Most athletes get scholarships completely wrong. At Statebound, we’ve spoken to countless athletes who are excited by the opportunity but confused by the details. Let’s break this down…
Scholarships are essentially a discount for your degree. U.S. colleges can be expensive, and scholarships are the main way that international students are able to attend. They come in two main forms:
This varies between programs, but a full scholarship typically covers:
Partial scholarships (which are more common) will cover a percentage of these costs.
Put simply, no. Scholarships are highly competitive, and less than 1% of students who get a scholarship will get a full ride.
Coaches have a limit on the total amount of scholarship they can award for their team, so it’s more common for them to allocate scholarships more evenly across their recruits.
Thankfully, yes! Over 1.5 million college scholarships are awarded each year in the U.S. - but that doesn’t mean they're not competitive. Everyone wants to receive a cut-price degree, so it’s important to have a strong application if you want to secure a good offer.
Total costs vary greatly between students on partial scholarships. Some pay as little as £1,000-2,000, while others are £10,000+. This is why establishing a clear budget is super important. If you communicate your budget clearly with your agency, they will actively search for offers to accommodate your budget. There are over 1.1 million international students in the U.S, most of which will be on partial scholarship.
Yes - or at least most of the time. While you are not allowed to work in the USA on a student visa, you can work on campus, which will reduce the cost of your tuition. Essentially, instead of paying you a salary, your school will reduce your tuition or housing costs based on the amount of hours you work. Many international students are able to save thousands each year this way.
Internships are another option for international students. Through an official CPT, you can gain work-experience and a wage whilst you’re a student athlete. You can also take on summer or seasonal work in your home country whilst attending university. Many of our athletes are able to earn between £3,000-£5,000 each year, which really helps towards their cost of tuition.
Your coach decides on the athletic offer. After reviewing your player profile and highlight video, your coach will make a scholarship offer based on their current budget and your ability. The college decides how much your academic offer will be, which is usually automated based on your previous grades. If the college can “stack” scholarships, you can receive both of these.
Typically, yes - but there are exceptions. International students must pay their tuition costs up-front in the USA. However, many countries offer some form of student loan or financial aid for students studying abroad. Here's what it could look like for you:
Costs look different for every student, so it's important to note that not all students will be accepted onto these schemes. Consult your agent for support regarding your eligibility.
You’ll have a clear breakdown of the fees before you go to America, so there won’t be any huge surprises. Your coach will make an offer to your agent when they are seriously interested in you as a player. This can take weeks or months from your initial applications.
Scholarships are typically awarded for one academic year at a time. As long as you continue to meet the university’s academic standards and/or athletic expectations, they are usually renewed each year. Some universities offer guaranteed scholarships for all four years of your degree, while others assess your performance annually and may adjust the amount based on academic or sporting results.
Yes - this is called “stacking”. Here’s an example of how it works:
20% academic scholarships + 40% athletic scholarship = 60% total scholarship
Agencies provide you the exposure and representation to help secure you a scholarship. Whilst it is possible to apply on your own, coaches tend to rely on established agencies for their recruitment. This is because agencies also help coaches save time and resources. We understand the European game much better than U.S. coaches, so we can help evaluate talent during the screening process.
Scholarships can be seriously life changing - trust us, we’ve done it. The process can be complicated at times, but hundreds of thousands of international students make the leap each year. Will you be next?
