Soccer scholarships in the United States and Canada
The experience that will change your life
Soccer (known as “football” in most countries) is one of the sports with the highest number of international athletes on teams in the United States and Canada. In recent years, many European players have decided to pursue their academic studies while continuing to play the sport thanks to soccer scholarships in the U.S. and Canada.
As with all sports, every part of the process is important — creating an academic and athletic profile, gathering videos, competing, and tracking statistics. One of the key elements in soccer is producing a highlight video that showcases your playing skills — including strong moments from games and tournaments, as well as training footage.
This video should be guided by professionals to maximize your chances of success. That’s why at Awex Education, we advise you throughout the recording process and handle the final video editing to ensure a professional result.
Soccer (known as “football” in most countries) is one of the sports with the highest number of international athletes on teams in the United States and Canada. In recent years, many European players have decided to pursue their academic studies while continuing to play the sport thanks to soccer scholarships in the U.S. and Canada.
As with all sports, every part of the process is important — creating an academic and athletic profile, gathering videos, competing, and tracking statistics. One of the key elements in soccer is producing a highlight video that showcases your playing skills — including strong moments from games and tournaments, as well as training footage.
This video should be guided by professionals to maximize your chances of success. That’s why at Awex Education, we advise you throughout the recording process and handle the final video editing to ensure a professional result.
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.
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.
Soccer 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 education system is the only one that allows competitive sports to be combined with academic studies. In addition, soccer players can receive athletic scholarships and academic scholarships, which together reduce the cost of tuition and help them finance their studies thanks to soccer.
Thanks to this opportunity, soccer players can enjoy an experience that offers many advantages over the Spanish system: combining studies and sports, traveling throughout the United States and Canada with their sports team, obtaining an academic degree from a school in the United States or Canada, learning perfect English, meeting people from many different countries, and enjoying unforgettable experiences. These are just some of the many advantages this option offers. For all these reasons, soccer opens up a world of possibilities for players. It is a way to recoup the investment in time and money that players and their families have made in this sport.
Soccer scholarships in the United States and Canada
Each athletic league has a maximum number of soccer scholarships that can be awarded. Within these limits, each school decides how to allocate the available scholarship funds among its players.
Coaches distribute this funding in the form of full and partial soccer scholarships to members of the team.
Usually, players need to be among the top performers on the team to earn an athletic scholarship.
There are also opportunities known as “walk-on” positions. These allow players to join the team without receiving a soccer scholarship.
After one year in this position, depending on the player’s performance and contribution to the team, they may earn a soccer scholarship for the following years.
Limit on scholarships per team
The number of soccer scholarships available at each educational institution varies from school to school.
Each athletic league has a maximum number of soccer scholarships that its member universities are allowed to offer. However, some schools may choose to offer fewer scholarships—either by choice or due to budget limitations.
A clear example of this is the Ivy League (a group of prestigious universities such as Harvard), which does not offer athletic scholarships.
In addition, soccer is a sport in which coaches can divide the total number of scholarships among the players on the team. This means that not every player receives a full scholarship—partial scholarships or percentage-based scholarships are very common.
Below are tables showing the maximum number of soccer scholarships allowed per team, the average team size, and the number of universities in each league:
Men’s Soccer
| University League | Number of Universities | Scholarship Limit per Team | Average Players per Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA Division I | 205 | 9.9 | 29 |
| NCAA Division II | 211 | 9 | 31 |
| NCAA Division 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 Division I | 332 | 14 | 28 |
| NCAA Division II | 263 | 9.9 | 27 |
| NCAA Division III* | 438 | – | 24 |
| NAIA | 192 | 12 | 24 |
| NJCAA | 187 | 18 | 19 |
| TOTAL | 1,312 |
* NCAA Division III universities cannot offer athletic scholarships. However, students can still receive other types of financial aid or academic scholarships, which can significantly reduce overall costs.
How does the process of obtaining soccer scholarships in the United States and Canada work?
The main goal of Awex Education is to help soccer players gain access to educational institutions in the United States and Canada through athletic and/or academic scholarships.
We work to find the best schools for each player, as well as to secure the highest possible athletic and academic scholarships.
Below, we explain how the process of obtaining a soccer scholarship at an American school works.
In the first stage, the player is responsible for working toward their highest possible academic and athletic performance:
Achieve the best athletic level possible:
The higher the player’s level, the greater their chances of earning a scholarship and having more options to choose from.
It’s important to start preparing high-quality video footage early, gathering clips from multiple matches to showcase the best moments.Achieve the best academic level possible:
Focusing on academics is essential to reach the highest level and expand available opportunities.
Strong academic results can also lead to academic scholarships, reducing overall costs.
Early and consistent preparation for the TOEFL and SAT exams is key.
The Role of Awex Education
At Awex Education, we take care of the second part of the process.
It’s crucial to start early and contact us well in advance — this significantly increases the chances of earning a sports scholarship in the U.S. and provides more options to choose from.
We recommend beginning the process 1 to 2 years before the intended start date in the United States or Canada.
Our process begins with a free personalized evaluation of the athlete’s profile and scholarship opportunities in the U.S. and Canada, based on their soccer level, academic background, and expectations.
This initial evaluation is completely free and non-binding.
We then communicate with the athlete and their family to explain their real possibilities.
Once the family decides to begin the process, we take care of the following steps:
Step-by-Step Process
Individual evaluation of each athlete’s academic and athletic level, and personal preferences.
We search for schools that best fit the student’s academic, athletic, and financial profile.
We discuss the family’s goals to present the best options that match their criteria.Personal follow-up plan:
We create a personalized tracking sheet for each case, where we plan next steps, test dates, exam preparation (depending on the target league), and short-, medium-, and long-term goals.Support with exam registrations for the SAT and TOEFL.
Guidance on creating the soccer highlight video:
We provide advice on how to produce an effective video — an essential tool since coaches recruit primarily through video evaluation.
Our team handles the final editing of the player’s video.Academic and athletic profile creation:
Once the final video is ready, we prepare a full profile to present to coaches.Contact with schools:
We reach out to schools that match the athlete’s and family’s profile and preferences.
We work with a wide network of schools across all U.S. and Canadian states that fit the player’s level.Scholarship negotiation:
We negotiate with each coach or institution to obtain the highest possible scholarship and best conditions.Presentation of options:
We deliver a detailed report with several school options, allowing time to make a decision.
The report includes: school name, location, size, academic and athletic level, cost before scholarship, scholarship amount, and final annual cost.Multiple options within budget:
We always provide several alternatives so that families can choose the one that best suits them.Guidance during school selection:
We advise and guide families throughout the decision process — though the final choice is always theirs.Signing the offer:
We handle the signing process with the chosen school.League eligibility process:
We manage registration with the relevant academic league (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA).School admission process:
We take care of submitting grades, SAT and TOEFL results, and all required admission paperwork.Meal and housing arrangements:
We ensure the student’s accommodation and meal plans are organized.Health insurance:
We help students obtain medical insurance in the U.S. or Canada.Student visa processing:
We guide each student through the F-1 visa process for the United States or the study permit process for Canada.Travel and arrival organization:
We assist with flights and ensure the student has support upon arrival.Arrival support:
We help with practical aspects such as money transfers, bank cards, and other first-day questions.On-campus work opportunities:
We assist students in finding available academic jobs at their school.Ongoing support throughout the student’s stay:
We provide continuous assistance during the athlete’s entire stay in the U.S., helping with school changes, documentation, and any questions — at no additional cost.Career preparation:
During their third or fourth year of university, interested students are offered a specialized course at a UK university that prepares them for the job market and helps them secure employment opportunities.
A Personalized Approach
What truly sets Awex Education apart is our personal and close relationship with each athlete and family.
We stay in constant communication via WhatsApp or phone calls, and in case of emergency, families can contact us at any time — even outside office hours.
Academic requirements
In addition to athletic ability, academic performance plays a key role in securing admission to a good school. High school grades, along with SAT and TOEFL scores, are determining factors.
If two students have a similar football level but one has a stronger academic record, the coach will usually offer the scholarship to the better student.
This is because student-athletes must meet certain minimum academic standards to be accepted both athletically and academically. For that reason, grades are just as important as football in several ways:
Athletic eligibility: students must meet academic requirements to compete in college leagues.
Admission to the institution: each university requires specific scores on the SAT and TOEFL exams.
Additional academic scholarships: strong academic results can qualify students for additional academic scholarships, which can be combined with athletic scholarships to increase the total amount of financial aid.
In short, the higher the grades, the more opportunities the student will have and the greater the scholarship they can obtain.
Each school and coach sets their own academic requirements. That’s why Awex Education carefully analyzes each student’s academic and athletic profile to find the school that best fits their goals and potential.
What level of soccer is required?
In the United States and Canada, there are over a thousand educational institutions with soccer teams that compete in various leagues. Within this wide range of options, the level of soccer can vary greatly.
Below you can find a reference of the soccer level required to be eligible for scholarships in the U.S. and Canada depending on the league. However, these levels may vary, as a player’s level depends on more than just the league in which they compete. That’s why at Awex Education, we analyze each case individually.
NCAA Division I
These are the largest universities, offering a wide range of sports programs. Generally, schools in this division have the highest athletic level.
- Academic requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams.
- Men’s soccer level: Experience in Tercera División, División de Honor, youth academies of professional clubs, or national/regional teams.
- Women’s soccer level: Experience in first division women’s teams, youth academies of professional clubs, or national/regional teams.
NCAA Division II
These are smaller universities but still have strong athletic programs. In some cases, their sports level can even surpass certain NCAA Division I schools. Their size and facilities are similar to NAIA institutions.
- Academic requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams.
- Men’s soccer level: Experience in national youth leagues or competitive regional teams.
- Women’s soccer level: Experience in second division women’s teams.
NCAA Division III
These universities, by league rules, cannot offer athletic scholarships, but they do provide academic scholarships and financial aid that can significantly reduce costs. They are typically very strong academically.
- Academic requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams with strong academic performance.
- Men’s soccer level: Experience in local or regional federated teams.
- Women’s soccer level: Experience in local or regional federated teams.
NAIA
These universities are similar in size and structure to NCAA Division II schools. The eligibility rules are more flexible, especially regarding age limits for competition.
- Academic requirements: SAT and TOEFL exams.
- Men’s soccer level: Experience in competitive regional or “Juvenil Preferente” leagues.
- Women’s soccer level: Experience in second division women’s teams.
Junior College (NJCAA)
These are two-year colleges, where students complete their first two years before transferring to a four-year university to finish their degree.
This can be an excellent option to improve both academic and athletic levels and later transfer to a higher division with better scholarship opportunities.
Coaches from four-year universities often focus on recruiting players from Junior Colleges, closely monitoring their performance during their one or two years in the NJCAA. Students can transfer after one year or complete both years before moving to an NCAA or NAIA school.
- Academic requirements: SAT is not required; only the TOEFL exam (and in some cases, not even that).
- Men’s soccer level: Players of varying levels, including those with experience comparable to NCAA Division I.
- Women’s soccer level: Players of varying levels, including those with experience comparable to NCAA Division I.
What do soccer scholarships cover?
Soccer scholarships in the United States and Canada cover a percentage of the school’s total costs as detailed below. In the case of a full soccer scholarship, all of these expenses are completely covered:
Tuition and fees
Books
Accommodation (residence hall or apartment)
Meals
Health insurance
In addition, all soccer players on the school’s team — whether or not they have an athletic scholarship — always have their soccer-related expenses fully covered, including:
Soccer and fitness training sessions
Sports equipment and uniforms
Official competitions
Travel to competitions (transportation, lodging, and meals)
Academic tutoring if needed
Sports medicine and physiotherapy services
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How do American coaches measure a player's skill level?
Coaches assess a player’s soccer level based on several key factors:
Soccer video:
This is the most important element. Since coaches don’t personally know the player, it’s essential to create a strong highlight video showcasing their best moments in matches. Training clips can also be included.
At Awex Education, we guide players in creating the best possible video material.Sports résumé:
Includes details such as teams played for, leagues, and statistics.Awex Education evaluation:
We review the player’s video, meet with the family, and assess their profile and level.
After years of collaboration with universities, coaches greatly value our honest evaluations.
In many cases, a player’s true level is not fully reflected in their league, since soccer is a team sport and talented players can sometimes compete in lower divisions.
Using all this information, Awex Education evaluates each athlete and their family, and we work with schools that best match their academic and athletic profile, maximizing their chances of obtaining a sports scholarship and joining the right 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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