Gymnastics Scholarships

Only the top 12% of U.S. high school gymnasts go on to compete at the college level. . Even though the competition is tough, landing a roster spot and gymnastics scholarship isn’t impossible. However, these scholarships are different at every division level.

NCAA Division 1 women’s gymnastics rosters are limited to 20 student-athletes per team, and coaches can potentially offer full or partial scholarships to every player on their rosters. NCAA Division 2 programs award equivalency scholarships. Coaches at this level have a maximum scholarship pool equivalent to 6 full D2 women’s gymnastics scholarships, and choose how to allocate the funds across their rosters. While Division 3 schools can’t technically offer athletic scholarships to student-athletes, D3 coaches often provide appealing financial packages in the form of academic aid, grants, and need-based aid. Read on for more information on how to get a gymnastics scholarship.

NCAA gymnastics scholarships limits

Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, the NCAA eliminated most D1 scholarship limits, replacing the former model by implementing roster caps and giving all D1 coaches more flexibility in how scholarships are awarded to the athletes on their teams. These changes impacted gymnastics recruits in the following ways:

• NCAA gymnastics roster size: D1 college gymnastics roster size are limited to 20 athletes.
• Equivalency sport scholarships: D1 gymnastics programs are now considered equivalency sports. This means coaches can award every athlete on the roster either a full or partial scholarship.
• Scholarship limit: : Because every player on a D1 roster can receive a scholarship, D1 gymnastics coaches are now able to award a total of 20 scholarships. This is an increase from the previous limit of 12.

NCAA women’s college gymnastics scholarships by division level

Division Level	Number of Teams	Total Athletes	Current Average Team Size (2025)	Roster Limit	Scholarship Limit
NCAA D1	62	1,286	20.7	20	20
NCAA D2	4	106	26.5	N/A	6
NCAA D3	18	407	22.6	N/A	N/A

Coaches at NCAA D2 programs provide equivalency scholarships. This means they’re allowed to distribute the equivalent of six full-ride D2 gymnastics scholarships to as many athletes as they want across their rosters. Full ride scholarships are far less common in Division 2 and most gymnasts receive partial athletics scholarships.

Is it hard to get a gymnastics scholarship?

The truth is that your options are pretty limited when it comes to getting NCAA gymnastics scholarships. There are only 84 NCAA gymnastics programs in the country— including 62 in Division 1 and 4 in Division 2. That means that at maximum, less than 1,500 college gymnasts receive scholarships. But even though the competition is tough, landing a roster spot isn’t impossible.

The first step to understanding your chances of getting a scholarship for gymnastics is to know the qualifications coaches are looking for at each division level. They typically aim to recruit gymnasts who are a Level 10 or higher, excel in several events and meet their scoring baseline. See the specific requirements and learn more about the college gymnastics levels.

Most elite Division 1 gymnasts were once in the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic program and competed as Level 10s or elite before going to college. College gymnastics meets are similar to Level 10, with similar requirements and scoring systems, which is why these coaches turn their attention to those gymnasts.

Outside of athletic ability, academics play a huge factor in college recruiting. When recruits have similar skills athletically, coaches heavily weigh their grades and academic history to narrow down their list of prospects. In fact, the NCAA requires that every potential college-athlete be cleared by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Recruits need to maintain a minimum GPA in 16 core courses.

Outside of eligibility, though, coaches seek out recruits who excel in the classroom because they tend to have an easier college transition. They’re typically more independent and manage their time well, which is essential for Division 1 athletes who train year-round.

How to get a gymnastics scholarship

There are 66 NCAA colleges with gymnastics scholarships—62 at the D1 level and 4 at D2. D1 and D2 college coaches have the flexibility to divide their athletic aid among several athletes on the team. That’s why partial scholarships are more common. While each coach uses their own set of criteria when recruiting student-athletes, they prioritize scholarships based on a variety of factors. Here are some you should keep in mind as you progress on your recruiting journey:

• Compete at the highest level: To accurately assess how a gymnast would perform in college, coaches want to see them compete at the highest level possible. Some Division 2 college coaches recruit gymnasts who compete at a Level 9, but several Division 2 and most Division 1 coaches seek out Level 10 or elite gymnasts. Level 10 gymnastics meets are very similar to college, with similar requirements and scoring methods. Additionally, college coaches look for student-athletes who place well at a regional or national level within USA Gymnastics, scoring 9.8000 or higher.
• Succeed in several events: An all-around recruit who excels in several events is more valuable and garners more interest from college coaches than more specialized gymnasts. Typically, coaches like to find gymnasts who have strong fundamentals in all four apparatuses and then decide how the gymnast specializes in college. Of course, there will be events that come more naturally than others, but the more well-rounded the gymnast, the better chances they have of getting recruited.
• Attend college camps: Every summer, the top NCAA gymnastics programs in the country host high-level performer camps, some of which are invite only. These camps tend to attract top talent and are a great way to be evaluated by college coaches. Recruits who receive personal invites are more likely to be evaluated in person. Establish relationships with college coaches ahead of time and attend camps at schools that are at the top of your target list.
• Maintain a high GPA: Because gymnastics recruiting is extremely competitive, academics play a huge role in getting to the top of a coach’s prospect list. For Division 2, academic scholarships can ease the burden on the coach to provide athletic aid. At Division 3 schools, which do not offer athletics scholarships, , student-athletes are typically awarded more appealing financial packages if they have a strong GPA. And college coaches value a recruit’s character. They realize that a student-athlete who is determined, focused and successful in the classroom will most likely be determined, focused and successful in the gym as well.
• Create a recruiting video and send it to coaches: A gymnastics recruiting video is one the best ways to make a first impression with a college coach. Typically, coaches evaluate recruits online first to narrow down their list of potential athletes. Then, once they find recruits with their desired qualifications, they evaluate them in person at camps and meets. That’s why it’s important to be proactive and email college coaches early, especially if you’re interested in a Division 1 or 2 program.
• Know your best college fit: Make sure the school is both an academic and athletic fit. Know the coach’s desired qualifications, check the college’s gymnastics roster to see how many graduating seniors there are in the class, and review the school’s academic performance to ensure you align both athletically and academically.

How many NCAA Division 1 gymnastics scholarships are there?

• Number of gymnastics scholarships per team: 20
• Total # of D1 women’s gymnastics teams: 62
• Roster limit: 20

Coaches at this level recruit the very best high school gymnasts in the country who compete at a Level 10 or higher.

How to get a scholarship for Division 1 gymnastics

Division 1 coaches are extremely selective when offering scholarships for gymnastics. The key is finding a college where you can make an impact right away. College coaches prioritize scholarships to their strongest performers, so if you don’t align with the current roster, you’re not going to stand out to that coach. Division 1 gymnasts rank nationally and consistently place well in prestigious competitions, such as national, international and regional competitions. They are Level 10 or elite gymnasts, some of which were once in the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic program. More often than not, they excel in several disciplines, scoring 9.900 or higher.

Most Division 1 college coaches find recruits through elite gymnasium training centers around the country. Training at these types of gyms and scores and rankings at top-tier USA Gymnastics meets are heavily factored into their recruiting process. They rarely evaluate high school scores and performances or AAU meets.

Another way to get evaluated by a college coach is to attend college-run summer gymnastics camps. Several Division 1 gymnastics colleges offer 3-day high performer camps, but most are invite-only. That’s why it’s important to be proactive in the recruiting process, and really—the earlier, the better. Some Division 1 coaches review online evaluations as early as 8^th grade, and most verbal offers are made during the summer after sophomore year when coaches can personally reach out to recruits. This means the majority of recruiting happens during freshman year.

The best thing you can do as a recruit is research schools that match your athletic and academic needs, and contact coaches at those schools, whether by calling, emailing or using social media. Even though Division 1 coaches can’t contact student-athletes until June 15 after their sophomore year, student-athletes are allowed to reach out at any point. This means you can send coaches your recruiting profile and a recruiting video to get an initial evaluation. You can also lean on your club coach to help you build a realistic target list of schools.

How many NCAA Division 2 gymnastics scholarships are there?

• Number of gymnastics scholarships per team: 6
• Total # of D2 women’s gymnastics teams: 4
• Avg. team size: 26.5

NCAA Division 2 colleges do provide gymnastics scholarships. Division 2 college coaches are allowed to divide their athletic aid among several gymnasts on their team. For this reason, most gymnasts receive partial scholarships and full rides are not common at the Division 2 level. It’s also important to note that Division 2 gymnastics scholarships are extremely competitive because there are only 4 total Division 2 gymnastics programs in the country.

Division 3 women’s gymnastics scholarships

• Number of gymnastics scholarships per team: 0
• Total # of D3 women’s gymnastics teams: 18
• Avg. team size: 22.6

NCAA Division 3 schools can’t offer athletic scholarships. However, these colleges do leverage other types of aid, such as academic scholarships, need-based aid and grants, to create appealing scholarship packages. These schools tend to be smaller, private institutions, so they have other funds available for student-athletes. In fact, 80 percent of Division 3 athletes do receive some form of aid. Recruits with high GPAs will benefit the most from Division 3 scholarships.

Requirements for women’s gymnastics scholarships

Every potential NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 college-athlete is required to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and submit their transcripts. They must also answer questions about their amateur status at the end of their senior year. The NCAA Eligibility Center establishes academic requirements that every potential college-athlete must meet in order to secure a roster spot. The requirements differ slightly between Division 1 and Division 2, but in general, recruits must maintain a minimum GPA in 16 core courses throughout high school. Learn more about the NCAA Eligibility Requirements.

How do you walk onto a college gymnastics team?

NCAA Division 1 college coaches have 20 roster spots available and can distribute scholarships as they choose. Whether athletes are awarded scholarship money or not, most D1 gymnasts are actively recruited by college coaches.. In order to walk-on to a college gymnastics team, you need to follow the same recruiting journey as scholarship gymnasts: Be a Level 10 gymnast or higher, compete in national competitions, attend college camps, create a recruiting video, and proactively reach out to college coaches.

Colleges with women’s gymnastics scholarships

Student-athletes interested in securing a gymnastics scholarship need to do their research and understand all of their options to find a school where they’ll succeed athletically and academically. Plus, there are several other factors, such as location, size and cost, that are important to consider when making the college decision.

Remember, even though NCAA Division 1 and 2 schools are the only programs that can offer athletic scholarships, Division 3 schools can create competitive scholarship packages made up of grants, need-based aid, merit scholarships and academic scholarships. That’s why it’s important to keep all your options open to better understand which schools will offer you the most competitive package. Here’s a quick look at the top gymnastics programs in the country:

1. University of North Carolina
2. University of California, Los Angeles
3. University of Florida
4. Stanford University
5. University of Michigan
6. University of California, Berkeley
7. Ohio State University
8. University of Georgia
9. North Carolina State University
10. University of Pennsylvania

For more help in your research, view our complete list of colleges with gymnastics scholarships.

Have more questions?

Your NCSA Recruiting Coach is here to guide you through the gymnastics scholarship process. Log in now to schedule a conversation with your coach.

Not a member yet? Start with a free recruiting profile to connect with an NCSA Recruiting Specialist. We’ll help you and your family plan the next steps in your recruiting journey and achieve your scholarship goals.