If you're looking for a sports scholarship in the United States, one of the first obstacles is understanding that "going to college in the U.S." isn't a single path, but several different systems, each with its own rules, level of competition and — most importantly for families — different scholarship percentages.
Here we explain the four associations we work with, division by division.
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)
It is the largest and most competitive association, divided into three levels:
- Division I: the highest level. In 2025, following the legal agreement known as the "House Settlement," the NCAA removed per-sport scholarship limits in Division I and replaced them with roster limits. This means that, at schools that opted into the new system, a team can offer scholarships to all of its players within the allowed roster size — for example, soccer can now have up to 28 scholarships per team (the effective limit used to be around 9-14), and baseball went from a limit of 11.7 to a 34-player roster with scholarship eligibility. In practice, this opened hundreds of new full and partial athletic scholarships nationwide.
- Division II: also offers athletic scholarships, usually partial (split among several players on the team), combined with academic aid.
- Division III: does not offer athletic scholarships — but it does offer academic and need-based aid, which often covers a significant portion of the total cost.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
It brings together nearly 300 universities, generally smaller than those in the NCAA. More than 90% of its programs offer some type of athletic scholarship, either full or partial, and they tend to have more flexible admission and eligibility processes than the NCAA — a great option for international athletes.
NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association)
These are two-year community colleges, organized into three divisions:
- Division I and II: can offer athletic scholarships, including full scholarships that cover tuition, fees, housing, meals and books.
- Division III: does not offer athletic scholarships, but does offer academic aid.
The NJCAA is an excellent entry point: two years of competition and study, with the option to later transfer to a four-year university (NCAA or NAIA) with a scholarship.
USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association)
It brings together smaller institutions that combine athletic and academic scholarships, with much more personalized attention for the athlete.
General requirements for international athletes
Regardless of the association, almost all programs require:
- Academic eligibility: meeting a minimum GPA and, for the NCAA, getting certified through the NCAA Eligibility Center.
- English proficiency test: TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test, depending on each institution.
- Amateur status: not having been paid to play professionally.
- Athletic profile: a highlight video, stats and references that the coach can evaluate.
- F-1 student visa and the I-20 form, once admitted.
See how our process and services work, or get in touch for your free evaluation.
