Studying Through Athletics: Athletic Scholarships in the U.S.

• The ability to study while competing at a professional level
• Scholarships for athletes who represent their university in official competitions
• Athletes from many sports—basketball, volleyball, soccer, track and field, taekwondo, and others—can study with full funding
• All academic programs are taught in English
• Complete freedom to choose any academic major—athletes are not restricted to sports-related fields

• Active athletes who want to combine academics and competitive sports
• Students interested in careers in sports science, management, coaching, or rehabilitation
• Students who are not competitive athletes but want to study sports sciences (tuition discounts may be available)

Student-athletes are free to pursue any academic program offered at their university. They can study business, engineering, art, psychology, or any other field—regardless of the sport they play.

Colleges often award higher financial aid to athletes because they represent the university in official competitions. Athletics significantly contributes to school visibility, reputation, and campus community spirit.

Students from our region most commonly receive scholarships in: basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, swimming, rowing, skiing, track and field, water polo, wrestling, archery, shooting, and others.

What Is NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness)?

NIL refers to a student-athlete’s right to profit from their name, image, and likeness—essentially, their personal brand. It is rooted in the broader “right of publicity,” which grants individuals control over the commercial use of their identity.

For example: if a company uses an athlete’s photo to promote a product without permission, the athlete’s right of publicity has been violated.

In July 2021, new federal and state regulations allowed college athletes to earn money through endorsements, sponsorships, social media, and other business activities—marking a major shift from previous NCAA rules that prohibited such opportunities.

NIL empowers athletes to control their brand and earn income while maintaining their college eligibility.

NCAA NIL Rules

The NCAA’s interim policy (from June 2021) includes four main principles:

• Athletes may engage in NIL activities as long as they follow the laws of the state where their school is located.
• Athletes in states without NIL laws may still engage in NIL activities without violating NCAA rules.
• Athletes may hire professional service providers to support their NIL activities.
• Athletes must report their NIL activities to their school in accordance with state law or institutional/conference requirements.

Examples of NIL Activities

Student-athletes may be compensated for:

• Autographs and memorabilia
• Camps and clinics
• Personal appearances
• Merchandise
• Ambassador or affiliate roles
• NFTs
• Blogging
• Podcasts
• Public speaking
• Music, art, and other creative work

Unlike standard admissions, athletes do not simply choose a university—they enter a recruitment system where coaches play the key role. A coach decides whether to offer an athletic scholarship based on several factors:

• Whether the team has an open roster spot
• Whether the athlete is needed at a specific position
• Whether the athlete fits the coach’s system and philosophy
• The coach’s available scholarship budget

In other words—even if you are an excellent athlete, the scholarship depends on the team’s real needs and the university’s resources at that time.

In addition to athletic ability, candidates must meet academic requirements:

• Strong high school grades
• English proficiency (Duolingo, TOEFL, or IELTS)
• Registration with the Eligibility Center, which verifies academic and athletic eligibility for NCAA, NAIA, and other associations

Without completing these steps, students cannot be cleared to compete in collegiate athletics.

The ideal time to begin is the start of the final year of high school, and in some cases even earlier.

Timing is crucial—the earlier you begin, the better your chances of receiving quality offers and gaining access to a wider selection of universities.

Undergraduate Studies in the United States

There are two main pathways to earning an undergraduate degree in the U.S.:

Two-Year Programs (Junior/Community Colleges)
→ Lead to an Associate Degree
→ Offer the option to enter the job market or transfer to a four-year university to complete a Bachelor’s degree

Four-Year Programs (Universities and Colleges)
→ Direct admission to a four-year institution
→ Lead to a Bachelor’s degree

Important Note on Professional Programs:

Medicine, dentistry, and law are not studied at the undergraduate level in the U.S.
Instead, students first complete a bachelor’s degree—often in pre-med, pre-dent, pre-law, or any other major of their choice—and then apply to professional graduate programs.

Language of Instruction: English

Academic Requirements: All students, including athletes, must meet academic admission standards.

Athlete Academic Choice: Student-athletes may freely choose their major; they are not required to study sports-related fields.

Because athletic recruiting is highly specific and competitive, the application timeline can be unpredictable—starting early is crucial.

Graduate Studies (Master’s Degrees) in the United States

Duration: 1–2 years, depending on the program

Entry Requirements: A completed bachelor’s degree + meeting academic criteria

Master’s programs are ideal for students who want:

• Strong professional development and networking
• Access to the U.S. job market
• Collaboration with peers who already have industry experience
• Support for entrepreneurial ideas and practical projects

Some (especially two-year) programs require relevant work experience.

Students who previously studied in the U.S. may also apply for:

Graduate Assistantships (GA):
→ Can offer a full scholarship
→ Roles include assistant coach, administrative assistant, professor’s assistant, etc.

Academic scholarships or financial aid, depending on university policy.

Athletic scholarships, if the student still has remaining eligibility.

Athletics scholarships are designed exclusively for student-athletes competing in sports offered at U.S. universities.

Key points:

• Athletes have complete freedom in choosing an academic major
• Common sports include basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, swimming, rowing, skiing, track & field, archery, shooting, water polo, wrestling, and many others

Scholarship types:

• Full scholarships: Cover tuition, housing, and meals
• Partial scholarships: Cover a portion of total costs

Scholarship value depends on:

• The sport and level of competition
• The coach’s budget and team needs
• Available roster spots
• The student’s grades and academic performance

Competition is strong—especially in popular sports—so starting the recruiting process early is essential.

If a student-athlete wants to begin the search for universities abroad, several key steps must be completed so that we can properly present their profile to universities and coaches.

Step 1: Collecting and Preparing Documentation

• Proof of athletic achievements: official results + video highlights
• Athlete’s CV
• Motivation letter
• Recommendation letters (typically from English and Math teachers, plus homeroom teacher or principal)
• English proficiency test: TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, or Cambridge
• High school transcripts for each completed year
• Certified English translations of transcripts
• High school diploma
• Copy of passport identification page

Once the documents are collected, our team contacts universities and coaches to check whether there is an open roster spot and whether the athlete’s profile matches the coach’s needs.

If there is interest from the university, the next steps are:

• Completing and submitting the university application
• Administrative processing of all documents
• Preparing and submitting the student visa application
• Coordinating all additional formalities related to enrollment and departure

Our role is to represent the athlete in the best possible way and guide them through the entire process—from the first outreach to universities, through applications, all the way to arrival on campus.