Yes, US colleges offer esports scholarships, but most are partial rather than full rides. These scholarships come from individual colleges, many of them members of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), not from the NCAA. Below, we cover which colleges offer them, how much they are worth, and how to get recruited.
Key Takeaways
- Many US colleges offer esports scholarships. Most are partial, and full rides are uncommon.
- Esports scholarships are not NCAA scholarships. The NCAA does not govern college esports, so its Division II and III rules do not apply.
- Award amounts depend on the college and the game. There is no single national average.
- You need both skill and grades. A high rank alone is not enough.
- If you play a traditional sport, the rules are different. See our guide to D2 and D3 athletic scholarships.
What Is an Esports Scholarship?
An esports scholarship is money a college gives a student to play on its official esports team. It usually covers part of tuition. Some programs also give team members access to coaching, gaming facilities, and other support.
Most awards are partial because esports budgets are smaller than those of major college sports, and schools often spread the money across a roster. NACE’s leadership has said that full-ride esports scholarships exist at a number of schools, but they are not the majority.
This works a bit like the partial-scholarship model in NCAA Division II, except no national body sets limits for esports. Each school decides its own amounts. For how traditional sports scholarships work, see our guide to D2 and D3 athletic scholarships.
New to the scene? Start with the main features of esports.
Which US Colleges Offer Esports Scholarships?
College esports has grown fast: hundreds of US colleges now run varsity esports programs. These three are well-known examples, each verified through the school’s own website:
| College | What its official site says |
|---|---|
| UC Irvine (California) | Scholarship teams since 2016; players receive financial scholarships |
| Boise State (Idaho) | Varsity players are eligible for scholarships |
| Harrisburg University (Pennsylvania) | 22 players each year receive full-tuition scholarships and a housing stipend |
UC Irvine launched one of the first esports programs at a public research university. Its teams compete in titles such as League of Legends and VALORANT, and players are chosen through tryouts.
Boise State runs one of the most successful college esports programs in the country. In 2025, the university moved esports into its athletics department.
Harrisburg University has offered full-tuition esports scholarships, which makes it one of the rare full-ride options.
Robert Morris University Illinois is credited with offering the first varsity esports scholarships in 2014. The school merged into Roosevelt University in 2020.
Scholarship details change often, so always check a school’s current esports page before applying. To find more colleges with esports teams, NACE’s member list is the best place to start.
How Much Is an Esports Scholarship Worth?
There is no standard amount. Awards range from small partial scholarships to full tuition at a few schools, depending on the college, the game, and the player.
NACE does not track individual awards, only totals. Its website lists more than 240 member schools, over 5,000 student-athletes, and $16 million in esports scholarships and aid. According to NACE’s executive director, that $16 million figure comes from the 2018-19 school year, when NACE had about half as many members. The current total is likely different, but NACE has not published an updated number.
You may see “average esports scholarship” figures online. Different sources disagree, and none comes from NACE, so we have left them out.
How to Get an Esports Scholarship
- Build your rank in a college esports title. Popular college games include League of Legends, VALORANT, Overwatch 2, and Rocket League. Many programs set minimum rank requirements for tryouts. Wondering when most players start? See what age esports players start.
- Make a highlight video. Show your best plays, and include your in-game name, rank, and role.
- Contact coaches directly. Email the esports coach with your video, stats, rank, and grades. Most programs list a contact or recruitment form on their website.
- Attend tryouts and showcases. Many colleges hold tryouts for current and incoming students.
- Keep your grades up. Colleges want players who will succeed academically, and many programs set GPA and conduct requirements to keep a scholarship.
Each college sets its own eligibility rules. You do not need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center for esports, because the NCAA does not govern it.
NACE vs NCAA: What’s the Difference?
The NCAA governs traditional college sports like football and basketball. In 2019, it decided not to govern esports.
NACE is a nonprofit association of colleges with varsity esports programs. It organizes competition and shares guidelines, but each school awards its own scholarships. Junior colleges have their own esports group, NJCAA Esports.
One school can belong to both systems. Boise State, for example, plays NCAA Division I sports and also runs a NACE varsity esports program.
Esports Scholarships vs D2 and D3
Because the NCAA does not govern esports, its Division III ban on athletic scholarships does not automatically apply to esports. NACE’s leadership has said that a handful of D3 schools still choose not to offer esports scholarships to stay true to D3’s philosophy, but most member schools do offer them.
If you play a traditional sport, the NCAA rules apply. Read our guide to D2 and D3 athletic scholarships to see how those work.
A scholarship can also be a smart backup plan, since esports careers are often short.
How We Compared
We used NACE’s own website, statements from NACE leadership, and each college’s official esports pages. We left out any college we could not verify on its own website. Figures change from year to year, so we list the year where we know it. Where sources disagree, as with average award amounts, we say so instead of picking one.
Conclusion
US colleges offer esports scholarships, mostly as partial awards from individual schools rather than the NCAA. Start by checking the official esports pages of the colleges you like, then contact their coaches with your highlights and grades. Don’t forget to file the FAFSA too, since esports money is often combined with other aid.
FAQ
How do you get an esports scholarship?
Build a strong rank in a game your target colleges play, make a highlight video, and email coaches with your video, stats, and grades. Then attend tryouts. Each college sets its own rules, so check every program’s recruitment page for rank and GPA requirements.
Which colleges offer esports scholarships?
Many US colleges do, including UC Irvine, Boise State, and Harrisburg University. NACE lists more than 240 member schools, most of which offer esports scholarships. Since programs change often, always confirm details on a college’s official esports page before applying.
How much is an esports scholarship?
It varies by school, game, and player. Most are partial, while a few schools, such as Harrisburg University, have offered full tuition. NACE does not publish an average award, so be careful with average figures you see online. Always confirm the current offer on the school’s own page.
Do you need good grades for an esports scholarship?
Yes. Colleges want players who will succeed in class, and many programs require a minimum GPA to join or stay on the team. Strong grades can also earn you academic scholarships, which you can often combine with esports money. That is why grades matter as much as rank.
Can you get a full-ride esports scholarship?
Yes, but it is rare. A few schools have offered full tuition, sometimes with housing support. Most esports scholarships are partial, so many players combine them with academic scholarships and need-based aid to cover the full cost of college. Ask each school exactly what its offer covers before deciding.
Is esports an NCAA sport?
No. The NCAA decided in 2019 not to govern esports, so NCAA scholarship and eligibility rules do not apply. Most college varsity esports programs are organized through NACE, and junior colleges have NJCAA Esports. This is also why the NCAA’s D3 no-scholarship rule does not automatically apply to esports.
Sources
- NACE, National Association of Collegiate Esports
- College Board, Esports Booms, So Do Scholarship Opportunities
- UC Irvine Esports, Teams
- Boise State Esports, Tryouts
- Harrisburg University, HU Esports
- Sports Litigation Alert, Will the NCAA’s NIL Ruling Impact Collegiate Esports?
- Federal Student Aid, FAFSA
