It’s no secret—the average cost of college has continued to rise in recent years. And while many families use scholarships, savings and college payment plans to reduce costs, most students still rely on some form of financial help to make college affordable. Most undergraduates receive financial aid (grants, loans or work-study).
No matter where you are in the recruiting process, it’s never too early to start thinking about paying for college. If you’re trying to compete at the next level without breaking the bank, it’s essential to learn about different ways to pay for college, like using a combination of scholarships, financial aid and student loans (if needed).
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What is the average cost of college?
College prices can change year to year, but the biggest takeaway is this: “sticker price” isn’t what most families actually pay. Sticker price is the published tuition and fees before scholarships, grants and other aid are applied.
Updated tuition and fee benchmarks (2025–26):
According to the College Board, average published tuition and fees for full-time undergrads are:
- Public four-year (in-state): $11,950
- Public four-year (out-of-state): $31,880
- Private nonprofit four-year: $45,000
- Public two-year (in-district): $4,150
So how much does college really cost? The average “net price” a family pays depends on factors like:
- School type (public vs. private) and location (urban, suburban, rural)
- Whether you live on campus, off campus, or at home
- Meal plans, transportation, textbooks and program-specific costs (lab fees, art supplies, etc.)
- How much you receive in athletic scholarships, academic scholarships, merit scholarships and need-based aid
Good news: net tuition and fees (after grant aid) are often lower than families expect—and have declined in inflation-adjusted terms in several sectors over time, according to College Board estimates.
Insider Tip: If you’re interested in learning more about college prices, we recommend our partner, TuitionFit. TuitionFit empowers student-athletes and their families by sharing college pricing information. Price transparency gives students the opportunity to choose the college option that will give them the best value for the lowest price.
Learn more about the average cost of college tuition by comparing college offers.
Ways to pay for college
Student-athletes typically use a combination of these five ways to pay for college:
- Academic scholarships
- Merit scholarships
- Athletic scholarships
- Student loans
- Financial aid, also referred to as need-based aid or grants
Insider Tip: NCSA is proud to partner with SMARTTRACK® College Funding to help parents of 9th, 10th and 11th graders to plan ahead for the financial commitment of sending their student-athletes to college. SMARTTRACK® empowers families to maximize eligibility for college grants, scholarships and financial aid, reduce dependence on expensive loans and develop personalized strategies to pay for college in the most advantageous way possible.
Scholarships for college
If you’re wondering how to pay for college without loans or financial aid, then academic, merit-based and athletic scholarships are your best bet.
Academic scholarships are awarded based on academic performance, including your grades and overall GPA, class rank, ACT and/or SAT scores and course rigor (taking AP, Honors or other challenging courses).
Merit scholarships are often related to academic performance, like being a part of an Honors Society, but can also be awarded to students who display artistic, athletic or other special-interest achievements, like being active in school clubs or volunteering.
Athletic scholarships are awarded to qualified student-athletes at a college coach’s discretion. Some sports offer full ride scholarships, while others hand out partial scholarships. For instance, a coach can spread out any allocated scholarship money across multiple athletes, or for one or two high-level recruits to receive a higher athletic scholarship than the rest of the team.
Other types of scholarships include awards for community service, hobbies or extracurricular interests, military involvement and employer scholarships. An applicant’s identity or family history can also qualify them for certain awards (like legacies, first generation or first to attend college in the U.S.) Some schools even offer scholarships to students who plan on pursuing a specific major or course of study.
There are thousands of scholarships awarded each year to qualified applicants or students who meet certain criteria—you just need to know where to look for them. Federal Student Aid also recommends using trusted scholarship searches and notifying your school if you receive an outside scholarship (so your aid package can be adjusted correctly.
To search for different types of scholarships for college and get matched with scholarships you qualify for, check out our partner, Scholarships.com.
Learn more about scholarships, including how they can help student-athletes cut down college costs.
Athletic scholarships
The biggest misconception when it comes to athletic scholarships is that all student-athletes who compete in college receive them. That’s not necessarily the case—not all divisions offer athletic scholarships, and even at scholarship-offering levels, many athletes receive partial awards or no athletic aid.
Athletic scholarships are also tied to eligibility. In addition to talent, recruits must meet requirements like completing required core courses and meeting NCAA academic standards.
- Learn more about eligibility requirements for athletic scholarships.
- Check out our full guide to finding college athletic scholarships by sport.
New NCAA update: scholarship limits are changing (D1)
Starting with the 2025–26 cycle (effective July 1, 2025), NCAA Division I rules are shifting for schools that opt into the court-approved House settlement: sport-by-sport scholarship caps are no longer the primary limiter. Instead, schools must follow roster limits, and programs may have more flexibility in how they distribute scholarship dollars across rostered athletes.
What this can mean for recruits: depending on your sport and school, it may create opportunities for more athletes to receive some scholarship support—but roster caps also make roster management more competitive.
More details and the latest updates here.
What do athletic scholarships cover?
According to the NCAA, less than 2% of high school athletes are awarded a full or partial college athletic scholarship.
Partial or full ride athletic scholarships can be applied towards direct college costs such as:
- College tuition and registration fees
- Room and board (dorms or on-campus housing and meal plans)
- Miscellaneous fees (orientation, technology, facilities, student activities, etc.)
What athletic scholarships don’t cover
Even a full-ride offer may not cover every expense. Families also need to plan for indirect college costs, which usually don’t show up on the tuition bill, including:
- Textbooks and supplies
- Transportation and travel (to/from home, gas, tickets, insurance, etc.)
- Meals beyond a meal plan
- Health, dental, and vision Insurance (if not covered by family or school plans)
- Social Activities and personal spending
Learn more about athletic scholarships, what athletic scholarships do and don’t cover (and how to get them).
Academic scholarships
To be considered for an academic scholarship, students must be academically qualified. However, since colleges and universities all have different criteria for awarding academic scholarships, a lower GPA or test score doesn’t automatically disqualify you.
Academic scholarships are often awarded in tiers. That means your GPA/test scores/coursework can impact the scholarship amount, not just whether your receive one.
For example, a student applying to a more academically selective school, like an Ivy League college, may have a harder time receiving an academic scholarship due to the number of qualified applicants, while a student applying to a non-Ivy school may be more likely to receive an academic scholarship depending on that year’s pool of applicants.
Student-athletes who intend to play at a D1 or D2 college should keep in mind that regardless of academic scholarships, their grades (and other academic factors) help determine whether they meet NCAA eligibility requirements.
Watch our recruiting expert–and former D3 Head Coach–Pam Monnier break down everything you need to know about academic scholarships, including how and why academic scholarships are essential to cutting down college costs.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are similar to academic scholarships because they can also be awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence. However, merit scholarships may also go to students who:
- Display athletic or artistic achievements
- Have held or currently serve in leadership positions
- Are actively involved in clubs and extracurricular activities
- Participate in community service or volunteer at their school or in their community
- Have been awarded for their achievements (National Honor Society, etc.)
- Take more challenging courses (AP, Honor, etc.)
Learn more about merit-based scholarships and organizations that award them, including the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Watch our recruiting experts Kyle Winters and Pam Monnier break down everything you need to know about merit scholarships, including key differences between academic and merit scholarships, in the video below.
How to pay for college without scholarships
Whether you don’t qualify for scholarships, didn’t receive an athletic, academic or merit-based scholarship, or expect to have a high cost of college even after scholarship money is applied, families typically lower costs using:
Financial aid (need-based aid) or grants
This is money students generally don’t have to pay back. Students can qualify for federal, state and institutional aid by completing the FAFSA (and sometimes the CSS Profile for certain colleges).
Important FAFSA update (still impacting families now):
Starting with the 2024–25 FAFSA, the federal formula now uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The new FAFSA also relies more heavily on IRS data sharing and uses “contributors” (like a parent or spouse) who may need their own FSA ID to submit required information.
Because aid can be limited at some schools (and some states award aid on a first-come basis), families should plan to submit the FAFSA as early as possible each year.
Student loans
Students can take out both federal and private loans to pay for college. Unlike scholarships or grants, this money is borrowed and must be paid back—often with interest.
Student loans
If you’re wondering how to pay for college with loans, you’re not alone. Many families use loans to bridge the gap after scholarships, savings, and grants.
There are two main types of student loans:
Federal student loans
Federal loans are borrowed from the federal government. Eligibility is determined using the FAFSA, and federal loans typically offer more borrower protections than private loans.
Federal Direct Loans and PLUS Loans use standardized rates that change annually. For example, for loans first disbursed July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, Federal Student Aid lists these fixed rates:
- Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized (undergraduate): 6.39%
- Direct Unsubsidized (graduate/professional): 7.94%
- Direct PLUS (parents and grad/professional): 8.94%
Private student loans
Private loans come from banks and private lenders. Rates and repayment terms are typically based on creditworthiness (often requiring a co-signer), and terms vary by lender.
Private loans are a great option for families who may not qualify for federal aid, or who still have a larger balance to pay even after exhausting their scholarship, financial aid and federal loan options.
Learn more about how student loans work.
How to pay for college with loans
Once you’ve exhausted all sources of aid, including scholarships, grants, personal/family college savings and payment plan options, look at the leftover cost.
Ask these questions:
- How much do you need to bridge the gap this year?
- Will you need the same amount for all four years (or more)?
- Can you reduce costs by adjusting housing, meal plans, or travel?
If you still have a gap after federal aid, a private loan can help cover remaining balances. Just be sure you understand interest rates, fees, and repayment terms before borrowing.
How to pay for college without loans
If you’re wondering how to pay for college without loans, consider:
- Academic, athletic and merit-based scholarships
- Grants and need-based financial aid
- Federal Work-Study Program (FAFSA required)
- Part-time jobs or paid internships (when possible with your training/competition schedule)
- Payment plans offered by the college
Grants and other types of financial aid
Financial aid and grants can help bring the average cost of college down even after you apply athletic, academic and merit scholarships.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, financial aid can come from federal and private sources, including:
Grants
Grants generally do not have to be repaid. Some are awarded by the federal government, while others come from states, colleges and private organizations.
Federal Work-Study Program
This is a federally funded program that helps eligible students earn money through part-time employment at their school. Eligibility is determined through the FAFSA.
Aid for military families
If a student-athlete serves in the military or is the spouse/child of a veteran, they may qualify for additional education benefits and aid eligibility.
Learn more about student financial aid.
How to pay for college without financial aid
Some families may not qualify for federal or private financial aid but may still need help finding money for college. There are a few options for families who are looking for other ways to pay for college, including:
- Academic scholarships
- Athletic scholarships
- Merit scholarships
- Private student loans or student loans for parents
- Part-time jobs or paid internships
- Payment plans
For more information on how to pay for college without financial aid, check out our guide to student loans.
Ready to take the next step?
Paying for college can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Join NCSA for free to build your recruiting profile and get guidance on finding the best-fit college for your athletic goals and your budget.
With a free NCSA profile, you can:
- Create a recruiting profile college coaches can evaluate
- Get discovered by programs that match your level and academics
- Track communication and stay organized throughout recruiting
- Learn how athletic scholarships, academic awards and financial aid can work together to reduce your total cost
Create your free NCSA profile today and start planning for a smarter way to pay for college.
