Field Hockey Scholarships

Can you get a field hockey scholarship? The answer is yes, but there’s more to getting field hockey scholarships than just being a talented athlete. There are roughly 6,200 field hockey players that compete at all different collegiate levels. To earn a spot on a field hockey roster, student-athletes have to compete for the attention of college coaches, meet NCAA eligibility requirements and more. In this guide, we cover how to get a field hockey scholarship.

New NCAA field hockey 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 college field hockey recruiting. More details and the latest updates here.

These changes would impact field hockey recruits in the following ways: 

• D1 field hockey programs will be allowed to offer 27 scholarships, up from the current limit of 12. 
• D1 field hockey will have a maximum roster limit of 27. 
• D1 field hockey is already an equivalency sport and will continue to offer both partial and full scholarships to recruits.  

Note: These are the maximum scholarship and roster limits set by the NCAA, but schools aren’t required to meet these maximums. 

How many field hockey scholarships are allowed?

Scholarship limits per team: The NCAA sets a scholarship limit per team, which dictates the maximum number of scholarships that a program can award each year. Fully funded Division 1 and Division 2 college field hockey teams can award 27 and 6.3 scholarships, respectively.

Equivalency scholarship: As an equivalency sport, NCAA field hockey programs are given a scholarship budget based on the scholarship limit per team and the funding available at each institution. College coaches have the freedom to divide up their scholarship budget however they like to award recruits and current roster players with scholarship funding. Unfortunately, not all programs are fully funded, which means most college coaches have even fewer scholarships to award student-athletes. This also makes it hard for coaches to award full-ride scholarships. It should be noted that Ivy League schools do not award athletic scholarships. Instead, these elite schools provide financial aid through academic scholarships.

The NCAA D1 Council adopted legislation that loosened regulation regarding need-based aid and academic scholarships that are not tied to athletic ability. As of August 1, 2020, teams in equivalency sports like field hockey no longer need to count these types of aid against their athletic scholarship limits. Previously, athletes had to meet specific criteria for this aid not to count.  

Now, student-athletes can add as much need-based aid and academic scholarships as they qualify for. This change helps programs offer more financial support, especially at private schools with higher costs.  

Can you get full ride scholarships for field hockey?

While it is possible to receive a full ride scholarship for field hockey, it is extremely unlikely. As an equivalency sport, field hockey programs are given a pool of scholarship money that college coaches can divide up amongst athletes.

To make the most of this budget, college coaches generally award partial field hockey scholarships, which allows them to provide aid to many athletes, rather than awarding full ride scholarships to a few athletes. Student-athletes who receive a partial athletic scholarship can combine alternative financial aid to cover costs.

How to get a field hockey scholarship

Field hockey scholarships usually go to athletes in positions that have a big impact on scoring. Goalies and forwards are often prioritized since they play key roles in preventing and scoring goals. Defenders and midfielders follow closely behind.

No matter what position you play, here are some simple tips to increase your chances of earning a scholarship:

1. Keep your grades up: Coaches want athletes who do well in both sports and school. Start focusing on your academics early to meet NCAA requirements.
2. Do your homework: Research which schools need players in your position and how many scholarships they have available. This helps you target programs that match your skills.
3. Look into other funding: Since there aren’t many athletic scholarships for field hockey, it’s smart to explore other financial aid options like merit-based scholarships, grants and work-study programs.

How hard is it to get a field hockey scholarship?

Less than nine percent of the 60,824 high school field hockey players compete at the collegiate level. Many of these athletes, roughly 57 percent, go on to play at NCAA Division 3 programs, which do not offer athletic scholarships.

Due to lack of funding, 43 percent of student-athletes who play for Division 1 or 2 programs must fight for a shot at receiving a scholarship. With few scholarships available, student-athletes will need to find ways to stand out and develop relationships with college coaches.

Field hockey scholarship requirements

The NCAA has established eligibility requirements that student-athletes must meet in order to be eligible for a roster spot on an NCAA team. Eligibility is determined by a student-athlete’s academics and amateurism status.

There are two factors in determining academic eligibility: core course requirements and core course GPA. The NCAA requires student-athletes to pass 16 core courses during high school and maintain a minimum GPA.

NCAA Division 1 field hockey scholarships 

• D1 field hockey scholarships per team: 27 (if proposed settlement is approved)
• Total number of D1 field hockey teams: 78
• Average team size: 24.9

Starting in the 2025-26 school year, NCAA D1 field hockey programs will have a roster limit of 27 and can offer up to 27 scholarships, if the proposed settlement is approved. As an equivalency sport, coaches can decide how to split those scholarships into partial or full awards for their recruits. This does not mean that every team will have the full 27 scholarships to award, as program funding varies across institutions.

NCAA Division 2 field hockey scholarships

• D2 field hockey scholarships per team: 6.3
• Total number of D2 field hockey teams: 39
• Average team size: 24.2

NCAA Division 2 programs offer 6.3 scholarships that coaches can allocate as partial or full awards to recruits. Since there is no roster limit, most D2 players join as walk-ons. Although only 14 percent of all collegiate field hockey players compete at the D2 level, the competition remains highly competitive.

NCAA Division 3 field hockey scholarships 

• D3 field hockey scholarships per team: 0
• Total number of D3 field hockey teams: 164
• Average team size: 21.8

Over 3,500 student-athletes play field hockey at a Division 3 school. Known for their high academic standards, D3 schools award academic scholarships to eligible student-athletes, rather than athletic scholarships. In some cases, the financial aid packages offered at  D3 schools are stronger than the athletic scholarships offered at D1 and D2 schools.

What colleges offer field hockey scholarships?

 Student-athletes can find scholarship opportunities at every NCAA division level. D1 and D2 programs award full or partial athletic scholarships, while Ivy League and D3 institutions award academic scholarships to student-athletes in high academic standing and with strong ACT/SAT test scores.

These programs are included in NCSA’s Power Rankings system, which ranks schools based on academics, cost, graduation rates and more. Student-athletes can view a full list of the top college field hockey programs on our Power Rankings page.

• Top NCAA Division 1 Colleges: Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, Duke University, Columbia University, University of Virginia, Stanford University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Pennsylvania (Penn), Dartmouth College
• Top NCAA Division 2 Colleges: Bentley University, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Assumption College, Stonehill College, Bellarmine University, Slippery Rock University, Converse College, Saint Anselm College, Queens University of Charlotte, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
• Top NCAA Division 3 Colleges: John Hopkins, Amherst College, Tufts University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Williams College, Middlebury College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, Wesleyan University, Washington & Lee University

Looking for expert guidance? 

Your NCSA Field Hockey Recruiting Coach is here to guide you through the field hockey scholarship process. Log in now to schedule a conversation with your coach. 

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