Ivy League Athletic Scholarships: What You Need To Know

Ivy League schools have some of the most competitive admissions rates of colleges and universities in the world. Because their athletes must meet the school’s admissions requirements – and still compete at a high level athletically – athletic programs for each Ivy League school are very particular about whom they recruit. 

Understanding how the recruitment process for Ivy League institutions differs from other colleges and universities is important if you want to attend one of these schools as a student-athlete.

Interested in a Ivy League school? Let’s talk about the nature of Ivy League athletics, whether you can get a scholarship, and what you should know as a student-athlete. 

Overview of the Ivy League

As you can guess, Ivy League athletics are slightly different from other schools. From the recruiting process to the actual programs, there are distinctions you should know before you choose to go for an Ivy League athletics program. 

What are the Ivy League schools?

In the United States, the Ivy League 8 consists of eight prestigious colleges and universities. They include: 

1. Harvard University 
2. Yale University 
3. Princeton University 
4. Columbia University 
5. Brown University 
6. Dartmouth College 
7. University of Pennsylvania 
8. Cornell University 

Academic Index

The biggest thing to know is that Ivy League schools use something called the Academic Index. This is a score based on an applicant’s SAT scores and GPA.  

The school’s average Academic Index is higher when they admit high-score students, and admissions offices use this index to see how recruited athletes measure up against other students in their admissions class. Basically, they want to look for athletes with similar academic qualifications to the whole student population to ensure the student-athletes can keep up with the school workload.   

Ivy League schools put a great emphasis on being the best academically. To be an Academic Index, students are also highly accomplished in the classroom as well. Ivy League sports are Division 1 but Ivy League football teams compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).  

“Likely letters”

Ivy Leagues are also unique because they send “likely letters” to recruited athletes. Likely letters show that the athlete is at the top of the applicants list, and as long as nothing changes before admissions letters go out, the athlete will likely gain admission.   

History of Ivy League athletics

Ivy Leagues are some of the oldest schools in the country, so it makes sense they have a unique history with athletics. This history dates to the late 19^th century, when Ivy League schools were among the first to establish athletic programs. At this point, intercollegiate sports were becoming more popular, and Ivy League schools were at the forefront of this trend. 

The emphasis was initially on traditional sports, like basketball, football, and track and field. Originally, students played these sports for fun at their respected schools, but eventually, formal athletic leagues and regular intercollegiate competitions came about.

With the focus on competition for its own sake, Ivy Leagues still do not offer athletic scholarships.

With the rich history and traditions Ivy Leagues offer, these institutions often have rivalries that date back decades or even centuries. For example, Yale and Princeton have the oldest rivalry in college football. This all adds to the passion and prestige of these athletic programs. 

How the lack of scholarships affects recruitment of athletes

Since Ivy Leagues don’t offer the same level of financial support as Division 1 schools, they can lose out on student-athletes who want or need athletic scholarships and have a lot of options for college-level sports.

Students may choose schools with athletic scholarships awarded rather than going for an Ivy League opportunity simply based on finances alone. 

Even with these challenges, Ivy Leagues still attract plenty of talented student-athletes who want the combination of top-notch academics and competitive athletics.

If you want to attend an Ivy League, you can communicate with college coaches and create your own digital presence on recruiting platforms like NCSA.  

The academic realities faced by Ivy League athletes

Most people recognize Ivy League schools’ rigorous academic programs and high standards. And, student-athletes need to keep the same level of academic excellence as their non-athlete peers.  

This means if you attend an Ivy League as a student-athlete, you’ll have a lot on your shoulders. You have to figure out how to balance your athletic commitments with academic responsibilities. This can be tough, but it certainly is possible. Just look at all the successful athletes who completed Ivy League programs before going pro. 

Alternatives to athletic scholarships

Instead of athletic scholarships, Ivy League schools offer need-based financial aid. You would fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile to apply for this aid. Finishing these applications early will help your chances of getting financial aid. 

All Ivy League schools commit to meeting 100% of demonstrated need of students. Some institutions offer loans as part of their financial aid packages, while others (like Harvard and Columbia) only offer need-based grants. The benefit of receiving need-based grants is that they don’t need to be repaid.  

With these options available, you shouldn’t let athletic scholarships get in the way of attending an Ivy League as a student-athlete.  

Ivy League athletics vs. other Division 1 athletics

The Ivy League is one of many Division 1 conferences, but it only has eight schools included. Other Division 1 conferences, like the SEC, BIG Ten, or ACC, include other universities and colleges. Overall, Division 1 consists of hundreds of various schools and programs.  

Ivy League programs are different than other programs mainly because of the emphasis on academics. The biggest thing that sets Ivy League athletics apart is its commitment to amateurism in athletics and excellence in academics. 

The Ivy League also prohibits its football teams, for academic reasons, from playing in postseason games – though other sports are allowed to without restriction.

The recruitment process for Ivy League athletes 

The recruitment process for Ivy League athletics is often more selective and competitive because they have lower admission rates. So, they’ll choose from a smaller pool of athletes compared to other Division 1 programs. 

NCSA makes this easier by allowing you to contact coaches directly.  

Get recruited with NCSA

Ivy League colleges and universities are some of the most elite, prestigious schools in the country. They have strong athletic programs and even stronger academic programs.

Student-athletes wanting to get recruited by Ivy Leagues need to keep the Academic Index in mind during high school. Getting good grades and test scores is a big factor in whether these schools will accept you. 

And remember that even though Ivy League schools don’t offer athletic scholarships, they do provide need-based financial aid. Don’t let this discourage you if this experience is what you want. 

Learn more about what school might be the best fit for you – sign up for a FREE NCSA profile now.