15 Sports Scholarships for High School Students

If you are a high school student in the U.S. actively involved in sports and athletics, scholarships can be a worthwhile way to gain valuable financial support for your higher education while allowing you to continue your athletic journey. Pursuing sports scholarships offers you a clear pathway to fund your college education, enabling you to continue developing your athletic abilities at the collegiate level. These non-repayable financial awards come in diverse forms, from full-ride opportunities covering all educational costs to partial awards that significantly supplement your financial aid. You will also gain access to professional coaching, advanced training facilities, and opportunities to compete at higher levels, alongside the academic support necessary to earn your degree.

What do Sports scholarships for high schoolers include?

Participation in scholarship programs will allow you to experience personal growth, develop leadership skills, and understand the dedication required to balance demanding athletic schedules with rigorous academic coursework. You will learn to manage your time effectively, work collaboratively with teammates, and build character through competition. Selection criteria for sports scholarships typically involve a holistic evaluation, assessing your athletic prowess through competition records, your academic achievements through GPA and class rank, and your character as demonstrated by leadership and community service. Understanding these multifaceted criteria is crucial as you prepare your applications. This article is designed to help you navigate this competitive landscape by presenting a curated list of opportunities, offering clear details on eligibility, deadlines, and direct application links. 

To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 sports scholarships for high school students that you should check out!

You can also check out these guides on sports internships and summer sports analytics programs for high school students! 

1. Tom LoCasale Developing Character Through Golf Scholarship

This scholarship honors the legacy of an individual dedicated to teaching young golfers about the profound connection between the sport and character development. As an applicant, you will submit an essay between 400 and 600 words, reflecting on the biggest life lesson golf has taught you and how you plan to apply these lessons in your future endeavors. The program actively encourages first-generation college students and those from underrepresented groups to apply, recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives in the sport. If selected, you will receive an award that can be used for tuition, books, computers, or accommodation costs at your chosen college, supporting your educational journey. You will demonstrate how golf has instilled in you patience, perseverance, and strong character traits.

2. First Tee College Scholarship Program

This program offers you vital financial assistance if you are an alumnus of First Tee programs, providing support for your pursuit of higher education. Beyond monetary aid, you will benefit from life skill development and mentorship services specifically designed to ensure your success during college and your transition into a career. You can participate in numerous national opportunities hosted by the First Tee organization throughout the year, such as championships and academies, which further enhance your development. You will access First Tee’s extensive network of chapters across the United States, receiving guidance on scholarship opportunities and the application process. This program empowers you by recognizing your commitment to golf and personal growth.

3. Mass Youth Soccer Student Athlete Scholarship

If you are a college-bound high school senior in Massachusetts with a deep connection to soccer, this scholarship provides direct financial support for your educational pursuits. You will need to demonstrate a long-term commitment to the sport, either through playing, coaching younger athletes, or serving as a referee. Your application requires you to submit an essay of no more than 500 words, explaining how soccer has positively influenced your life and contributed to your development. This scholarship recognizes not just your athletic skill but also your leadership, mentorship, and community involvement within the soccer sphere.

4. Marc E. Lewis Youth Scholarship

This unique scholarship supports you if you have actively worked to foster safer and more inclusive sports programs for LGBTQIA+ student-athletes in high school and your community. You can be a graduating or recently graduated Massachusetts high school student planning to attend college or a career school. The program welcomes applications from gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and straight students who have demonstrated a commitment to LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Your application will be assessed based on your responses to specific questions about your inclusion work, alongside two letters of reference from individuals who can speak to your efforts to create welcoming athletic environments. If selected, you could receive up to $10,000 annually to support your post-secondary education, recognizing your impactful advocacy.

5. BigSun Scholarship

The BigSun Scholarship supports you regardless of the specific sport you play or your level of involvement, recognizing that athletic excellence takes many forms. You are encouraged to apply whether you are a varsity player, junior varsity athlete, or team manager, celebrating your dedication to high school athletics. Your application requires an essay between 500 and 1,000 words, addressing three key questions: how sports participation influenced you personally, whether it shaped your career goals, and how it impacted your family relationships. The organization emphasizes the importance of original, thoughtful writing that genuinely reflects your authentic experience as a student-athlete, explicitly stating that AI-generated essays will not be accepted. If you are a recipient, you will receive a $500 award, with notifications sent within two weeks of the deadline and the funds mailed shortly thereafter.

6. The American Legion Baseball Scholarship

If you are a high school graduate with a background in American Legion Baseball, this scholarship offers a substantial opportunity to support your higher education. You will complete an official application and nomination form, which requires three letters of testimony from individuals familiar with your athletic and academic accomplishments. You must also provide your official high school transcript and detailed descriptions of your college plans, career interests, and community service activities. Recipients are eligible to receive awards immediately upon graduation, with funds available for use within eight years. This scholarship is available nationally, recognizing the countless collegiate and professional players developed through American Legion Baseball, and particularly values your academic excellence and contributions to the community.

7. Carolina Panthers Players Sam Mills Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship honors the legacy of a football legend, Sam Mills, by supporting high school athletes in specific regional counties who demonstrate exceptional athletic and academic achievement. If you are a high school senior in Mecklenburg County, NC, or Spartanburg County, SC, you will need to secure a nomination from your high school principal or headmaster to be considered. The award amount will vary based on your specific needs, supporting you in pursuing a four-year degree at an accredited college or university. This scholarship recognizes your excellence in football combined with strong academics, preparing you for success in college.

8. Pop Keeney Athletic Scholarship

This scholarship honors the enduring legacy of Pop Keeney, an influential football coach and athletic director, by supporting graduating high school seniors from Northshore School District high schools. If you are a varsity football player from any Northshore high school, this award can significantly contribute to your college tuition, books, housing, or other educational expenses. The selection committee, comprised of members of the Haynes and Keeney families and the Scholarship Committee of the Kiwanis Club of Northshore, will evaluate your candidacy based on your ability to succeed academically and athletically at the college level. You must demonstrate exceptional athletic ability combined with strong character and leadership developed through your football training, with plans to continue participating in sports during college.

9. Denver Area Lynch Family Legacy Scholarship

The Denver Area Lynch Family Legacy Scholarship provides significant financial support for you if you are a high school senior varsity student-athlete from Denver and the greater Colorado area. Each year, four outstanding student-athletes receive scholarships, demonstrating the Lynch family’s commitment to supporting athletic excellence in their home region. To apply, you will submit an essay and provide three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to your athletic and academic achievements. You must also provide documentation of financial need, academic achievement, and community service. Your application will be holistically evaluated based on your academics, athletics, community involvement, financial need, leadership qualities, and other intangible traits that highlight your potential for college success.

10. OHSAA Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Program

This program, sponsored by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, recognizes exceptional student-athletes across Ohio’s high schools who excel in both athletics and academics. If you are an outstanding student-athlete, your school will nominate one male and one female student. Your scholarship selection will be based on a point system that rewards your grade point average, class rank, community service contributions, varsity letters earned, and individual and team athletic honors. If chosen, you will receive a monetary award to be applied toward college tuition and expenses, along with public recognition of your achievement as an exemplary student-athlete. You must be a graduating senior with a minimum 3.25 GPA and have earned several varsity letters in OHSAA-sanctioned sports.

11. Holiday Classic Scholarship

If you are a high school senior from a school that participated in the State Farm Holiday Classic basketball tournament, this scholarship offers you a sizeable award. One winner from each of the four tournament brackets receives this scholarship annually, recognizing exceptional student-athletes from participating schools. The selection committee, composed of current and former educators, evaluates applicants based on leadership skills, academic performance, and participation in student activities and community service. Your application must include a completed online scholarship application, a brief essay of 200 to 500 words titled “How my high school sports experience helped prepare me for success in higher education,” and two letters of recommendation from individuals who have worked with you in student activities or community service programs.

12. TrophyCentral Sportsmanship and Compassion Scholarship Award

This scholarship recognizes high school seniors who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship, kindness, and compassion both on and off the athletic field. If you embody these principles and use athletics as a vehicle for building community and demonstrating character, you could receive the scholarship. To qualify, you must maintain a minimum high school GPA of 3.25 through the first semester of your junior year and illustrate a unique form of sportsmanship. Your application requires an application form, your high school transcript, an essay explaining your commitment to sportsmanship and compassion, and recommendations from teachers, coaches, or other adults. Special consideration is given to first-generation college students and those entering a branch of the military, valuing their additional commitments and achievements.

13. Cavaliers Scholarship Program

Supported by Huntington Bank, the Cavaliers Scholarship Program offers substantial financial assistance to you if you are a graduating high school senior with permanent residence in Northeast Ohio. Five recipients each receive the scholarship, which can be used to attend college, vocational or trade school, or other educational programs leading to certification or a degree. The selection committee evaluates your application based on your academic performance, outstanding community service contributions, and demonstrated financial need, recognizing that comprehensive excellence is key. In addition to the main awards, five semifinalists receive an amount in their Huntington savings accounts, providing meaningful financial support. If you are selected, you will also be recognized during a Cavaliers home game, celebrating your achievements publicly.

14. Haskel Todd Athletic Scholarship

This scholarship is designed for you if you are a graduating high school senior from Poway, California, demonstrating both athletic passion and financial need. This scholarship recognizes that financial barriers can sometimes prevent talented athletes from pursuing a college education and continuing their athletic careers, aiming to alleviate some of those obstacles. Your application requires a completed typewritten application, a copy of your high school transcript, and a letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or other school administrator. You must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and provide clear evidence of financial need within your application materials. This scholarship specifically serves the Poway community, supporting local students who have significantly contributed to their high schools through athletic participation and embody a genuine love for sports.

15. Heather Brown Sports Information Scholarship

If you are a high school senior, incoming college freshman, or current undergraduate student aspiring to a career in sports information, administration, or journalism, this scholarship is tailored for you. It honors Heather Brown’s legacy by supporting students who share her passion for all facets of the sports industry beyond just playing. Your eligibility hinges on pursuing one of these fields and having notable athletic achievements, media experience, volunteer work, or leadership within sports. The application requires a 400 to 600-word essay where you respond to prompts about your career goals, the essential skills for your chosen field and how you’ll develop them, and examples of your generosity and kindness. Two awards are presented to outstanding applicants who exhibit both professional potential and strong personal character.

One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program

If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like investigative journalism, media studies, political reporting, data journalism, and the ethics of news and information, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!

Image source: Horizon Academic Research Program