College Soccer Scholarships by Division: The Real Odds and Money

Most high school soccer players won't play in college, and most who do get a partial scholarship or none at all. NCAA data for 2024-25 show 5.9% of high school boys and 7.9% of high school girls go on to play NCAA soccer, with 1.4% of boys and 2.8% of girls reaching Division I. The money that exists is spread across a roster, so the useful question for your family is usually how much aid, from which pot, and what the school costs after it.

Key takeaways

• According to NCAA research, 1.4% of high school boys soccer players and 2.8% of high school girls soccer players compete in Division I, based on 2024-25 participation.
• Since July 1, 2025, Division I schools taking part in the House settlement have no sport-specific scholarship limits and instead cap men's and women's soccer rosters at 28 players each.
• Division II limits soccer to 9.0 scholarship equivalencies for men and 9.9 for women per team, which schools usually split into partial awards.
• The NAIA's 2026-27 handbook sets the soccer limit at 12 scholarship equivalencies per team.
• Division III schools don't give athletic scholarships, but the NCAA says about 80% of Division III athletes receive academic grants or need-based aid.

What are the real odds of playing college soccer?

The real odds are small at Division I and better across all levels combined. The NCAA's probability research compares high school participation with NCAA rosters for 2024-25:

	High school players	NCAA players	Any NCAA division	D1	D2	D3
Boys / men	484,908	28,746	5.9%	1.4%	1.7%	2.8%
Girls / women	393,048	31,200	7.9%	2.8%	2.2%	3.0%

Division III is the biggest NCAA destination for both boys and girls. And the high school counts leave out players who only play club soccer, so the real odds for any one kid may be a bit lower than the table shows.

These numbers only cover the NCAA. NAIA schools and junior colleges add more roster spots, which is one more reason to build a wide list.

How many soccer scholarships does each division have?

Each level has its own scholarship rules, and only some of them limit the number by team.

Level	Athletic scholarships in soccer	Notes
NCAA Division I (House settlement schools)	No sport-specific cap. Roster limit of 28 for men and 28 for women.	Schools may fund some, all or none of the 28.
NCAA Division II	9.0 equivalencies (men), 9.9 (women) per team	Partial awards are the norm. Can combine with academic and need-based aid.
NCAA Division III	None	About 80% of D3 athletes get academic or need-based aid.
NAIA	12 equivalencies per team	Academically gifted students can be exempt from counting.
Junior college	Rules vary by division	Ask each school what it can offer.

Division I

At Division I schools in the House settlement, the old caps are gone. The NCAA Division I Board adopted the change on June 23, 2025, effective July 1, 2025, and said its rules would no longer include sport-specific scholarship limits at schools in the defendant conferences or schools that opt in. The College Sports Commission's roster limits page sets soccer at 28 for men and 28 for women, and lists the old scholarship limits next to them: 9.9 for men and 14 for women.

That doesn't mean 28 full rides. A school can fund all 28, but nothing requires it to. Our guide to the House settlement and college soccer roster limits goes deeper on walk-ons and the questions to ask.

Schools in the settlement can also share revenue directly with athletes, up to a cap of $20.5 million per school in 2025-26, according to the College Sports Commission FAQ. That cap covers the whole athletic department. In the first year, The Athletic's reporting, via Bleacher Report, found $1.77 billion went to 34,915 athletes across 45 sports at 307 schools, mostly to football and basketball. Don't plan on a share of it for soccer unless a coach puts a number in writing.

For a sense of scale, NCAA.com lists 212 member schools in Division I men's soccer for 2025, plus 7 reclassifying.

Division II

Division II uses a partial-scholarship model. The NCAA's Division II scholarship page sets soccer limits at 9.0 equivalencies for men and 9.9 for women per team, and athletic aid can be combined with academic and need-based aid. An equivalency is one full scholarship's worth of money, which a coach can cut into pieces. With nine or ten of those spread across a full roster, most players who get athletic aid get part of a scholarship.

Division III

Division III doesn't give athletic scholarships at all. That sounds like a dead end until you look at the rest of the aid. The NCAA says about 80% of Division III athletes receive some academic grant or need-based scholarship, and there are more than 400 Division III schools. A strong student can end up paying less at a D3 school than with a small athletic award somewhere else.

NAIA

The NAIA's 2026-27 Official Handbook puts soccer at 12 scholarship equivalencies per team. Academically gifted students can be exempted from counting against that limit, which gives good students a real edge. The NAIA has about 250 member schools in 20 conferences.

Junior college

Junior college is a common route for players who need more time to develop or want a cheaper start. Scholarship rules differ by NJCAA division, and we couldn't confirm the current numbers from the NJCAA directly, so ask each school what it can offer.

Why are most soccer scholarships partial?

Most soccer scholarships are partial because the limits are counted in equivalencies, not heads. Outside fully funded Division I programs, a coach has a fixed amount of money (9.0 or 9.9 at D2, 12 at the NAIA) and a roster bigger than that number. Splitting it is how coaches fill the team.

Partial aid also comes with a time limit. The NCAA says athletic scholarships are typically awarded year to year, and renewal isn't guaranteed. When you get an offer, ask whether it's for one year or several, and what would cause it to drop.

That's why the number that matters is net cost: tuition, room and board, minus every kind of aid. A 25% athletic award at an expensive school can cost more than a merit package at a school with no athletic money. Line the offers up side by side before deciding.

How do grades affect college soccer money?

Grades are often worth more than the athletic award. Division II aid can be stacked with academic aid, Division III relies on academic and need-based aid, and the NAIA can exempt academically gifted students from its 12-scholarship limit. A higher GPA opens more of those doors.

Grades also matter for basic eligibility. Our college soccer recruiting timeline covers the NCAA core-course and GPA minimums year by year.

What about NIL money?

NIL (name, image and likeness) deals are separate from scholarships, and for most soccer players they're small or nonexistent. Our guide to NIL for soccer players in Illinois covers the rules and the realistic expectations.

What this means for your family

• Build a list across D1, D2, D3, NAIA and junior college. D3 is the largest NCAA destination for soccer players.
• Ask every D1 coach whether the school participates in the House settlement, and how many of its 28 roster spots come with aid.
• Ask whether any aid offer is one year or multi-year, and what could cause it to be reduced.
• Compare net cost after all aid, not the size of the athletic award.
• Treat grades as scholarship money. Strong grades open academic aid at D2, D3 and the NAIA.
• Don't use old Division I numbers (9.9 for men, 14 for women) at settlement schools. They no longer apply there.
• Get every offer in writing, and confirm aid, eligibility and scholarship terms with the school's financial aid and compliance offices before your kid commits. This guide isn't financial advice.

The short version

The odds are long at Division I and better everywhere else, and the money is mostly partial. Cast a wide net, keep the grades up and compare total cost instead of chasing the word "scholarship."