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Volleyball Scholarships: WhaT College-Bound Volleyball Players Should Know

women's volleyball winner

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:

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

Division LevelNumber of TeamsTotal Athletes in DivisionCurrent Average Team Size2025-26 Roster Limit*Current Scholarship Limit2025-26 Scholarship Limit*Scholarship Type
D13346,03618.1181218Headcount
D22955,43418.4N/A8N/AEquivalency
D34247,51217.7N/AN/AN/AN/A
NAIA2173,85918N/A8N/AEquivalency
JUCO3133,92113N/AN/AEquivalency
*If proposed NCAA settlement is approved

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.

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:

NCAA Division 2:

NAIA:

NJCAA (Junior Colleges):

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.

Insider Tip: Looking for scholarships near you? Explore women’s volleyball scholarships by state.

How to Get a Volleyball Scholarship

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.