Ski scholarships in the United States and Canada
The experience that will change your life
Thanks to a skiing scholarship in the United States and Canada, you will be able to live a unique experience. Traveling across the United States while representing your educational institution in the country is just one of the many advantages this opportunity offers. Additionally, you will train academically and athletically while learning a new language and making new friendships from all over the world. Athletes are treated like true professionals, with access to the best facilities, professional training, trips, and sports equipment.
To obtain a skiing scholarship in the United States and Canada, the better your results in the competitions you participate in, the higher the interest from coaches, who will offer higher scholarships. It is important to have official scores to capture the attention of university coaches.
There are many institutions with skiing programs in the United States and Canada. These schools belong to the college 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 of obtaining a skiing scholarship in the United States and Canada early. This way, you can be in contact with the coaches in advance and keep them updated on your latest results.
It is very important for athletes to have the support of Awex Education with enough time so that we can evaluate the real possibilities in the United States and Canada, ensuring that eligibility for sports programs is not compromised.
At Awex Education, we take care of the entire process so that you do not have to worry about anything and can fully enjoy this incredible experience.
High School Ski
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.
University Ski
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.
Skiing 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 educational system that allows athletes to combine competitive sports with university studies. Additionally, thanks to a skiing scholarship, athletes can cover a percentage of their academic expenses. In many cases, there are also opportunities to combine academic scholarships, which further reduce the total costs.
Schools offer skiing scholarships in the United States and Canada for their team members, allowing athletes to finance their studies through the sport.
Thanks to this opportunity, athletes can live an experience that offers many advantages compared to the Spanish system: combining studies and sports, taking completely free trips across the United States and Canada with the sports team, obtaining an academic degree from a U.S. or Canadian school, learning perfect English, meeting people from many different countries, and living unforgettable experiences. For all these reasons, a world of possibilities opens up for athletes thanks to skiing.
Ski scholarships in the United States and Canada
The number of skiing scholarships available at each educational institution varies between schools. Each sports league has a maximum number of skiing scholarships they can offer, but they may offer fewer scholarships than that limit at their discretion.
A clear example is the universities that make up the IVY League (a league of academically prestigious universities such as Harvard), which do not offer athletic scholarships.
Additionally, skiing is a sport in which coaches can divide the number of scholarships among team members. For example, in NCAA D1, male skiing coaches can divide the value of 12.6 scholarships among as many athletes as they wish.
Female skiing, on the other hand, in NCAA D1 is a sport with a maximum of 18 scholarships, so if the athlete has the appropriate level, it is possible to obtain a full skiing scholarship.
Below are tables showing the scholarship limits each university can have per skiing team, the average team size, and the number of universities. These scholarships are divided across all disciplines:
Men’s Skiing
| University League | Number of Universities | Scholarship Limit per Team | Average Athletes per Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D I | 11 | 6.3 | 16 |
| NCAA D II | 6 | 6.3 | 13 |
| NCAA D III * | 33 | – | – |
Women’s Skiing
| University League | Number of Universities | Scholarship Limit per Team | Average Athletes per Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D I | 12 | 7 | 16 |
| NCAA D II | 7 | 7 | 11 |
| NCAA D III * | 16 | – | 13 |
*Universities competing in NCAA Division 3 are schools that cannot offer athletic scholarships, so they do not offer skiing scholarships, but they may provide other types of financial aid or significant academic scholarships.
Scholarship limit per team
The number of skiing scholarships available at each educational institution varies between schools. Each sports league has a maximum number of skiing scholarships they can offer, but they may offer fewer scholarships than that limit at their discretion.
A clear example is the universities that make up the IVY League (a league of academically prestigious universities such as Harvard), which do not offer athletic scholarships.
Additionally, skiing is a sport in which coaches can divide the number of scholarships among team members. For example, in NCAA D1, male skiing coaches can divide the value of 12.6 scholarships among as many athletes as they wish.
Female skiing, on the other hand, in NCAA D1 is a sport with a maximum of 18 scholarships, so if the athlete has the appropriate level, it is possible to obtain a full skiing scholarship.
Below are tables showing the scholarship limits each university can have per skiing team, the average team size, and the number of universities. These scholarships are divided across all disciplines:
Men’s Skiing
| University League | Number of Universities | Scholarship Limit per Team | Average Athletes per Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D I | 11 | 6.3 | 16 |
| NCAA D II | 6 | 6.3 | 13 |
| NCAA D III * | 33 | – | – |
Women’s Skiing
| University League | Number of Universities | Scholarship Limit per Team | Average Athletes per Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D I | 12 | 7 | 16 |
| NCAA D II | 7 | 7 | 11 |
| NCAA D III * | 16 | – | 13 |
*Universities competing in NCAA Division 3 are schools that cannot offer athletic scholarships, so they do not offer skiing scholarships, but they may provide other types of financial aid or significant academic scholarships.
How does the process of obtaining ski scholarships in the United States and Canada work?
The goal of Awex Education is to help skiers access educational institutions in the United States and Canada through skiing and/or academic scholarships. Our mission is to find the best schools for each athlete, as well as to secure the highest possible athletic and/or academic scholarship.
Here’s how the ski scholarship process works at an American educational institution. In this first part, the athlete is responsible for working to reach their maximum athletic and academic performance:
Achieve the highest possible athletic level: The higher the athletic level, the greater the chances of earning a scholarship. In addition, the athlete will have a broader range of schools to choose from. It’s important to plan ahead and have quality skiing footage over multiple events to create a strong highlight video.
Achieve the highest possible academic level: Focusing on academics is equally important to reach the best possible level. This increases scholarship options and may also lead to academic scholarships that help reduce annual costs. Proper preparation for the TOEFL and SAT exams is essential.
The second part of the process is handled entirely by Awex Education. It’s crucial to contact us well in advance and begin preparations early — this way, we can increase the chances of earning a scholarship in the U.S. and Canada and provide more options to choose from. We recommend starting the process 1–2 years before your intended start date.
Our process begins with a free personalized assessment of the athlete and their chances of earning a skiing scholarship in the U.S. or Canada, based on their athletic performance, academics, and personal goals. At Awex Education, we conduct this evaluation completely free of charge and explain the real possibilities to the athlete and their family. Once the family decides to move forward, we handle the following steps:
We analyze each athlete’s individual case — athletic level, academic performance, and preferences regarding schools. We look for the best options that match their sports, academic, and financial profile.
We create a personal follow-up plan for each athlete, outlining key steps, test dates, exam preparation (depending on league requirements), and short-, medium-, and long-term goals.
We provide support for registering for the SAT and TOEFL exams.
We assist in creating a sports video, offering guidance and advice to ensure it showcases the athlete effectively. The video is crucial for recruitment, and we handle the final editing.
With the final video ready, we build an academic and athletic profile to share with ski coaches.
We begin contacting schools that fit the athlete’s profile and preferences. We collaborate with a wide network of schools across the United States and Canada.
We negotiate with coaches and schools to obtain the highest scholarship and best conditions possible.
We present a report with several options so the family can make an informed decision. This report includes details such as: school name, location, size, academic level, skiing level, tuition without scholarship, scholarship amount, and final yearly cost.
We always provide multiple options within the family’s budget.
We guide the athlete and family in choosing the right school — offering advice and support, though the final decision always belongs to the family.
We manage the signing of the scholarship offer from the chosen school.
We handle league registration with organizations such as the NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA.
We complete the school admission process (transcript submission, SAT/TOEFL score reporting, admission paperwork, etc.).
We arrange meal and housing plans for the athlete.
We assist with obtaining health insurance in the U.S. or Canada.
We manage the student visa process for both countries.
We organize flights and arrival logistics to ensure the athlete has support upon arrival.
We provide arrival guidance — including help with money transfers, bank cards, and common first-day questions.
We assist with on-campus job opportunities.
We offer continuous support throughout the athlete’s stay in the U.S. or Canada for any questions, paperwork, or school changes — all at no extra cost.
For those in their third or fourth year of university, we offer a career preparation course at a British university that helps them transition into the workforce and find job opportunities.
In addition to all this, what truly sets our service apart is our personal approach — we maintain constant communication with our athletes and their families through WhatsApp or phone calls, and in case of emergencies, families can reach us anytime, even outside office hours.
Academic requirements
Another important factor in securing a good educational institution is academics — your high school grades, SAT, and TOEFL scores. If two athletes have a similar skiing level but differ significantly in academic performance, the coach will usually offer the ski scholarship to the stronger student academically.
This is because students must meet certain minimum requirements, making academics just as important as skiing in several key aspects:
Athletic eligibility: Minimum grade and test score requirements must be met to be accepted into athletic leagues.
Academic admission: To enroll in a school, athletes must meet the institution’s academic standards and achieve the required scores on the SAT and TOEFL exams.
Additional academic scholarships: In many cases, students can also earn academic scholarships, which can be combined with athletic scholarships, increasing the total scholarship amount. Achieving strong grades and test results is essential to qualify for these opportunities.
Therefore, the higher the grades, the more options an athlete will have — and the greater the financial support they may receive from the school.
Each school or coach has different minimum academic requirements. That’s why at Awex Education, we carefully evaluate each student’s academic and athletic profile to find the institution that best fits every athlete.
What level of skiing is required?
In the United States and Canada, there are over a thousand educational institutions with ski teams that compete in various leagues. Within this wide range of schools, the level of competition in skiing also varies greatly.
Ski programs tend to offer a greater number of scholarships to women than to men, meaning that female athletes generally have more opportunities to earn a ski scholarship. Scholarships are awarded based on both the athletic and academic level of each student-athlete.
Coaches usually begin contacting athletes one or even two years before they start at the institution. However, final scholarship decisions are typically made based on the athlete’s results from the year prior to enrollment, usually during their final year of high school.
Although most athletes specialize in one event, coaches often look for versatile athletes who can compete in multiple disciplines within their sport.
In the case of long-distance and middle-distance skiers, the chances of receiving a scholarship may be even higher, as these athletes can also compete in cross-country and track events. This versatility often makes them more attractive to coaches, who may offer larger scholarships as a result.
What do ski scholarships cover?
Ski scholarships in the United States and Canada cover a percentage of the school expenses listed below. In the case of a full ski scholarship, all of these costs are fully covered:
Tuition and fees
Books
Housing (residence hall or apartment)
Meals
Health insurance
In addition, all members of the ski team, whether or not they receive a ski scholarship, always have their ski-related expenses covered, including:
training, sports equipment, official competitions, travel to competitions (transportation, accommodation, and meals), academic tutoring if needed, sports medicine, and physiotherapy.
How do American coaches measure a skier's level?
Coaches measure the athlete’s ski level through several factors:
Official times or rankings
National and international competitions
Ski video
Awex Education evaluation
With all this information, Awex Education evaluates each athlete and their family, working with educational institutions that match their athletic and academic level, offering strong opportunities to earn 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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