How Baseball Scholarships Really Work

Between NCAA schools, NAIA schools and junior colleges, there are just over 1,650 college baseball programs in the country. The competition for baseball scholarships is intense. Understanding how these scholarships are distributed and what it takes to earn one is crucial. This guide breaks down the key facts, providing insights into eligibility, division-specific scholarship limits, and tips for maximizing your chances of receiving a scholarship offer.

New NCAA Baseball 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 college baseball recruiting. More details and the latest updates here.

These changes would impact baseball recruits in the following ways:

• NCAA baseball roster size: Division 1 college baseball roster size is now limited to 34 athletes.
• Equivalency sport scholarships: Division 1 baseball coaches can award 34 scholarships, making every athlete on the team eligible to receive a full or partial scholarship. This is a 22.3 increase in scholarships availability.

How many baseball scholarships are allowed: Number of baseball scholarships by division level

Baseball teams will have a maximum athletic scholarship cap of 34, but student-athletes can seek to add as much need-based aid and academic scholarships as they qualify for. This means baseball programs that have the funds can extend more money to families and athletes that need it—especially pricier private colleges.

Note: Ivy League and Patriot League schools, along with Division 3 programs, do not offer athletic scholarships. Additionally, the scholarship limits per team represent the maximum a school can award, but this doesn’t always reflect the actual number available. For instance, some Division 1 programs may offer fewer than the maximum allowed scholarships because they are not fully funded, meaning their athletic department does not provide the full allotment permitted at their level.

D1 baseball scholarships

• Total baseball programs: 295
• Maximum scholarships available per program: 34 (if NCAA proposed settlement is approved)

Division 1 baseball programs usually start recruiting earlier than baseball programs at the other division levels, with some verbal offers and commitments made by the time an athlete reaches sophomore year of high school.

Under the proposed new NCAA rules, Division 1 baseball is considered an equivalency sport with a roster limit of 34 athletes. All 34 athletes are all eligible to receive a scholarship.

Academically, athletes need to complete 10 of their 16 core courses before their senior year in high school:

• Four years of English
• Three years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
• Two years of natural/physical science
• One additional year of English, math or natural/physical science
• Two years of social science
• Four additional years of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy

Athletes must have at least a 2.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale. To be eligible to play at the Division 1 or Division 2 level, athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. The NCAA recommends starting this after your sophomore year of high school.

D2 baseball scholarships

• Total baseball programs: 258
• Maximum scholarships available: 9

Some athletes who play Division 2 baseball have the ability to play for a Division 1 program, but ultimately choose to play Division 2 because they can play earlier in their career. Some athletes move down a division level because they qualify for more athletic scholarship money.

Remember: The best way to get more money is to be a top, apex player for your division level. Division 2 programs also begin identifying prospects early in the process and will typically make verbal offers before the early signing period, which takes place during a student-athlete’s senior year.

The NCAA academic eligibility requirements are similar to the Division 1 level. To compete at the Division 2 level, recruits must complete the following core course requirements:

• Three years of English
• Two years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)
• Two years of science (including one year of lab, if offered)
• Two years of social science
• Four additional years of English, math, science, social science, world language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy.

D3 baseball scholarships

• Total baseball programs: 385
• Maximum scholarships available: 0

Division 3 programs do not offer athletic scholarships, but they can put together attractive financial aid packages that rival the athletic scholarships at other levels. Division 3 programs usually have limited recruiting budgets and rely on student-athletes reaching out to them to express their interest with video footage to be evaluated.

There are no NCAA academic requirements like at the Division 1 and Division 2 levels, with each university setting its own standards. However, many Division 3 schools are academically rigorous. Athletes should research the admissions requirements at their target schools to make sure they qualify.

NAIA baseball scholarships

• Total baseball programs: 192
• Maximum scholarships available: 12

While scholarships are often divided up into partial scholarships amongst many players on the roster, many high-level players will choose to play at the NAIA level to obtain a better athletic scholarship package. Academically, athletes must meet two of the following three requirements:

• Finish in the top half of their graduating class
• A minimum 2.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
• 970 on the SAT or 18 on the ACT 

Recruits must register with the NAIA Eligibility Center to be eligible to compete at the NAIA level.

Junior college baseball scholarships

• Total baseball programs: 401
• Maximum scholarships available: 24

The purpose of junior college baseball is to give players two years (occasionally one year) of athletic and academic development. For many athletes, the ultimate goal is to find a good fit with a four-year program after leaving the junior college. Many junior college baseball programs have high-level talent, and they have a reputation for placing their players at solid NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 programs.

Academically, recruits must graduate from high school or receive a state-authorized GED. Those who have not graduated high school must pass 12 college credits with at least a 1.75 GPA.

Can you get a full-ride scholarship for baseball?

Baseball is an equivalency sport, which means that scholarships can be divided up and given to multiple players. While all rostered D1 baseball players are eligible to receive a scholarship under the new roster limits rule, full-ride scholarships remain rare. Coaches tend to award partial scholarships among their rosters.

In addition, the position an athlete plays can also be a factor. Most of the program’s scholarship money typically goes to pitchers, catchers and the most solid hitters.

How long does a baseball scholarship last?

Most athletes will sign a one-year scholarship agreement with their program, which guarantees their athletic scholarship for that year. For each of the subsequent years, the athlete will need to renew their scholarship. Multi-year scholarship agreements are allowed but are not widely used for baseball teams.

What is a good baseball scholarship offer?

A good baseball scholarship offer can vary depending on the division and the specific needs of the team. For Division 1 programs, a strong offer might cover a significant portion of tuition, room, and board, though full scholarships are rare due to the need to divide funds among multiple players.

In general, offers that cover 25% to 75% of these costs are considered good, but the value of the offer also depends on the program’s reputation, the athlete’s academic aid, and other financial assistance opportunities.

How does your position affect your scholarship?

The priority positions for baseball recruiting are pitchers, catchers, shortstops and center fielders. Coaches typically build their roster through the middle of the field. Other positions can be in line for scholarships, but it depends on the coach’s specific roster needs.

How hard is it to get a baseball scholarship?

Earning a baseball scholarship is highly competitive. With thousands of talented high school players vying for limited spots, only a small percentage receive scholarships, especially at the Division 1 level. Athletes need to excel not only in baseball but also academically to increase their chances.

Additionally, most scholarships are partial, meaning that they only cover a portion of college expenses. A strong performance, good grades, and proactive recruitment efforts can improve the likelihood of receiving a scholarship, but it remains a challenging goal to achieve.

How many players on a college baseball team?

The number of players on a college baseball team can vary depending on the level and the specific program. Generally, a college baseball team roster can have anywhere from 25 to 35 players. At the Division 1 level, teams can have a maximum of 34 players on the roster. Division 2 and NAIA teams typically have similar roster sizes, while junior colleges may have smaller rosters.

How to negotiate a baseball scholarship offer?

There is an etiquette to baseball scholarship discussions. An introductory email, for example, is not the proper platform to flatly declare to a coach, “I’m looking for a scholarship.”

The most likely time to talk scholarships will be on campus in a face-to-face meeting with the coach. This can happen on an official or unofficial visit.

A recruit’s strongest negotiating position comes when they have offers from multiple schools. Since college baseball is highly competitive, coaches will be more eager to secure a top recruit if there’s a risk of losing them to another program.

In negotiating a scholarship offer, rather than declaring, “This is the number we need,” it may be more productive to tell the coach, “This is the number we had in mind; is there a way to make this number work in the future?” Read more about negotiating your scholarship offer.

How to get a baseball scholarship

To get a baseball scholarship, you need to excel both on the field and academically.

• Build a strong athletic resume including highlight videos, stats, and achievements.
• Attend showcases, camps, and tournaments where college scouts are present.
• Reach out to college coaches directly with your information, expressing interest in their program.
• Maintain good grades and test scores to meet eligibility requirements.
• Be proactive in the recruitment process, including visiting campuses and engaging with coaches

Doing all these things will help increase your chances of securing a baseball scholarship.

Have more questions?

Your NCSA Recruiting Coach can help guide you through the scholarship process. Log in to schedule a time to talk to your coach.

Not a member yet? Start with a free recruiting profile and speak with an NCSA Recruiting Specialist. We’ll help you and your family figure out the next steps in your recruiting process and how to achieve your scholarship goals.