Athletics scholarships in the United States and Canada
The experience that will change your life
Thanks to an athletics scholarship in the United States and Canada, you will be able to live a unique experience. Traveling across the United States while representing your school is just one of the many advantages this option offers. In addition, you will receive academic and athletic training while learning a new language and making new friends from all over the world. Athletes are treated like true professionals, with the best facilities, professional training, trips, sports equipment…
To obtain an athletics scholarship in the United States and Canada, the better your performance in the competitions you participate in, the more interest you will generate from coaches, who will offer higher scholarships. It is important to have official results to attract the attention of college coaches.
These universities belong to the collegiate leagues: NCAA Divisions I, II, III, NAIA, and NJCAA.
Coaches receive applications from many athletes every day, so it is important to stand out and start the process to obtain an athletics scholarship in the United States and Canada early. This way, you can stay in contact with coaches and keep them updated on your latest results.
It is crucial for athletes to have the support of Awex Education well in advance, so we can evaluate the real possibilities in the United States and Canada and ensure your athletic eligibility is not at risk.
At Awex Education, we handle the entire process so that you don’t have to worry about anything and can fully enjoy this incredible experience.
Athletics in High School
If you are between 12 and 17 years old, have an intermediate level of English, and a grade above 6 out of 10, you can apply for a scholarship to study at a High School in the United States or Canada.
Athletics in University
If you are 16 years or older, have an intermediate level of English, and a grade above 6 out of 10, you can apply for a scholarship to study at a University in the United States or Canada.
Athletics in the United States and Canada
Our CEO, William Touchard, explains in detail everything you need to know about the sports program.
Do you have any questions?
Why the United States and Canada?
The American educational system is the only system that allows student-athletes to combine competitive sports with university studies. Additionally, thanks to a track and field scholarship, athletes can cover a portion of their academic expenses. In many cases, it is even possible to add academic scholarships, further reducing the total costs.
Schools offer track and field scholarships in the United States for their team members, allowing athletes to finance their studies through sports.
This opportunity gives athletes an experience that offers many advantages compared to the Spanish system: balancing studies and sports, traveling across the United States for free with the sports team, earning an academic degree from a U.S. institution, perfecting English, meeting people from many different countries, and living unforgettable experiences. For all these reasons, track and field opens up a world of possibilities for athletes.
Athletics scholarships in the United States and Canada
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Scholarship limit per team
The number of soccer scholarships available at each educational institution varies. Each sports league has a maximum number of scholarships they can offer, but schools may offer fewer than this limit based on their decision or budget constraints.
A clear example is the universities in the IVY League (prestigious academic schools like Harvard), which do not offer athletic scholarships.
Additionally, soccer is a sport where coaches can divide the scholarships among team members. It is not necessary to give a full scholarship to each player; they can offer a partial scholarship or a percentage.
Here are tables showing the scholarship limits for each university soccer team, average team size, and the number of universities:
Men’s Soccer
| University League | Number of Universities | Scholarship Limit per Team | Average Players per Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D I | 205 | 9.9 | 29 |
| NCAA D II | 211 | 9 | 31 |
| NCAA D III * | 412 | – | 29 |
| NAIA | 188 | 12 | 28 |
| NJCAA | 69 | 18 | 24 |
| TOTAL | 1,085 |
Women’s Soccer
| University League | Number of Universities | Scholarship Limit per Team | Average Players per Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D I | 332 | 14 | 28 |
| NCAA D II | 263 | 9.9 | 27 |
| NCAA D III * | 438 | – | 24 |
| NAIA | 192 | 12 | 24 |
| NJCAA | 187 | 18 | 19 |
| TOTAL | 1,312 |
* Universities competing in NCAA Division 3 cannot offer athletic scholarships, so they do not provide soccer scholarships, but they may offer other types of financial aid or significant academic scholarships.
How does the process of obtaining athletic scholarships in the United States and Canada work?
The goal of Awex Education is to enable athletes from all over the world to access an educational institution in the United States or Canada with a sports and/or academic scholarship. We search for the best schools for each athlete, as well as the highest possible scholarships.
Here’s how the process of obtaining an athletics scholarship at an American school works. The first part is where the athlete must focus to achieve the best sports and academic results:
Achieve the highest athletic level possible: The higher the athlete’s level, the greater their chances of securing an athletics scholarship in the United States and Canada. A higher level also increases the number of options available to choose from. It is important to plan athletics training and competition schedules to achieve the best possible results.
Achieve the highest academic level possible: Focusing on studies is essential to reach the highest academic level. This increases available options, allows for academic scholarships, and reduces annual costs. Proper preparation for TOEFL and SAT exams is fundamental.
The second part of the process is handled by Awex Education. It is important to contact us well in advance and start the process early, as this increases the chances of obtaining a sports scholarship in the United States and Canada and provides more options to choose from. We recommend beginning 1–2 years before the intended start date.
We analyze each case individually, evaluating the athlete’s athletic and academic level and their family’s expectations. Awex Education provides this evaluation for FREE, with no commitment, meeting the athlete and family to explain the realistic possibilities. Once the family decides to start the process, we handle the following steps:
Analyze each athlete individually: We consider the athlete’s sports level, academic level, and preferences regarding the educational institution. We find the best options that match their profile and family requirements.
Create a personal follow-up sheet: This includes steps to take, exam dates, exam preparation (depending on the league focus), and short-, medium-, and long-term goals.
Support with SAT and TOEFL registrations.
Support in creating the sports video: We provide guidance and advice to make a strong video, which is crucial for recruitment. Awex Education handles the final video editing.
Create an academic and athletic profile with the final video to contact athletics coaches.
Contact schools that match the athlete and family’s preferences. We work with most schools in the United States and Canada.
Negotiate with coaches or schools to obtain the maximum scholarship and the best conditions for each athlete.
Present a report with several options in advance to allow time for decision-making. The report includes school name, location, size, academic and athletic level, tuition without scholarship, scholarship amount, and annual cost.
Offer multiple options within the budget to allow the family to choose.
Guide the athlete and family in selecting the school, providing advice while leaving the final decision to the family.
Process the signing of the final school offer.
Handle the admission process for the academic leagues the school participates in (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA).
Handle the admission process with the chosen school (submission of grades, SAT and TOEFL exams, admission paperwork, etc.).
Prepare meal and accommodation plans for the athlete.
Arrange health insurance in the United States and Canada.
Handle the student visa application for the United States and Canada.
Organize flights and arrival, ensuring someone is there to welcome the athlete.
Assist upon arrival with guidance and support (money transfer, bank cards, first-day questions in the US or Canada).
Support obtaining academic assignments within the school.
Provide support throughout the athlete’s stay for any needs, school changes, questions, or paperwork—all at no extra cost.
For students in their 3rd or 4th university year, we offer a course at a British university to prepare them for the professional world and help secure job offers.
A key factor that sets our service apart is our close, personal support. We stay in continuous contact with athletes and families via WhatsApp or calls, and in case of emergencies, we can be reached outside office hours.
Academic requirements
Another important factor in securing a good educational institution is the academic performance—high school grades, SAT and TOEFL scores, etc. If two athletes have very similar athletic levels but differ in academic performance, the coach will usually award the athletics scholarship to the stronger student academically.
This is because students must meet minimum academic requirements, so academics are just as important as athletics in several aspects:
Sports acceptance: Minimum scores in exams are required to be accepted into sports leagues.
School admission: The athlete must meet the academic requirements on SAT and TOEFL exams to be accepted by the schools.
Additional academic scholarships: It is possible to obtain an academic scholarship that can be added to the athletics scholarship, increasing the total scholarship amount. To qualify for academic scholarships, students need strong grades and good SAT and TOEFL results.
Therefore, the higher the grades, the more options the athlete has and the higher the scholarship amount offered by the school.
Each school or coach sets different minimum academic requirements, which is why Awex Education evaluates each academic and athletic profile to find the school that best fits each athlete.
What level of athleticism is required?
In the United States and Canada, there are over a thousand schools with track and field teams that participate in various leagues. Within this wide range of schools, the athletic level varies greatly as well.
Track and field programs generally offer more scholarships to women than to men, so the chances of receiving an athletics scholarship are higher for female athletes. Scholarships are awarded based on each athlete’s sporting and academic level.
Below are reference marks for men and women in events that university coaches typically look for:
| EVENT | MEN NCAA DII Provisional | MEN NAIA B.Std. | WOMEN NCAA DII Provisional | WOMEN NAIA B.Std. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Meters | 10.61 | 10.74 | 11.99 | 12.20 |
| 200 Meters | 21.50 | 21.65 | 24.53 | 25.05 |
| 400 Meters | 47.94 | 48.50 | 55.98 | 57.36 |
| 800 Meters | 1:52.33 | 1:53.50 | 2:13.33 | 2:15.60 |
| 1500 Meters | 3:51.68 | 3:56.50 | 4:34.00 | 4:40.00 |
| 3000m Steeplechase | 9:17.00 | 9:32.00 | 11:05.00 | 11:27.00 |
| 5000 Meters | 14:37.45 | 14:59.00 | 17:21.38 | 17:50.00 |
| 10000 Meters | 31:00.00 | 31:30.00 | 36:56.20 | 38:13.00 |
| 110 Meter Hurdles | 14.50 | 14.95 | 14.30 | 15.05 |
| 400 Meter Hurdles | 53.48 | 54.65 | 1:02.40 | 1:04.70 |
| 4 x 100 Meter Relay | 41.12 | 41.99 | 47.00 | 48.32 |
| 4 x 400 Meter Relay | 3:14.07 | 3:17.70 | 3:48.72 | 3:56.80 |
| High Jump | 2.03 | 2.04 | 1.68 | 1.65 |
| Pole Vault | 4.76 | 4.60 | 3.61 | 3.50 |
| Long Jump | 7.22 | 7.08 | 5.76 | 5.49 |
| Triple Jump | 14.56 | 14.20 | 11.75 | 11.40 |
| Shot Put | 15.95 | 15.25 | 13.53 | 13.05 |
| Discus Throw | 49.35 | 47.00 | 44.90 | 42.40 |
| Hammer Throw | 53.60 | 50.50 | 52.00 | 48.00 |
| Javelin Throw | 58.34 | 55.50 | 40.37 | 39.10 |
| Decathlon | 6202 | 5550 | 4442 | 3700 |
If your times or marks are close to or within these ranges, your chances of receiving a track and field scholarship in the US or Canada are good. Coaches usually contact athletes one or two years before they start, but final decisions are based on results from the athlete’s last year of high school.
Although athletes usually specialize in one event, coaches look for versatile athletes who can compete in multiple events within their sector.
In the middle- and long-distance sector, opportunities can be even higher because these athletes can compete in cross country and track, making them more attractive to coaches, who may offer larger scholarships.
What do athletic scholarships cover?
Track and field scholarships in the United States and Canada cover a percentage of the school expenses listed below. If you receive a full athletics scholarship, all of these expenses are fully covered:
Tuition and fees
Books
Housing (Dormitory or apartment)
Meals
Health insurance
In addition, all athletes on the school’s track and field team, whether or not they have an athletics scholarship, always have their athletics-related expenses covered, including:
Track and field training
Sports equipment
Official competitions
Travel to competitions (transportation, accommodation, and meals)
Academic tutors if extra help is needed
Sports medicine and physiotherapy
How do American coaches measure an athlete's level?
Coaches assess an athlete’s track and field level using several factors:
Official marks or times
National and international competitions
Athletics video
Awex Education evaluation
Using all this information, Awex Education evaluates each athlete and their family and works with educational institutions that match their athletic and academic level, offering good opportunities to obtain a sports scholarship and compete on the team.
Awex Stories
Real stories from our students and families in the United States and Canada. Discover how they lived their experience, what they learned, and how this adventure transformed their lives.
Awex Stories
Real stories from our students and families in the United States and Canada. Discover how they lived their experience, what they learned, and how this adventure transformed their lives.
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The most highly valued company in Europe
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