How to get a track scholarship

Looking to pursue track and field in college? This blog covers track scholarships and a step-by-step guide to applying!

Track and field is one of the largest sports in the NCAA Divisions. Apart from the famed 100m dash, thrilling events like javelin and high jump continue to draw hundreds to the track. For many high school track athletes, competing at the university level is a distant dream. Luckily, I'm here to tell you that if you have the passion and commitment to the sport, there are many ways to make it financially possible for you to become a college track athlete!

In this article, we will be talking about how to get a track scholarship and all the ins and outs of the process, including track scholarship basics, a step-by-step process for applying, tips to increase your chances, and what to do after you get offers!

I know that applying to scholarships can seem intimidating, but trust me; they are the most convenient way for you to fund your academic and athletic aspirations. Most importantly, they're tailored specifically to your athletic prowess and dedication to track and field. Now, without further ado, let's get into all the ways you can start pursuing your athletic dreams!

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Track and Field Scholarship: The Basics

So what exactly is a track and field scholarship? Essentially, it is an athletic scholarship wherein universities will award money to athletes they deem qualified enough to compete for their school. Scholarships can range from partial scholarships (a few thousand) to a full-ride. Winning one as a high school student may allow student-athletes to attend college with less student debt and cover non-tuition expenses.

At the NCAA Division I level, universities may now award 45 track and field scholarships for the men's and women's teams each, for a combined 90 scholarships per university. And this is just like the D1 level. Schools at lower division levels may offer more or less athletic scholarship money, depending upon the size of their program.

For more scholarship opportunities, including both athletic and non-athletic awards, browse through the list of Bold.org scholarships!

Step-by-Step Process

Now that you know what a track and field scholarship is and why you should get one, let's break down the steps to winning one!

1. Determine Your Skill Level

The athletic scholarships students are eligible to receive are highly dependent on what NCAA Division applicants will be placed into. College track is somewhat unique in that college coaches are often very transparent about what time marks or scores students must reach to be considered. Most divisions will have very clear-cut guidelines for running, high jumps, and other areas of track and field.

Prospective student-athletes interested in track and field should get an idea of their skills by competing in a variety of competitions. Once they have some reliable data to determine their skill level, students should research the standard scores for each division and see which division best matches their ability.

Pro Tip: Get help from your high school or current coach to help you determine what division would be best for you!

Knowing which division you are likely to place into is helpful for researching colleges and their athletic programs. This part is quite important as, eventually, track and field students will want to get in touch with the college coaches of individual schools. 

If you're hoping to attend a D1 school, learn more about how D1 scholarships work here.

2. Research Schools & Their Athletic Programs

Track and field student-athletes should compile a list of potential schools that have good track and field programs. This list should also be plausible, meaning that while it’s fine to try to apply to the top schools, students should mostly focus on the schools they are likely to get into based on their skills. Here are some things to consider:

• quality of track and field program
• quality of academics
• location
• price
• social life

Students should also research the school’s specific policy on athletic scholarships to get a better idea of how much scholarship money they might be able to receive. 

Depending on your schedule, you may want to pursue a job alongside your studies. Check out the best remote jobs for college students!

2. Reach Out to College Coaches

Now that track and field applicants have an idea of which schools they want to attend, students should begin to email the college coaches and the coaching staff at these schools. Here's what to include in the email:

• Introduction: Introduce yourself with your name, current school, grade level, and the events you compete in (e.g., sprinter, hurdler, jumper).
• Athletic Resume: Attach your athletic resume, which outlines your personal bests, achievements, and track and field experience.
• Key Skill Statistics: Highlight one or two key skill statistics (e.g., fastest 100m time, longest jump) to showcase your raw numbers and demonstrate your potential.
• Academic Information: Share your GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and intended major to ensure you meet the academic requirements for the program.
• Competition Highlights Video: Include a link to a video that highlights your competition performance or key skills.
• Upcoming Competitions: Inform the coach of any upcoming track meets where they can evaluate your performance in person.
• Interest in the Program: Briefly explain why you're interested in their track and field program and how it aligns with your athletic goals.
• Coach Contact Information: Provide your current coach's contact details for further references or insights.
• Closing: Politely request feedback or information about scholarship opportunities and offer to provide any additional materials if needed.

The idea behind emailing college coaches is to establish a connection and allow coaches to conduct a quick evaluation to see if you are worth a follow-up. Think of it almost like submitting your college application to an admissions team, except it's quicker and more informal.

Pro Tip: Include all your materials in one email to make correspondence as easy as possible for the coach! Make sure you're not missing anything before you send it out.

Students should also avoid copying and pasting one email to every coach. Though the main information can remain the same, opening with the coach’s name and a quick explanation of why their school stood out to you can demonstrate a vested interest in their program. Be specific!

Discover how to find scholarships, including track scholarships, in this comprehensive blog written specifically for students!

3. Increase Your Chances

After sending an email to the coach, you're welcome to wait idly for a response. But, the best student-athletes will be proactive, thereby increasing their chances of securing a track and field scholarship. The process after sending an email involves a series of follow-up actions and steps. Here’s how you can increase your chances:

• Follow Up: If you don’t hear back within a week or two, send a polite follow-up email to express your continued interest and ask if they had a chance to review your information.
• Attend Showcases and Camps: Participate in track and field showcases, camps, or meets that the coach is attending. This gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your skills in person.
• Keep Coaches Updated: Regularly update the coach on any improvements in your personal bests, new achievements, or academic progress. If you have new competition videos, share those as well. The stats you send in aren't the limit; keep pushing yourself to be the best athlete you can be!
• Visit the Campus: If possible, schedule an official or unofficial visit to the school. Meeting the coach in person and touring the facilities can show your strong interest in their program.

Supplement your efforts by applying to these private scholarships made specifically for track and field athletes!

4. Evaluate Scholarship Offers

Now, the offers start rolling in. Students should compare the amount of scholarship money they have been offered and decide which program makes the most sense for them. The financial aid packages from each school should have all the necessary information for students to decide which athletic scholarships will be best for them. 

Pro Tip: Don't be afraid to negotiate for more scholarship money! Oftentimes, track scholarships can be supplemented by merit-based or need-based financial aid. Universities will never decrease their scholarship offer so it doesn't hurt to try.

It's also important to consider the university itself and the courses offered. While college athletics do require an enormous amount of time and commitment, student-athletes should feel supported and fulfilled by other aspects like academics, clubs, and the social scene. In the end, even if a school's track scholarship money is very generous, it won't feel that way if you're unhappy for the next four years.

If you're unlucky with your D1 schools, find out whether D2 schools give athletic scholarships!

5. Keep your Scholarship

After accepting a scholarship offer, there is still one crucial step: maintaining the scholarship. Most athletic scholarships, including track and field scholarships, are one-year contracts that must be renewed annually. As a result, student-athletes who obtain scholarships should continue to work hard academically and athletically so that they can renew their track and field scholarships at the end of the year. 

Consider applying to general athletic scholarships for some extra financial support!

Frequently Asked Questions About Track Scholarships

Is it easy to get a scholarship for track?

The difficulty of getting a track scholarship is partly dependent on what college coaches need for their team and the ability of the student-athlete. A student-athlete who is uncommonly good at track and field will have a much easier time finding a track and field scholarship. 

However, even among only the top track and field athletes, not every student will receive a scholarship. Ultimately, it is up to the college coaches to decide if a student would be an asset to their team or not.

Can you get track scholarships for cross country programs?

Track and field and cross country are two different athletic disciplines, so the scholarships you receive for one cannot be applied to the other. Even though they both involve running, cross country athletes train differently and participate in different events from track athletes.

There have been cross country efforts to expand and support more runners, but track and field still remains the more well-funded discipline. This means there are more track scholarships available, but there are also more applicants compared to cross country scholarships.

How good do I have to be at my event to get a track scholarship?

You should consult the NCSA College Recruiting website for detailed statistics about the highest and lowest stats applicants possess. For example, in the men's 100m, the recruiting standard is a 10.8 on the low end to a 10.4 on the high end. Keep in mind that your academics are also a factor that college coaches may consider. So, if you're on the lower end but you have stellar grades and extracurriculars, make sure to leverage that in your favor!

Check out our scholarship blog for more information about athletics, education, and finances!