Volleyball Scholarships: What College-Bound Volleyball Players Should Know

Getting a college volleyball scholarship is the ultimate goal of the recruiting process for most families. Who wouldn’t want to get their education paid for while playing the sport they love? The good news is that there are approximately 1,800 college volleyball programs across the country, with hundreds of volleyball scholarship opportunities. Here, we explain the volleyball scholarship requirements and answer families’ most-asked questions about getting college volleyball scholarships.

NEW NCaA VOLLEYBALL SCHOLARSHIP LIMITS

Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, the NCAA will eliminate D1 scholarship limits if a proposed settlement is approved, enabling all sports to distribute scholarships more flexibly among athletes. This change is expected to have a significant impact on women’s volleyball recruiting. More details and the latest updates here.

These changes would impact scholarships for volleyball players in the following ways:

• NCAA volleyball roster size: Division 1 college volleyball programs must now adhere to a 18-athlete roster size limit.
• Equivalency sport scholarships: Division 1 volleyball programs can award 18 scholarships, making every athlete on the team eligible to receive a full or partial scholarship. This is an increase from the previous limit of 12 scholarships.

Can athletes get a scholarship for volleyball?

Yes! There are plenty of college volleyball scholarship opportunities for talented high school athletes at the NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 levels, as well as at NAIA schools and junior colleges. To snag a volleyball scholarship, athletes must demonstrate to the coach that they would make a positive impact on the success of the team throughout their four years in college.

Number of women’s volleyball scholarships by division level

Volleyball scholarship requirements

Athletes must meet athletic and academic criteria to get a volleyball scholarship. The athletic criteria are largely up to the volleyball program at each individual school. Every coach has different methods for determining which athletes are right for their roster, which is why the recruiting process is so crucial.

If you aren’t sure what a college coach looks for athletically in your position, check out the roster. Look for the height, stats and accolades of a current athlete in your position. Or, better yet, you can send the coach an email to ask.

The NCAA Eligibility Center has specific academic requirements that athletes must meet to be eligible to compete at either the NCAA Division 1 or Division 2 levels. We’ve included the Division 1 requirements below. A good rule of thumb is that if an athlete meets or exceeds the D1 requirements, they will be eligible at the D2 level as well. However, always bear in mind that each individual school has its own set of admissions requirements that athletes will also have to meet.

• Graduate from high school.
• Complete 16 core courses and receive a minimum GPA of 2.3 in those courses.
  • The core course requirements are: 4 years of English; 3 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher); 2 years of natural or physical science; 2 years of social science; 1 extra year of English, math or science; and 4 years of religion, philosophy, foreign language or additional years of any of the categories above.
• Complete 10 of the 16 core courses by the end of your junior year of high school.

What percent of high school volleyball players get college scholarships?

Around 5.9% of high school volleyball players will compete at the college level. This translates to about 27,400 collegiate women’s volleyball players competing at all division levels across the U.S.

However, of those approximately 27,000 women, it’s difficult to know how many of them are scholarship athletes. While some schools are fully funded—able to provide the maximum number of scholarships to their athletes—many other schools are not.

How many scholarships do Division 1 volleyball teams get?

Starting with the 2025-26 school year if the proposed NCAA settlement is approved, the new NCAA rule reclassifies Division 1 volleyball as an equivalency sport with a roster limit of 18. This means all rostered athletes are eligible to receive a full or partial scholarships for volleyball.

How many volleyball scholarships are given each year?

Thousands of volleyball scholarships are awarded annually to women across all divisions, but the exact number is difficult to determine because some programs are fully funded, while others offer only partial scholarships.

Additionally, the number of scholarships can be misleading, as they depend heavily on the cost of tuition at each school. For instance, a full-ride scholarship at a state school costs less than one at a private school, but these variations aren’t reflected in the scholarship numbers.

To assess the value of a scholarship, families should focus on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to determine the actual out-of-pocket costs and compare offers accordingly.

Which colleges give volleyball scholarships?

Volleyball scholarships are offered by many colleges and universities across different athletic divisions. There are over 1,800 schools that field women’s volleyball programs. Here’s a breakdown of some colleges that give volleyball scholarships by division level:

NCAA Division 1:

• Stanford University
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Penn State University
• University of Florida

NCAA Division 2:

• University of Tampa
• Barry University
• Western Washington University
• Cal State San Bernardino
• Grand Valley State University

NAIA:

• Columbia College (Missouri)
• Lindsey Wilson College
• Park University
• University of Mobile
• Vanguard University

NJCAA (Junior Colleges):

• Iowa Western Community College
• Miami Dade College
• College of Southern Idaho
• Tyler Junior College
• Navarro College

Many of these programs will have at least some scholarship dollars, used to attract top talent to their team.

However, it’s nearly impossible to know how much money each individual school has to offer—this will be up to each program, and it could change from one year to the next.

The best way to determine if a program provides volleyball scholarships is to start communicating with the coach. After you develop a relationship with the coach and start getting serious recruiting interest, you can bring up the topic of college volleyball scholarships.

How to Get a Volleyball Scholarship

• Start Early: Begin improving your skills in high school, join teams, and attend camps.
• Research Colleges: Identify programs that match your skill level across NCAA, NAIA, and junior colleges.
• Create a Resume: Highlight athletic achievements, academic performance, and leadership roles.
• Make a Highlight Video: Showcase your skills in a recruiting video with clear, professional footage.
• Gain Exposure: Attend camps, tournaments, and use a recruiting platform like NCSA.
• Contact Coaches: Send personalized emails with your profile and video; follow up if necessary.
• Maintain Academics: Keep strong grades and take required courses to meet scholarship requirements.
• Understand Scholarships: Be aware of the NCAA volleyball scholarships limits and rules.
• Stay Persistent: Keep improving and exploring all options, including walk-on positions.
• Commit: Choose the best offer and sign the financial aid agreement

By staying focused, persistent, and open to all opportunities, you can increase your chances of earning a volleyball scholarship.

Have More Questions?

Your NCSA Recruiting Coach is here to help you navigate the volleyball scholarship process. Log in to schedule a conversation with your coach.

Not a member yet? Begin with a free recruiting profile and connect with an NCSA Recruiting Specialist. We’ll assist you and your family in planning the next steps in your recruiting journey and achieving your scholarship goals.