College Equestrian Scholarships and Requirements
How equestrian scholarships work for men's and women's teams, which college programs can offer aid, and what coaches look for before you reach out.
Which Colleges Offer Equestrian Scholarships?
Explore equestrian programs across NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA and junior colleges that can offer athletic scholarships. Division III schools don't award them but may offer academic and need-based aid.
NCAA Division I Equestrian Scholarships
NCAA Division I equestrian can offer scholarships. Opted-in schools use a roster limit of 50 instead of a scholarship cap.
NCAA Division II Equestrian Scholarships
NCAA Division II equestrian teams share 15 scholarship equivalencies, so awards are often partial.
NCAA Division III Equestrian Scholarships
NCAA Division III schools can't award athletic scholarships, but coaches still recruit. Many offer academic and need-based aid through the financial aid office.
NAIA Equestrian Scholarships
NAIA colleges can offer athletic scholarships, but each school decides how much within NAIA rules. Total aid can't exceed the cost of attending.
NJCAA Equestrian Scholarships
NJCAA aid depends on the division: Division I can offer full scholarships, Division II covers tuition, fees and books, and Division III offers none.
How Do College Equestrian Scholarships Work?
College equestrian scholarships help student-athletes pay for college based on their athletic ability. Learn how full and partial scholarships work, which NCAA and NAIA schools offer equestrian aid, and what you need to qualify for a equestrian scholarship.
What Is a Equestrian Athletic Scholarship?
An athletic scholarship is financial aid a college gives an athlete to compete for its equestrian team. The college decides who receives one and how much, usually through the coaching staff. NCAA Division I and II schools, NAIA schools and some junior colleges can offer them. NCAA Division III schools cannot.
Full vs. Partial Equestrian Scholarships
A full scholarship covers the main costs of attending, and a partial scholarship covers part of them. The NCAA says most athletics scholarships are partial, and athletes often combine them with academic awards and need-based aid. Division II equestrian teams share 15 scholarship equivalencies. Ask each equestrian coach how the program splits its aid across the roster.
NCAA Division I Equestrian Scholarship Rules
In June 2025 the NCAA Division I Board adopted roster limits to replace sport-specific scholarship limits. They apply to schools in the defendant conferences and to schools that opt in to the settlement rules, and they took effect July 1, 2025. Those schools can offer partial or full scholarships to any athlete on their roster, within the roster limit. Schools that have not opted in follow different rules, so you cannot assume one limit applies everywhere. Ask each program what it can offer. For equestrian, the limit is 50.
NAIA and Junior College Equestrian Scholarships
NAIA first-time athletes need an eligibility determination from the NAIA Eligibility Center, and each NAIA college decides what athletic aid to offer within the NAIA limits for its sports. NJCAA colleges follow their division: Division I may offer full scholarships, Division II covers tuition, fees and books, and Division III offers none. Always confirm a college's level before you plan around aid.
Athletic vs. Academic Equestrian Scholarships
Students in every division can receive academic scholarships, grants and need-based aid. Division III schools do not give athletic scholarships, so their athletes rely on these other types of aid. Many athletes at other levels combine athletic aid with them.
How to Qualify for Equestrian Scholarships
Colleges offer equestrian scholarships to athletes they recruit, so the conversation usually starts with a coach who knows who you are. When you write, lead with your discipline (hunt seat, western or jumping), show record and highest fences or patterns and include recent rounds on different horses. A coach decides based on their roster needs, their budget and what they see in you, and no one can promise an offer.
What Equestrian Coaches Evaluate
What coaches check for each discipline, and what to send when you ask about aid.
Hunt seat
- Equitation and flat results
- Highest fence height you show
- Riding unfamiliar horses
- Show records and results links
- Video of recent rounds on different horses
- Your highest fences
Western
- Horsemanship and reining results
- Pattern accuracy and control
- Riding unfamiliar horses
- Show records and results links
- Video of recent patterns on different horses
- Your highest levels
Horse experience
- Riding horses you don't own
- Adaptability and feel
- Years of competition
- Video on more than one horse
- Your coach's contact information
- Your riding and training history
College Equestrian Programs by Level and Team
Division III has the most college equestrian programs we list (54 of 117). The most are in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. We list 100+ equestrian coaches you can contact.
How Do You Get a Equestrian Scholarship?
Get answers about equestrian scholarship requirements, NCAA divisions, scholarship amounts, and how to get recruited by college equestrian coaches.
Do I need to own a horse to ride in college?
No. College equestrian teams typically supply horses at competitions, so coaches look at how well you ride unfamiliar horses. Send video on more than one horse. Find equestrian coaches.
How much can a Division II equestrian team give?
Division II equestrian teams share 15 scholarship equivalencies. A coach divides them across a large roster, so partial awards are common.
Which discipline should I list for college equestrian?
List the one you compete in most, whether hunt seat or western, and show results in it. Coaches recruit for their program's disciplines, so ask which they need.
How many scholarships can a equestrian team give?
At Division I schools that opted into the House settlement, equestrian uses a roster limit of 50 in place of a scholarship cap. Division II equestrian teams share 15 scholarship equivalencies. NAIA and NJCAA set their own limits, so confirm the current figures with each college.
Are men's and women's equestrian scholarships different?
The NCAA's Division I roster limit is 50. Division II equestrian teams share 15 scholarship equivalencies. AthleticScholar lists more than 30 men's and 100 women's college equestrian programs, and each college decides what aid each team offers. Browse equestrian colleges.
What are the requirements for a equestrian scholarship?
There are two parts. To compete in NCAA Division I or II you register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, complete 16 core courses and reach a minimum core GPA, currently 2.3 for Division I and 2.2 for Division II, and standardized test scores are no longer required for initial eligibility. Then a coach decides on an offer from roster needs, budget and what they see in you, starting with your discipline (hunt seat, western or jumping), show record and highest fences or patterns. NAIA and NJCAA have their own rules. NCAA Eligibility Center.
Do Division III equestrian programs offer scholarships?
No. Division III schools cannot award athletic scholarships, and AthleticScholar lists 54 Division III equestrian programs. Many offer academic merit and need-based aid, and their coaches still recruit equestrian athletes. Ask each program about aid and talk to the college's financial aid office. Find equestrian coaches.
Does AthleticScholar give out scholarships?
No. AthleticScholar does not award scholarships or verify which colleges currently have scholarships available. It helps you find college programs and email their coaches so you can ask directly.
Athletic Scholarships in Other Sports
See how scholarships work and which colleges offer them in another sport.
- All college athletic scholarships
- Equestrian recruiting guide
- Equestrian coach email finder
- College program directory
- Men's equestrian colleges
- Women's equestrian colleges
- Acrobatics & Tumbling scholarships
- Archery scholarships
- Baseball scholarships
- Basketball scholarships
- Beach Volleyball scholarships
- Bowling scholarships
- Cheerleading scholarships
- Cross Country scholarships
- Dance scholarships
- eSports scholarships
- Fencing scholarships
- Field Hockey scholarships
- Football scholarships
- Golf scholarships
- Gymnastics scholarships
- Ice Hockey scholarships
- Lacrosse scholarships
- Rifle scholarships
- Rowing scholarships
- Rugby scholarships
- Soccer scholarships
- Softball scholarships
- Swimming & Diving scholarships
- Tennis scholarships
- Track & Field scholarships
- Triathlon scholarships
- Volleyball scholarships
- Water Polo scholarships
- Wrestling scholarships
Getting sent isn't enough
Getting seen is what matters
Built on cutting-edge delivery technology, giving your equestrian recruiting emails the highest chance of being seen
Your follow-ups, done for you
While others stop at one message, we send equestrian follow-ups automatically so coaches don't forget you
