Jackson Reid
Golf scholarships are highly competitive, with very few players receiving them due to the maximum athletic scholarship limit set by the NCAA. The number of golf scholarships available varies depending on the division and institution, with only NCAA Division I and II universities offering athletic scholarships. In men's golf, NCAA Division 1, Division 2, NAIA, and junior colleges offer athletic scholarships. The NCAA allows fully funded men's Division 1 programs to have 4.5 scholarships, while Division 2 programs are allowed 3.6. Women's golf coaches prioritize recruits who can make an immediate impact on the team, and golf scholarships for women are also highly competitive and difficult to obtain.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of colleges with sponsored men's golf teams | 1,000 |
| Number of colleges with sponsored women's golf teams | 1,000 |
| Number of colleges with golf teams in Pennsylvania | 104 |
| Number of colleges with golf teams in California | 101 |
| Number of colleges with golf teams in New York | 82 |
| Number of colleges with golf teams in Texas | 63 |
| Number of colleges with golf teams in Illinois | 63 |
| Average team size for NCAA D1 women's golf | 8.4 |
| Average team size for NCAA D3 men's golf | 11.3 |
| Maximum scholarships available per team | 9 |
| Maximum scholarships for NCAA Division 1 men's golf | 4.5 |
| Maximum scholarships for NCAA Division 2 men's golf | 3.6 |
| Average number of players per team for JUCO golf | 7.5 |
| Percentage of golfers in Division 1 on full scholarships | 5% or 10% |
| Number of coaches who reported having zero players on full ride | 58 out of 83 |
| Number of coaches who reported having one player on full ride | 15 out of 83 |
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What You'll Learn
Full golf scholarships are rare
Golf scholarships are highly competitive and coveted, with a limited number available and a large pool of talented players. Full golf scholarships are particularly rare, with coaches typically dividing their funds across multiple athletes. This means that athletes often need to supplement their scholarship with other forms of financial aid, such as need-based or academic scholarships.
In a survey of 83 golf coaches, 69% reported having zero players on a full scholarship, 18% reported one player on a full scholarship, and 4 coaches reported that 20% of their team was on a full scholarship. This suggests that full scholarships are indeed scarce, with only a small percentage of players receiving them.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulates the number of scholarships that can be awarded, and only NCAA Division I and II universities offer athletic scholarships. The NCAA allows fully funded men's Division 1 programs to have 4.5 scholarships, while Division 2 programs are allowed 3.6. This means that with teams typically consisting of 10 or more players, very few players receive full scholarships.
Additionally, golf is an equivalency sport, which means coaches have a pool of money to distribute to multiple athletes, making full-ride scholarships even more uncommon. To increase their chances of receiving a full scholarship, student-athletes should focus on building a strong online profile, reaching out to college coaches, and attending tournaments, especially multi-day tournaments, where they can rank nationally.
While full golf scholarships are rare, there are other opportunities for financial aid. For example, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) offers full and partial scholarships to talented athletes, and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) provides scholarships on both the Division I and II levels. Outside organizations also offer golf scholarships, such as the Evans Scholarship, which provides full tuition and housing for high-achieving caddies with financial needs.
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NCAA regulates scholarship numbers
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulates the number of scholarships that can be awarded to every division and institution. As such, only NCAA Division I and II universities offer athletic scholarships.
The NCAA allows fully funded men's Division 1 golf programs to have 4.5 scholarships, while Division 2 programs are allowed 3.6. This means that, on average, each player on a team of 10 will receive a partial scholarship of 45% of the tuition fees. However, this is the maximum number of scholarships a school can offer, and many schools do not have the funds to offer this many. In fact, 69% of coaches surveyed reported having zero players on a full scholarship, and only 18% reported having one player on a full scholarship.
Golf is an equivalency sport, meaning that coaches will often break up their scholarship money into partial scholarships for multiple athletes on their team. This means that full scholarships are rare, and athletes will need to supplement their financial package with other scholarships or aid.
Division 3 coaches cannot offer athletic scholarships, but they can work with the admissions department to find opportunities for academic scholarships, merit-based scholarships, grants, and work-study. 82% of NCAA Division 3 athletes receive financial aid, and it is possible to get a competitive financial package that covers tuition, room, and board.
In 2025, new NCAA scholarship rules and roster limits were introduced, allowing schools to opt to share a cap of up to $20.5 million with their student-athletes. This gives schools more flexibility in how they manage scholarships and roster spots.
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Competition for scholarships is high
Golf scholarships are highly competitive, with very few players receiving them. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulates the number of scholarships that can be awarded, and only NCAA Division I and II universities offer athletic scholarships. The NCAA has declared golf an equivalency sport, meaning that coaches divide the number of allotted golf scholarships across their entire team, rarely granting full scholarships.
In men's golf, NCAA Division 1, Division 2, NAIA, and junior colleges offer athletic scholarships. For NCAA Division 1 men's golf, the NCAA allows fully funded programs to have 4.5 scholarships, while Division 2 programs are allowed 3.6. However, it is estimated that only about 60% of Division 1 programs and 30% of Division 2 programs have this full allotment. If the NCAA settlement is approved, Division 1 golf coaches will be able to award a maximum of 9 scholarships per team.
Similarly, starting in the 2025-26 school year, NCAA Division 1 women's golf programs will have a roster limit of 9 and can offer up to 9 scholarships. However, women's college golf is incredibly competitive, and scholarships are hard to obtain.
To increase the chances of securing a golf scholarship, it is important to have strong golf and academic credentials. College coaches highly value tournament experience and national rankings, and they prioritize recruits who can make an immediate impact on the team's overall score. Additionally, building relationships with college coaches and staying on top of recruiting periods can improve the likelihood of being offered a scholarship.
While full golf scholarships are rare, partial scholarships are more common. Partial scholarships may be supplemented with other forms of financial aid, such as need-based aid, academic scholarships, or work-study programs. Therefore, creating a robust financial package often involves combining different sources of funding.
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Scholarships are often divided among players
Golf scholarships are typically divided among players, with full scholarships being rare. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulates the number of scholarships that can be awarded in each division and institution. NCAA Division I and II universities offer athletic scholarships, with Division I schools potentially having fully funded golf teams. However, even in fully funded programmes, coaches may divide the scholarship money into partial scholarships for multiple athletes.
In NCAA Division 1, the maximum number of scholarships per team is 4.5, while Division 2 programmes are allowed 3.6. In a survey of Division 1 coaches, 69% reported having no players on a full ride, 18% reported one player on a full ride, and 4 coaches reported that 20% of their team was on a full ride.
The competition for golf scholarships is high, and several factors are considered when awarding them. College coaches value tournament experience and national rankings over high school achievements. They also consider the athlete's scores and their potential to make an immediate impact on the team's performance. Additionally, academic qualifications, entrance exam scores, and competition placements are also important factors in the scholarship selection process.
To increase their chances of receiving a golf scholarship, student-athletes should build a strong online profile, attend tournaments, and reach out to college coaches. They should also consider the different division levels and the specific requirements for golf scholarships at each level. While full scholarships are rare, partial scholarships are more common, and athletes can supplement their financial package through need-based aid, academic scholarships, or other forms of financial aid.
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Coaches decide on scholarship distribution
Golf scholarships are often divided among different athletes, making full scholarships a rare occurrence. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulates the number of scholarships that can be awarded to each division and institution. As such, only NCAA Division I and II universities offer athletic scholarships.
Coaches are responsible for offering athletic scholarships to student golfers and determining the award amounts per athlete. They may use an equation to determine who they recruit by finding the average score of their best players and subtracting it by a certain number. For instance, a coach with a team average of 75 may seek to recruit athletes who score 73 or better.
Additionally, coaches tend to prioritise recruits who can make an immediate impact on the team's performance. They also consider the athlete's tournament experience and national rankings, as college courses tend to be more challenging than high school courses.
In terms of scholarship distribution, Division 2 golf coaches typically distribute funds evenly across their athletes. However, athletes may still need to rely on other forms of financial aid, such as need-based aid, work-study, or academic scholarships, to cover the remaining costs.
For Division 1 schools, the NCAA has capped the number of scholarships at 4.5 per men's team, although the availability of these scholarships depends on the school's funding. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, NCAA Division 1 women's golf programs will also have a limit of 9 scholarships to offer.
It is important to note that golf scholarships are highly competitive, and athletes should focus on both their athletic and academic credentials to maximise their chances of receiving a scholarship.
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Frequently asked questions
There are approximately 1,000 colleges with sponsored men's golf teams. The NCAA has capped the number of scholarships for men's golf teams at 4.5 per team, but this is rarely a full scholarship as coaches tend to divide the funds across multiple athletes.
There are approximately 1,000 colleges with sponsored women's golf teams. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, NCAA D1 women’s golf programs will have a roster limit of 9 and can offer up to 9 scholarships. Similar to men's golf, these scholarships are rarely full and are divided among different athletes.
Golf scholarships are highly competitive and very few players manage to receive one. To increase your chances, it is important to have strong golf and academic credentials. This includes academic qualifications, entrance exam scores, competition placements, and swing highlights. It is also recommended to build a strong online profile, reach out to college coaches, and attend tournaments.
Some colleges that offer golf scholarships include UCLA, Stanford University, Georgia Tech, Duke University, Florida Southern College, Rollins College, and Oklahoma City University.
