Athletic Scholarships Abound

You are a great athlete and feel it could help you pay for your education. The problem is, many athletic scholarships are set aside for elite athletes and they are very competitive and political. But have faith, there are many smaller colleges and universities willing to bring in athletes with funds and, most importantly, they are not only looking for athletic skills but also academic achievement and drive.

The most advertised and competitive athletic awards are the NCAA scholarships, by far, but there are so many more opportunities that go under-advertised for student athletes: those with schools in the NAIA and the NJCAA open up exponentially more scholarships. And an especially hot trend: emerging women’s sports.
NCAA Scholarships

The NCAA is by far the largest collegiate athletic association in the U.S. with well over 1,000 schools in its fold. Divisions I, II, and III serve to demarcate the sizes and monetization of athletic programs: formal athletic scholarships can be extended to athletes that play for Div I and II schools, but not for athletes in Div III schools. What determines which schools fall into which divisions? Generally a combination of school size along with types and sizes of athletic programs. If you are interested in how to position yourself for a NCAA scholarship make sure to check out the eligibility rules and get yourself registered in the Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. The NCAA’s list of athletic scholarships is separated into categories: Undergraduate, Post-Graduate; and then further separated by Division.

Athletic programs at Div I and Div II schools are mid- to large-sized and extremely competitive. Coaches at these schools are in the business of wooing top athletic talent, the best of the best across the country. Div III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, per se. Their athletic programs are much smaller, but make no mistake—many are quite competitive.

Here are a couple of the unique “athletic” scholarships that the NCAA funds:

* The Freedom Forum NCAA Sports Journalism Scholarship Program. This award is given to college students with a fierce desire to pursue sports journalism.
* The NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship Program is open to students heading into post-grad studies with an eye on sports administration, coaching, or a closely related career. Eligible applicants must be ethnic minorities to be considered for these awards.

The NAIA represents a much smaller contingent of member schools—about 300, and is located in Canada and the U.S. The NAIA sponsors athletic divisions I, II, and III—not to be confused with the NCAA divisions. Sponsored athletics are those generally outside the scope of NCAA Div I levels with a marked emphasis on the academic records of student athletes. Only about a dozen sports are represented and member institutions tend to be smaller. NAIA Div I and II sports programs may offer scholarships.
NJCAA Scholarships

Two-year colleges are represented by the NJCAA. There is divisional breakdown in some of the most competitive men’s and women’s sports, but not in others. Scholarships, called grant-in-aid by the NJCAA, may be available in the Div I and II sports. NJCAA scholarship sports for men are: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, outdoor track and field, soccer, and tennis. NJCAA scholarship sports for women are: basketball, cross country, fast-pitch softball, outdoor track and field, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Make no mistake, community college athletics can foster fiercely competitive athletes. If you’re considering transfer to a four-year school, a two-year athletic program can get you really prepared to compete.
Full Scholarships vs. Partial Scholarships

So how much money does an athletic scholarship include? Scholarships awarded for athletic ability typically fall into one of two categories: full scholarships and partial scholarships. These are completely dependent on the schools themselves. In the NCAA, over 125,000 student athletes are on full or partial athletic scholarships. Full scholarships regardless of division may include tuition, books, transportation, room and board, plus other expenses. Partial scholarships may cover various portions of those expenses just listed.


There are other sources to search for when you’re looking for scholarship money as well. First, browse our athletic scholarships by sport. In almost every instance you will find athletic scholarships from untapped sources alongside larger, “reach” scholarships. For example:

* Under hockey scholarships you’ll find memorial funds, money from hockey associations, and a scholarship from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
* Search rodeo scholarships you’ll find a blend of scholarships from colleges and universities that have rodeo teams, and a few good scholarships from regional rodeo associations.
* Browse archery scholarships and find a slew of archery and bow-hunters association scholarships alongside college and university scholarships.

The secret is to check out the less competitive scholarships, those especially from regional clubs and associations. Remember there are plenty of awards that are based as much on other personal attributes as they are on athletic skills: leadership qualities, extracurricular involvement, and community service.

Many schools offer partial scholarships to talented athletes in efforts to grow successful athletic programs. The opportunity just to play is as important.

So with a little education and some work, you might find that athletic scholarship just for you.

Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of private student loans and information on student loans and consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.student-loans.net

Turning to Private Student Loans

College is getting more and more expensive along with gas, housing, and many other aspects of our lives. Many people find it very difficult if not impossible to save for their children’s education despite their best efforts. Many students are able to get grants and scholarships to help fund their education, but often those monies run out or fall short of what is truly needed to go to school. More than half of all students are now turning to student loans to help fill in the gaps between jobs, money saved, scholarships and grants.
There are many types of student loans. Most often, students will apply for Federal student financial aid. Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans and even PLUS Loans for parents may not be enough. If you do not qualify or if you simply do not get enough money from your Federal efforts, then check with your school. Many schools offer their own loans. State Aid is also available to many families that can help pay for your school. Some loans have restrictions and can only be used for tuition, room and board or books. College can become extremely expensive and extra money is almost always needed. Many students just need help paying for food and gas. Private Student Loans are becoming a popular option to help pay for some of these extra expenses.
Private Student Loans are not backed or subsidized by the government like other types of student loans. These types of loans are much like standard loans. They are backed by financial institutions and banks. Private Student Loans can be dispersed directly to the school of your choice to help pay for normal college expenses. They can also be paid directly to you and can be used for just about any college expense. Federal loans generally have a loan limit. This can leave a lot of students short. Private Student Loans do not really have a cap. You can borrow as much as you qualify for. Most Private Student Loan lenders require good credit, occasionally a cosigner, proof of enrollment in school, and a verifiable income. Standards can vary from lender to lender, so shop around. Some web sites offer submission to multiple institutions so that you can compare rates, terms and amounts approved by many institutions at once.
Many people think that private student loans will have a high interest rate. This is not necessarily true. They usually have a slightly higher rate than government backed Federal loans, but lower rates than conventional loans. When shopping around, check out and compare rates, terms and payback plans. Also be aware of origination fees, fiduciary fees, late fees and other types of fees. You should be made aware of all fees as well as the annual percentage rate before you take out a loan. Some lenders may offer special benefits that make them more similar to Federal loans, such as deferred payments until after graduation or forebearences which allow you to suspend payments during times of financial struggle. It can be hard to qualify for a forebearence, so make sure that you are aware of all the details before you make your decision.

Consolidation of Student Loans

Student loans can be consolidated to reduce payments, fix interest rates and extend the life of the loan. Certain loans can be consolidated, including Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, and PLUS Loans. Although extensions of loans through consolidation can increase the total amount paid by the end of the loan, it can offer some financial relief and simplification of payment plans to student loan customers.
Stafford Loans are offered to students at a lower interest rate than most loans. Eligible students can enjoy delaying payments until after college. Subsidized Stafford Loans are given on a financial need basis. The government pays the interest on subsidized loans during the time that the student is enrolled in school. Unsubsidized loans accrue interest while you are in school and you are responsible for the repayment of this interest. Stafford Loans, subsidized and unsubsidized, can be consolidated into one loan with a fixed interest rate. This will generally extend the life of the loan, but can offer relief from high payments. Consolidation also helps simplify your payments, so that you can make only one payment per month instead of multiple payments with varying due dates to multiple loans.
The Federal Perkins Loan is subsidized by the government like a subsidized Stafford Loan. The government pays the interest that accrues on the loan during the time that the student is enrolled in college. Keep in mind that you must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify. The Stafford Loan has a six month after graduation or withdrawal grace period in which repayment does not begin. The Federal Perkins Loan has a nine month grace period. The Federal Perkins Loan has a special provision for teachers. Teachers may be able to cancel part of the amount that they owe on their Federal Perkins Loans. Teachers can qualify for a percentage of their loan to be cancelled for each year that they teach in special low-income schools, or in areas where there are teacher shortages. The Federal Perkins Loan carries a fixed interest rate of five percent and has a ten year repayment period. This repayment period can be extended through student loan consolidation.
PLUS Loans are sometimes referred to as parent loans. They can also be obtained by graduate students and students in professional study. Unlike Stafford Loans and Federal Perkins Loans, PLUS Loans do not have a grace period. Payments may be immediately due after the loan monies are dispersed. PLUS Loans usually have higher interest rates than Stafford Loans or Federal Perkins Loans, but they are generally not as difficult to qualify for. You are not required to have a financial need to qualify for a PLUS Loan, but you will, however, need to have good credit to qualify. Repayment plans are not as flexible with PLUS Loans, so many people turn to consolidation if they are having trouble repaying the loans.
Many students end up with Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, and PLUS Loans to repay. Students can now consolidate all of these loans into one easy to manage loan. Most student loans must be repaid within about ten years. But, with consolidation, you can extend the repayment period of these student loans for up to thirty years. This can make student loan debt a lot more manageable and repayment more attainable.