SCHOLARSHIPS

The value of an athletic scholarship varies widely. The NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA allow schools to award “equivalent” scholarships in most sports, allowing coaches to divide the money among their athletes as they see fit.

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A star recruit in a sport like baseball, softball or track and field might receive as much as 50 percent to 75 percent of a scholarship, while many of his or her teammates will get as little as 5 percent to 10 percent. But the average athletic scholarship received by players covers only about 25 percent of the cost of attendance.

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Academic scholarships can make up a significant part, if not all, of the difference. In fact, schools make it easier to find academic money for athletes. There are athletes playing Division I, and 80 percent of the scholarship money is academic and 20 percent athletic.

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Regardless of the breakdown, the college coaches are helping the families of the athletes they want in their program find ways to make attendance affordable.

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