Baseball scholarships

About baseball scholarships

There are over 1,600 college baseball programs in the United States, and around 34,500 college baseball players. There are over 5,000 scholarships available for students who play college baseball. Scholarships are offered by the NCAA Division I and Division II programs, as well as by the NAIA and NJCAA. Not every college offers baseball or baseball scholarships, however; Division III programs — the largest college baseball division — do not offer scholarships for players, so students interested in D3 baseball teams should be mindful of this.

As college costs and student debt continue to climb, scholarship money can be an extremely helpful resource because the award does not need to be repaid. Federal loans and student aid often do not provide enough financial assistance to students, so external baseball scholarships can be quite helpful to college baseball players. A school's cost can also be influenced by its status as a public or private college; private colleges tend to have higher costs, so baseball scholarships can be essential for students at these institutions.

College baseball players are eligible for many forms of financial aid to assist in financing their higher education. Many institutions offer athletic scholarships for outstanding student-athletes. Baseball players interested in intercollegiate athletics and playing at the college level should look into potential sports scholarships at their university.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires student-athletes to meet certain academic requirements to be considered a prospect. There are an estimated 180,000 athletic scholarships available each year through NCAA D-1 and D-II schools alone.

Athletic scholarships are also offered through the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Schools in these associations generally have smaller athletic programs and focus on "character-driven athletics." These can be a great opportunity for students looking for a college soccer scholarship.

Prospective students should look into athletic scholarships for which they are eligible and visit their school's financial aid office for more assistance.

Can you get a scholarship for baseball?

Yes, there are many baseball scholarships available for students at varying levels of education.

While some of these scholarships are specifically for baseball players themselves, there are also many scholarships available for non-players who are fans of the sport! Baseball players may also qualify for other, more general athletic scholarships.

Athletics scholarships can financially support students with many different interests and courses of study, so long as they fit the eligibility requirements for the specific scholarships of interest.

How to get a baseball scholarship?

Students interested in intercollegiate athletics should consult the financial aid office and soccer program of their university or check the member colleges of the NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA. It may also be helpful for baseball players to discuss their college baseball prospects with people familiar with their abilities, like their high school coach or college coaches; they may be able to point you in the direction of schools and scholarship programs that could be a good fit.

The best baseball scholarships

There are many baseball scholarships available on Bold.org for students with an interest in athletics. Student-athletes and baseball enthusiasts alike should be sure to check out this list of exclusive baseball scholarships to apply to in 2022.

Silverback Scholarship

 This $10,000 scholarship will be divided between one male and one female college athlete. To be eligible, applicants must be a junior undergraduate collegiate athlete (graduating in 2023), have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and have leadership experience in collegiate sports. Eligible students should apply by July 30, 2022, for consideration.

Dr. Edward V. Chavez Athletic Memorial Scholarship

This $1,685 scholarship aims to honor the legacy of Dr. Edward V. Chavez by supporting students who have lost a parent and are passionate about sports. Any high school student who has lost one or both parents and has a passion for sports may apply for this scholarship by September 1, 2022.

General athletic scholarships

There are also many general athletic scholarships that baseball players can apply for. These are not specific to baseball, but players and fans of the sport may still be eligible. Students should remember that they are not limited to just baseball scholarships; there are many sources of financial aid they shouldn't hesitate to take advantage of!

Ron Johnston Student Athlete Scholarship

This $3,965 scholarship will support two passionate student-athletes who need financial assistance to help them accomplish their goals, dreams, and aspirations. Any student-athlete who is a high school senior or an undergraduate can apply for this scholarship by June 4, 2022. 

MJM3 Fitness Scholarship

This $1,935 scholarship will help support a student who wants to change their lifestyle to improve their health and body image. Students with an interest in soccer may find this scholarship in line with their life goals. Undergraduate students and high school seniors can apply for this scholarship by July 15, 2022.

Frequently asked questions about baseball scholarships

What colleges offer baseball scholarships?

Though this is nowhere near a complete and comprehensive list, the following colleges offer baseball scholarships:

• Stanford University
• The University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA)
• The University of Florida
• The University of Michigan
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• The University of Texas at Austin
• Vanderbilt University

For the most up-to-date and accurate information on which schools offer baseball scholarships, always check the official lists of member colleges for the NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA and the financial aid office of your schools of interest.

Do baseball players get full scholarships?

Many college baseball players receive full and partial scholarships to play baseball at the college level. Athletic scholarships, especially full-ride scholarships, are very competitive. Athletics scholarships are offered through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA); these three collegiate associations oversee and regulate all college athletics programs in the United States.

Student-athletes can also qualify for other scholarships through their college or university, as well as from private scholarships. Students may also consider pursuing a "walk-on scholarship." This is when a student enrolls in their school of interest without having been recruited and offered a scholarship package and then tries out for the school's baseball team. Walk-ons can look quite different depending on the school, the college coaches, and the baseball player. Though a riskier and competitive option, there are many well-known athletes who got their start as walk-ons.

How hard is it to get a baseball scholarship?

Baseball scholarships are quite competitive. The NCAA reports that only about 1.3% of students receive full or partial athletic scholarships. In the 2016-2017 school year, for example, only 9 percent of high school baseball players went on to play at the college level, with an even smaller percentage playing NCAA Division I baseball. However, athletes seeking financial aid can also apply for other types of scholarships that have higher success rates.

Athletic scholarship money is awarded to only the most outstanding student-athletes, with decisions based on individual abilities and how well players mesh with and support their team.

The NCAA sets limits on the number of scholarships allowed per baseball program; these regulations can make baseball scholarships even more competitive. Don't let these limits discourage you, however; since baseball is an "equivalency sport," the allotted scholarships can be divided among players at the college coaches' discretion. Many coaches award partial scholarships to their players to maximize the number of students receiving financial aid. (Note: It's called an "equivalency sport" because the total scholarships awarded to the team are equal to the number of scholarships allowed by the division.)

It is also important to note that athletic scholarships tend to require a certain time commitment for playing and training — generally, around 20 hours a week, and this number can be higher depending on the school's NCAA division. Prospective student-athletes should consider whether they can commit the time required to play on their school's baseball team and maintain their scholarship.

How many baseball scholarships are there?

There are many scholarships, full and partial, available for baseball players and fans. There are scholarships available through the NCAA, the NAIA, and private sources such as Bold.org.

NCAA Baseball Scholarships

Each NCAA division has its own unique scholarship limits and rules.

NCAA Division I Baseball

Division I programs may offer a maximum of 11.7 athletic scholarships, to be divided up among a maximum of 27 players. A D1 player's scholarship award must cover a minimum of 25% of the total cost of attendance. A full scholarship should include tuition, fees, books, room, and board. In recent years, there have been programs and initiatives to help students cover additional college expenses, as well as educate and assist players with Name Image and Likeness (NLI) money.

NCAA Division II Baseball

Division II baseball programs can offer a maximum of 9 athletic scholarships, to be divided up among players as the coach sees fit. Again, a full scholarship includes tuition, fees, books, room, and board.

NCAA Division III Baseball

Division III programs offer no athletic scholarship money, though students may be able to receive other types of financial aid from these institutions. Always check the school's financial aid office for more information.

NAIA Baseball Scholarships

NAIA baseball programs offer a maximum of 12 athletic scholarships, to be divided up among players at the coach's discretion. A full scholarship includes tuition, mandatory fees, books, and supplies required for courses in which the athlete is enrolled, as well as room and board based on the school's published costs.

NJCAA Baseball Scholarships

Like the NCAA, the NJCAA has three divisions with their own unique scholarship limits.

NJCAA Division I Baseball

Division I programs may offer a maximum of 24 full athletic scholarships, with the award covering tuition, fees, room and board, course-related books, up to $250 in required supplies, and transportation costs.

NJCAA Division II Baseball

Division II baseball programs also offer a maximum of 24 athletic scholarships, with funding covering tuition, fees, course-related books, and up to $250 in course-required supplies. These scholarship awards do not cover room and board or transportation.

NJCAA Division III Baseball

Like in the NCAA, NJCAA Division III programs offer no athletic scholarship money. Students should check their school's financial aid office for more information about alternative forms of financial aid.

When can I start applying?

You can start applying for scholarships as soon as you're at least fourteen years old and in high school. The earlier you start, the more time you'll have to earn scholarship funding. However, it's never too late to start. Many students don't begin applying for scholarships until their senior year of high school or even in college. 

There are scholarships with deadlines all throughout the year, so there will always be a scholarship open for you, no matter when you choose to apply!

Are scholarships counted as income?

Scholarships are generally not counted as income as long as they're applied to eligible educational costs, including tuition, fees, and book expenses. If money is sent directly to you and applied to other costs, such as housing or travel expenses, it may be taxed. Alternatively, if the total money you receive is greater than your total educational expenses, the remaining money may be taxed.

However, since scholarship money is typically sent directly to the winner's college, the money will usually be automatically applied to these qualifying costs.