Achieve Your Dreams on and off the Field
Soccer / Football Scholarships
While football (soccer) scholarships for men are highly competitive in the U.S., talented female players can earn scholarships through NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 programs. The popularity of women’s football has surged across American universities, leading to improved coaching, state-of-the-art facilities, and tougher competition. More national-level players from around the world are opting to attend American universities, striking a balance between elite football and higher education. Major programs like Stanford, UCLA, and University of North Carolina are actively recruiting internationally, with a growing number of international athletes now playing in U.S. college football programs—a trend that continues to rise year after year.
Key Facts About College Football and Scholarships
Number of NCAA Division 1 Teams: 78
Scholarship Limits per Team:
Division 1: 12 scholarships
​Total College Field Hockey Teams (All Divisions): 275
Total College Field Hockey Players: Approximately 6,000
Number of NCAA Division 2 Teams: 31
Scholarship Limits per Team:
Division 2: 6.3 scholarships
Eligibility for Football Scholarships
Strong academic performance is crucial for student-athletes aspiring to secure a field hockey scholarship. Without the required GPA or SAT/ACT scores, even top athletic achievements won’t suffice. Scholar Sport Link provides personalized guidance to help you through this process, assessing your academic and athletic profiles to match you with the right university program. For students needing to improve their grades, we also assist in identifying suitable pathways to qualify for NCAA eligibility.
Scholarship Opportunities
High-caliber female players have access to both full and partial scholarships. Women’s field hockey is an “equivalency sport,” allowing coaches to distribute a pool of scholarships (up to 12 full scholarships in Division 1) across multiple players as they see fit. This approach provides flexibility, enabling coaches to offer partial scholarships to a larger number of players, creating more opportunities for female athletes across 109 Division 1 and Division 2 teams.
If you’re passionate about combining field hockey with academics, the U.S. college system could be an ideal setting for both your athletic and educational ambitions. With abundant opportunities and a rapidly growing level of play, college field hockey in the U.S. provides a dynamic pathway to pursue high-level athletics while working toward a world-class education.
