College Tennis Programs and Scholarships give high-level players an opportunity to compete at an elite level while earning academic and/or athletic scholarships, awarded at NCAA Division I level competition and which may cover travel costs as well.
Named in honor of Bev Granger, this scholarship encourages students to integrate sports into their academic life. Applicants must submit an essay.
Cost of Attending College
If you are an accomplished high school tennis player looking to continue competing collegiately, scholarships offer many options to pay for college tuition costs. Scholarships are available through NCAA, NJCAA and NAIA with different eligibility requirements – taking time and dedication but ultimately well worth your effort – showing both tennis skills and academic aptitude are necessary in order to secure one of these coveted funds. In addition, other forms of university scholarships exist such as need-based financial aid.
Athletic scholarships are one of the most prevalent college scholarships, covering either all or a portion of tuition and fees for eligible student athletes with limited financial resources. Most athletic scholarships also cover room and board and required textbook costs – though these funds aren’t guaranteed; various college organizations impose stringent rules when disbursing student athlete funds.
U.S. colleges boast over 1,000 men’s and women’s college tennis teams that provide students with an opportunity to both improve their tennis skills while earning an accredited bachelor’s degree, all while having fun! Furthermore, college athletes may qualify for various benefits like health insurance coverage and free meals!
College coaches are always on the lookout for talented new players to add depth to their rosters, often awarding scholarships to international recruits (34.3% of men’s division 1 tennis roster holders in 2017 were international recruits). International recruits are especially sought-after by colleges because they fill multiple roles within teams while providing depth.
No matter how limited an NCAA coach’s budget may be, finding college tennis scholarships remains possible. Each Division I team receives approximately 14 tennis scholarships per season while Division II offers around 4.5; to be eligible for these awards you must meet certain criteria such as high SAT scores and impressive academic transcripts.
Scholarships
Tennis is an engaging, competitive, and endurance-tested activity for people of all ages and abilities – this makes it such a beloved pastime! Young athletes dream of reaching collegiate levels, with scholarships offering tuition assistance or covering textbook costs or school-related expenses such as textbook fees for tuition costs or textbook rentals. In order to qualify for one, students must meet certain academic and athletic criteria – the application process may be time consuming but well worth your while!
Applying to this scholarship requires enrollment in an academic degree-granting program at either a four-year university or community college with at least an overall GPA of 2.0 and passing an academic aptitude test. Students must also belong to one or more USTA sections as well as participate in organized community tennis programs; it is named in honor of Rosalind Palmer Walter – one of the pioneers of women’s tennis who also established the USTA Foundation.
Scholarships for college tennis are typically determined by academic performance and standardized test scores. Students should try to improve their SAT/ACT test scores to increase their odds of receiving one, as well as submit letters of recommendation from teachers and coaches, along with game footage as part of their application process.
Most college coaches only have limited athletic scholarships to give out, so they are more likely to award partial scholarships as a means of providing multiple recruits and roster spot holders with financial backing. Furthermore, this approach allows the coach to recruit walk-on athletes into his/her teams.
NCAA Division 1 and 2 college tennis teams typically offer eight full-scholarships to athletes while NAIA can offer up to five. Some schools may field multiple teams; in such a situation some athletes may receive full scholarships while others won’t.
Individuals looking for a college tennis scholarship should create an eye-catching recruiting video, attend summer tennis camps, and initiate direct contact with college coaches directly. They should begin by sending an introductory email to their chosen college’s coach with information regarding high school sports history, club affiliation and tournament history as well as any special skills or accomplishments that set them apart from peers.
Eligibility
Playing college tennis can be both time- and cost-consuming. Players must dedicate numerous hours to practice, matches, strength training sessions and meetings as well as attending classes and spending money on food, lodging and other expenses. To make it financially possible, players need an impressive academic record and financial aid eligibility (such as meeting NCAA minimum GPA requirement and satisfactory Academic Progress Report or SAR).
There are approximately 900 college programs for both men’s and women’s tennis. Many colleges provide full scholarships for top athletes that cover either all or part of tuition and fees; these scholarships may be merit-based, or athletic in nature, so applicants should research colleges with proven records for awarding scholarships while simultaneously appreciating both athletic excellence and academic rigor.
In order to increase their chances of receiving a college tennis scholarship, students should begin recruiting early and create a list of colleges they would like to visit and consider. Furthermore, it would be beneficial for them to visit each tennis facility at each university and attend some matches as this will give them an idea of their competition and allow them to assess how their own facilities measure up against others in terms of level and competitiveness.
The University of Georgia boasts one of the premier college tennis programs in the nation, having won eight national championships – two ITA Indoor and six NCAA. As such, its tennis program is highly coveted, attracting students with excellent grades and impressive game footage who hope to get on its team. In order to be considered eligible for one of UGA’s tennis scholarships applicants must possess outstanding grades as well as strong recommendations from teachers or coaches and superior game footage.
Recruits who do not receive athletic scholarship offers from fully funded NCAA programs still have the chance to compete on their team as recruited walk-ons. When there isn’t enough budget available for every recruit, coaches often hold walk-on tryouts so these potential players have a shot at joining the roster.
Travel
College tennis programs provide an ideal way to expand and refine your tennis skills while earning a degree. Many of those participating may go on to become professional tennis players after graduation from their undergraduate studies. Although college can be expensive for student athletes, scholarships often help offset expenses. It is essential that all potential expenses be carefully considered prior to enrolling in such an endeavor.
Most scholarships are made available through NCAA, NJCAA and NAIA collegiate athletic programs, each having its own criteria for awarding scholarships – which may include academic achievement, community involvement and financial need as well as motivation letters that help with selection processes.
Before applying for scholarships at colleges and universities, prospective college athletes should research each governing body’s requirements and meet them as part of the application process. The NCAA offers its members several kinds of scholarships such as full-ride, partial ride and need-based. These awards can help cover tuition and related academic expenses such as travel costs associated with tournaments; on average a college student athlete typically receives around an $18,000 annual athletic scholarship that covers all academic-related fees and expenses.
Though it is possible for some college students to attend fully-funded tennis programs, this is highly unlikely. Division 2 women’s tennis programs only allow up to six full-ride equivalent scholarships per team – meaning only the top athletes will be selected as roster members.
As such, high school recruits who wish to receive athletic scholarships must excel both academically and on the court. It’s essential that they create a recruiting video and attend tennis showcase camps, meeting coaches directly who will gain an idea of their skill level and potentially decide if a scholarship should be offered or not. The United State Tennis Association Foundation offers financial support through several scholarships named after former USTA leaders to encourage young tennis players who incorporate sports into their lives.