants: Money given by the federal government that you never have to pay back. The Pell Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) are the two most common federal grant programs. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Pell Grant provides up to $7,395 annually, while the FSEOG provides up to $4,000 for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. These amounts are typically adjusted each year for inflation, so check the Federal Student Aid website for the most current figures when you apply.
- Federal Work-Study Program: Part-time employment opportunities to help students earn money for educational expenses while enrolled. Make sure to apply for this early, as funds are limited.
- Direct Subsidized Federal Loans: This specific type of loan may be a smart way to pay for college if you need extra money beyond scholarships and grants, given its favorable terms. With Direct Subsidized Loans, the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest while you’re in school, making them the best choice if you qualify. Remember that all loans must be paid back per the loan repayment terms.
Institutional Aid
Many schools offer need-based institutional aid directly to families facing challenges paying for college. Schools with larger endowments typically provide more generous aid packages.
- Institutional Grants: Need-based funding provided directly by colleges and universities, typically more generous at private institutions with larger endowments. These grants are more common at NCAA DIII schools and Ivy League institutions.
- Tuition Waivers: Reduction or elimination of tuition costs based on financial need, typically offered to students from families with very low income or special circumstances. Common situations include children of veterans or staff, as well as first-generation college students. Most common at state universities and community colleges.
- Other less common types of institutional aid: Emergency aid funds for unexpected financial hardships, work-study positions specific to the institution, book stipends, and special program-based assistance for first-generation or low-income students
Pro Tip: Use the FAFSA4caster to estimate how much aid your family may be eligible to receive based on demonstrated need. It takes just 10 minutes!
Need-Based Aid in Canada
Students attending college in Canada as Canadian citizens or permanent residents may qualify for the types of aid below based on demonstrated financial need.
- Canada Student Grants: Financial aid provided by the federal government that does not need to be repaid.
- Provincial Student Aid: Each province administers its own need-based programs, each with varying eligibility requirements and repayment terms.
- Institutional Bursaries: Awards offered by Canadian universities and colleges based on the family’s financial need.
Merit-Based Aid
Merit-based aid is money for college that you earn through your achievements, not based on financial need. Schools offer several types: athletic aid for sports performance, academic aid for grades and test scores, and other awards for leadership, community service, or special talents. The stronger your accomplishments, the more merit aid you might receive.
Athletic Aid
Athletic aid is awarded to recruited student-athletes based on their athletic abilities and potential contributions to collegiate sports programs. Eligibility and amounts vary by athletic association and sport.
- Athletic Scholarships: Offered by NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA, most community colleges, and smaller athletic associations like NCCAA and USCAA. These scholarships can pay for some or all of your tuition, housing, meals, and textbooks. Note: NCAA Division III and some community colleges (NJCAA Division III) cannot give athletic scholarships, so typically these athletes receive academic scholarships or need-based aid to help fund college expenses.
- Recruitment Incentives: Only offered to the very best athletes in sports like football and basketball at major NCAA Division I and top NAIA schools. Most high school athletes won't qualify for these special financial packages.
Not sure which schools offer athletic aid? Log in to your SportsRecruits account and use the College Preferences tool to see the types of aid offered by each athletic association.
Academic Aid
Academic aid is awarded to students who demonstrate strong academic performance through standardized test scores, GPA, class rank, and other academic metrics.
- Academic Scholarships: Offered based on your GPA, test scores (SAT/ACT), and class rank. These scholarships are available at all types of colleges—including NCAA, NAIA, junior colleges, and smaller athletic associations like NCCAA and USCAA. Division III schools especially highlight these since they can't offer athletic scholarships. The money comes from the institution itself, private 3rd-party organizations, and sometimes non-profit organizations.
- Honors College Awards: Available at most four-year colleges and universities for students accepted into special honors programs. These exist across all four-year athletic divisions and associations (NCAA, NAIA, NCCAA, USCAA), though they're especially highlighted at NCAA Division II and Division III schools where academic programs are often emphasized alongside athletics. Two-year NJCAA schools may offer honors programs with scholarships, but typically don't have formal Honors Colleges.
- Department-Specific Scholarships: Offered by many colleges and universities for excellence in specific academic disciplines like science, business, engineering, or the arts. These are available across all athletic divisions and associations, though Division III schools may highlight these more prominently to prospective student-athletes since they cannot offer athletic scholarships.
Other Recognized Merit-Based Aid
This category includes merit-based aid awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional abilities or achievements in non-athletic and non-academic areas.
- Leadership Scholarships: Offered to students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities in school organizations, community initiatives, and extracurricular activities. Available across all divisions and typically range from $1,000-$5,000 per year.
- Achievement Awards or Scholarships: Offered for excellence in areas such as music, debate, art, theatre, community service, or other specialized areas. Available at institutions with strong programs in these fields and often require portfolio submissions.
Additional Financial Aid Sources
Beyond the forms of aid already covered, student-athletes may consider these additional funding sources:
- Community Foundation Scholarships: Local scholarships awarded to students from your area. These are often easier to win than national competitions and typically range from $500-$5,000. Examples: San Diego Foundation Scholarships, Chicago Community Trust Awards, Cleveland Foundation Scholarships
- Employer-Sponsored Aid: Financial assistance that your parents' employers might offer for college. Many companies provide educational benefits for employees' children. Ask your parents to check with their HR department. Examples: Wells Fargo Family Scholarship, UPS Earn & Learn, Boeing Children's Scholarship
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: These loans are available to all students regardless of financial need. Unlike Subsidized Loans, interest begins accumulating while you're in school. However, they offer lower interest rates, better repayment options, and stronger borrower protections than private loans. See current federal interest rates here.
- Private Loans: Loans from banks or other private lenders should be your last resort. They typically charge significantly higher interest rates than federal loans and offer fewer protections if you face financial hardship after graduation. Examples: Sallie Mae Student Loans, College Ave Loans
How to Maximize Your Financial Aid
1. Consider All Your Options
Families needing financial assistance can find aid at institutions across all athletic associations by understanding their options and application deadlines.
- NCAA Division I & II: Offer athletic scholarships that can cover partial to full tuition, room, board, and books depending on the sport and program.
- NCAA Division III: Cannot offer athletic scholarships directly, but typically provide strong academic scholarships and need-based aid packages.
- NAIA: Often provides athletic scholarships with fewer restrictions than NCAA, sometimes allowing for more flexible financial aid packages.
- NJCAA: Two-year colleges with varying scholarship options — Division I & II offer athletic scholarships (with Division I allowing full scholarships), while Division III cannot offer athletic scholarships but provides academic and need-based aid.
- USCAA & NCCAA: Smaller athletic associations that often provide athletic scholarships with their own unique guidelines.
Remember that most aid types can be "stacked" across all associations, allowing you to combine multiple sources to create the most advantageous financial package. Even at institutions that don't offer athletic scholarships directly, coaches often collaborate with admissions and financial aid offices to help student-athletes access other forms of aid.
2. Have Strategic Conversations with Coaches
When communicating with college coaches, ask specific questions:
- What percent of your athletes receive athletic scholarships? What's the typical amount?
- Which academic scholarships do your athletes typically qualify for?
- For someone with my profile, what would a complete financial package look like?
- Can I get a financial aid pre-read?
3. Get an Early Cost Estimate
It's never too early to get an estimate of how much you and your family may be expected to pay. If you think you might need help paying for college, we recommend taking these 3 steps:
- Use the Student Aid Index to get an idea of how much federal need-based aid your family might qualify for
- Get an estimate of what you'll actually pay at each college: College Cost Calculator
- Research and apply for other scholarships and grants:
- Search Fastweb or Niche for thousands of scholarship options
- Check out BigFuture's Scholarship Search for more opportunities
4. Submit FAFSA as Early as Possible
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines your eligibility for federal grants, loans, work-study programs, and many schools' institutional aid.
- Submit your FAFSA starting October 1st of your senior year
- Many state and college aid programs have limited funds—apply early!
- Don't rule yourself out—many families are surprised to learn they qualify for aid when they submit the FAFSA
- Even high-income families should submit the FAFSA–it’s required for unsubsidized federal loans and some merit scholarships.
Pro Tip: Create an FSA ID for both student and parent 1-3 days ahead of the FAFSA opening on October 1st. Remember to submit your application as close to the opening date as possible as some aid is first-come first-served.