Is it your goal to play water polo in college?
Women’s water polo is a rapidly growing sport in the United States. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) reported in 2019 that girls high school water polo has seen an 18 percent increase in participation from 2009 to 2019, while conventional sports like football have seen a nearly 10 percent drop in participation during the same timeframe.
As the sport continues to grow, competition for roster spots and scholarships will only become more intense. The NCAA offers 66 women’s water polo programs and one NAIA program. Student-athletes who are looking to compete at the collegiate level will need to master the recruiting process in order to give themselves the best opportunity to be recruited. From understanding the NCAA recruiting rules and calendar to researching target schools and identifying what college coaches look for in water polo recruits, we’ve created a guide to help student-athletes and their families navigate the college water polo recruiting process.
Get familiar with the NCAA women’s water polo recruiting rules and calendar
NCAA recruiting rules prohibit Division 1 college coaches from contacting student-athletes until June 15 after the athlete’s sophomore year. These new rules push back the date that water polo athletes can begin scheduling unofficial and official visits until after August 1 of the athlete’s junior year. The NCAA established these recruiting rules to create a more equal and positive recruiting experience for all parties involved.
Get more information about the NCAA water polo recruiting rules and calendar.
Do you have what it takes to play college water polo? Check our recruiting guidelines:
Over eight percent of female US high school water polo athletes compete at the collegiate level. Three percent of these athletes commit to an NCAA Division 1 program. With only 66 water polo programs sponsored by NCAA and NAIA institutions, student-athletes face a great deal of competition for a roster spot and scholarships.
But each student-athlete’s competition extends beyond US water polo athletes. College water polo coaches are known to recruit both domestic and international student-athletes. Student-athletes with the experience, skills and academic record that college coaches are looking for at the collegiate level are most likely to find success during the recruiting process. In this section, we break down the position-specific skills that student-athletes need to catch college coaches’ attention.
Discover what college coaches look for in water polo recruits.
How to get recruited and get a water polo scholarship
Most women’s water polo programs are not fully funded, which decreases scholarship opportunities for student-athletes. As a result, NCAA Division 1 and 2 college water polo coaches have funding for fewer than the eight scholarships per team.
At both levels, college coaches are given a scholarship budget that they can divide up amongst athletes to provide athletic scholarships. Most college coaches will award partial scholarships, rather than full rides, to award the most athletes possible with some degree of financial funding. Other options for financial aid are available to student-athletes, such as academic scholarships, grants and work-study. These sections walk athletes and their families through the scholarship opportunities available at each division level for women’s water polo athletes and how to get recruited.
Learn more about college water polo scholarship opportunities.
Learn how to get recruited for college water polo.
See upcoming women’s water polo camps
Water polo camps create a stage for student-athletes to showcase their skills and increase their recruiting exposure to college coaches. Student-athletes who compete outside of the East and West Coasts where most college water polo programs are located greatly benefit from the opportunity to travel for camps and competitions.
College camps are hosted on campus and are led by college coaches. Student-athletes can learn from experts at their prospective schools and compete against elite talent. Student-athletes will find that most camps focus on drills, team play and other skill training. This section provides more insight into water polo camps and provides a list of camps near you.
Find a water polo camp near you.
Find colleges with women’s water polo programs
The 66 NCAA women’s water polo programs are primarily concentrated on the East and West Coasts, with additional programs in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The NAIA offers one women’s water polo program in California.
Student-athletes searching for the right college fit should evaluate schools based on their athletic, academic, social and financial offerings and how best they meet their needs. For example, location is a larger factor in determining whether a school is a good social fit. If a recruit is looking to compete at a Division 1 water polo program at a smaller college or university, they should research schools on the East Coast, while athletes who prefer a larger campus size will want to focus their search on the West Coast. Finding the right college fit can be challenging—visit our section on water polo colleges for a list of the top women’s water polo programs.
View the complete list of women’s water polo colleges.
NCAA women’s water polo rankings
Student-athletes evaluate colleges based on how well they meet the athlete’s athletic, academic, social and financial needs. To help student-athletes through the college decision-making process, we’ve developed the NCSA Power Rankings. Based on factors that are most important to student-athletes and their families—such as cost, size, location and academics—our Power Rankings report identifies the top NCAA women’s water polo programs.
These are the best colleges for women’s water polo.
NCSA women’s Water Polo Reviews From Parents And Athletes
“Very helpful in finding a college that matches my playing ability as well as my career goals.” -NCSA Student-Athlete, Class of 2024
“I think NCSA is really helpful and can help a fellow athlete find their dream school. Before I started working with NCSA, I was very overwhelmed and confused on the process. Now I am glad I don’t have to do that anymore because I have a lot of help from NCSA!”” – NCSA Student-Athlete, Class of 2025 “