College Golf Scholarships and Requirements
How golf 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 Golf Scholarships?
Explore golf 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 Golf Scholarships
NCAA Division I golf can offer scholarships. Opted-in schools use a roster limit of 9 instead of a scholarship cap.
NCAA Division II Golf Scholarships
NCAA Division II golf teams share 3.6 men's, 5.4 women's scholarship equivalencies, so awards are often partial.
NCAA Division III Golf 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 Golf 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 Golf 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 Golf Scholarships Work?
College golf 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 golf aid, and what you need to qualify for a golf scholarship.
What Is a Golf Athletic Scholarship?
An athletic scholarship is financial aid a college gives an athlete to compete for its golf 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 Golf 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 golf teams share 3.6 men's, 5.4 women's scholarship equivalencies. Ask each golf coach how the program splits its aid across the roster.
NCAA Division I Golf 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 golf, the limit is 9.
NAIA and Junior College Golf 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 Golf 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 Golf Scholarships
Colleges offer golf scholarships to athletes they recruit, so the conversation usually starts with a coach who knows who you are. When you write, lead with your scoring average, tournament finishes and handicap or ranking and include a swing video from down the line and face on. A coach decides based on their roster needs, their budget and what they see in you, and no one can promise an offer.
What Golf Coaches Evaluate
What coaches check for each part of your game, and what to send when you ask about aid.
Scoring
- Scoring average and best recent rounds
- Tournament finishes
- Course rating and yardage behind each score
- Leaderboard or results links
- Scoring average for the season
- The courses and tees you played
Rankings
- Junior ranking or handicap index
- Results against stronger fields
- Progress over recent seasons
- Your ranking profile link
- Handicap index
- A list of upcoming tournaments
Swing and short game
- Swing mechanics and consistency
- Short game and putting
- Course management
- Swing video down the line and face on
- Short game video
- Stats you track, such as fairways and greens
College Golf Programs by Level and Team
Division I has the most college golf programs we list (334 of 1266). The most are in Pennsylvania, Texas and New York. We list 1,000+ golf coaches you can contact.
How Do You Get a Golf Scholarship?
Get answers about golf scholarship requirements, NCAA divisions, scholarship amounts, and how to get recruited by college golf coaches.
What scoring average do I need for a college golf scholarship?
There is no single number, because courses and fields differ. Coaches compare your scores with what their current players shoot, so look at each program's results and ask where you would fit. Find golf coaches.
Do college golf coaches want a swing video?
Some do, but scores come first. Send a swing video from down the line and face on if you have one, and lead with your tournament results.
How much can a Division II golf team give?
Division II men's teams share 3.6 scholarship equivalencies and women's teams share 5.4. Rosters are small, but awards are still often partial, so ask each coach what is available.
Should I email junior college and NAIA golf programs too?
Yes. Programs at every level carry small rosters, so a program that fits your scores may have room for you. Emailing across divisions gives you more options.
How many scholarships can a golf team give?
At Division I schools that opted into the House settlement, golf uses a roster limit of 9 in place of a scholarship cap. Division II golf teams share 3.6 men's, 5.4 women's scholarship equivalencies. NAIA and NJCAA set their own limits, so confirm the current figures with each college.
Are men's and women's golf scholarships different?
The NCAA's Division I roster limit is 9 for both teams. Division II golf teams share 3.6 men's, 5.4 women's scholarship equivalencies. AthleticScholar lists more than 900 men's and 1,000 women's college golf programs, and each college decides what aid each team offers. Browse golf colleges.
What are the requirements for a golf 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 scoring average, tournament finishes and handicap or ranking. NAIA and NJCAA have their own rules. NCAA Eligibility Center.
Do Division III golf programs offer scholarships?
No. Division III schools cannot award athletic scholarships, and AthleticScholar lists 321 Division III golf programs. Many offer academic merit and need-based aid, and their coaches still recruit golf athletes. Ask each program about aid and talk to the college's financial aid office. Find golf 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.
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