How many swimming scholarships are there?

Division II schools do give athletic scholarships across a wide variety and men’s and women’s sports. However, while it is possible to receive a full-ride, in order to provide more athletes with scholarship money, Division II schools often offer partial scholarships to cover a portion of the college expenses.

While Division III schools do not offer athletics scholarships, 75 percent of Division III student-athletes receive some form of merit or need-based financial aid.

Full ride scholarships are available to athletes at NCAA Division I and Division II schools. With 351 universities in DI and 313 in DII out of a total of 2,081 colleges in all divisions, your choice of four-year colleges becomes even more limited.

NCAA D1 men’s swimming allows a limit of 9.9 scholarships per team. NCAA D1 women’s swimming allows a limit of 14 scholarships per team. NCAA D2 allows a limit of 8.1 scholarships per team, both in men’s and women’s swimming. NAIA allows a limit of 8 scholarships per team, both in men’s and women’s swimming.

How to Get Recruited for College Swimming

1. Let the NCAA know your intent.
2. Make sure you are taking the right classes.
3. Swim your butt off.
4. Be mindful of your social media presence.
5. Build a list of schools you have a crush on.
6. Check out the schools.
7. Visit the school.
8. Make the call.

NCAA Division I men’s teams have an average roster of 29 swimmers but a limit of 9.9 scholarships to award per team. This means the average award covers only about 1/3 of annual college costs, and this assumes swimming is a fully funded sport at the specific school.

All other NCAA sports are Equivalency Sports which means awards can be split into partial scholarships in any proportion up to the maximum allowed. For example, an NCAA Division I school could award 24 Softball players each a 1/2 equivalent scholarship and not exceed the limit of 12 per team.

The NJCAA and CCCAA teams offer scholarships, and many four-year colleges will provide greater scholarship amounts to junior college swimmers transferring to an NCAA D1 or D2 or NAIA school after two years.

Coaches can divide scholarship awards in any manner – from one women’s swimming recruit getting a full scholarship, to paying partial tuition, room and board, or the price of lab fees and books. The coach can do any combination for any number of swimmers, as long as the total doesn’t exceed the equivalent of 14 full scholarships.