US soccer scholarships, explained for parents.
Some UK players go to a US university, play college soccer and earn a degree at the same time. This guide explains who is eligible, what it costs, when to start and whether you need to pay an agency.
Five things to know first
- It is a real route. It suits players aged about 17 to 19 who play at a good level and have decent school results.
- Most offers are partial. A scholarship often covers part of the cost, and the family pays the rest each year.
- Start early. Twelve to twenty-four months before an August start is normal. Later is possible but harder.
- An academy past is usually fine. A professional wage or first-team games can cause problems. Check before you commit.
- You can do it yourself. Agencies charge roughly £1,000 to £6,000. None can promise an offer.
Is this realistic for my child?
US universities run their own sports teams. College coaches recruit players and can offer money towards the cost of studying. In the US, football is called soccer, so you will see that word everywhere in this process.
The players who usually do well in this process have three things:
- A good playing level. This could be an academy, a scholarship at a club, or a strong non-league or girls' pathway team.
- School results that meet the entry rules. As a guide, at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and maths, plus a course after 16 such as A-levels or a BTEC.
- A real wish to study for a degree. The player is a student first. Poor grades at university can end a scholarship.
The route is bigger for girls than many families realise. In the top level of US college soccer, NCAA Division I, there are about 349 women's teams and about 212 men's teams. If your daughter plays in the girls' pathway, read our guide to girls' football pathways as well.
If your child has just been released, give them time first. Our guide to the weeks after release covers that. The US route can wait a few weeks.
How US college soccer is organised
US college sport is split into governing bodies and divisions. Each has its own rules on scholarships. The numbers below are per team.
| Level | Men's teams | Women's teams | Sports scholarships per team |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA Division I | 212 | 349 | Up to 28, the new roster limit. Colleges decide how many they fund. |
| NCAA Division II | 206 | 260 | 9 (men), 9.9 (women), often split between players |
| NCAA Division III | 408 | 421 | None. Academic or need-based aid only. |
| NAIA | 195 | 199 | 12 |
| NJCAA (two-year junior colleges) | 243 | 245 | 24 |
Team counts and limits: ScholarshipStats. Division I roster limits: NCAA, June 2025. Checked 23 September 2026.
What changed in 2025. From the 2025–26 season, Division I soccer teams at colleges that opted in to the new rules have a roster limit of 28 players. Those colleges may offer scholarships to all 28. Before, men's teams could fund only 9.9 full scholarships and women's teams 14. A higher limit is permission, not a promise. Many colleges still fund fewer places.
Junior colleges are two-year colleges. Some players start there and move to a four-year university after. It can suit a player whose grades or timing rule out other options.
The college season runs from August to early December, with training and friendlies in spring.
What a scholarship covers, and what you still pay
A full scholarship can cover tuition, a room, meals and books. Most players get a partial one: a percentage off the total cost.
This example uses round numbers to show how a partial scholarship works. It is not a quote from a college.
A college costs $50,000 a year, including tuition, housing and food. It offers a 60% scholarship. The family still pays $20,000 a year, or about $80,000 over four years.
Always ask a college for the full cost in writing, and the amount that remains after the scholarship. Some colleges add academic money on top of the sports offer if grades are strong.
Other costs to plan for
- Student visa fees. About $535 in government fees: the $350 SEVIS fee plus the $185 visa application fee. See Study in the States.
- NCAA Eligibility Center registration. A one-off fee to check a player's grades and amateur status. The NCAA does not list the amount on its page, so check when you register.
- Flights, health insurance and kit each year.
- An agency fee, if you use one. See Step 6.
Eligibility: grades and academy history
Grades
For NCAA Divisions I and II, the NCAA Eligibility Center checks a player's school results from Year 9 onwards. GCSEs, A-levels and BTECs all count. NCAA Divisions I and II stopped requiring SAT or ACT test scores in January 2023. Some colleges still ask for them for entry or academic money, so check with each college. The NAIA and junior colleges set their own rules.
Academy history and "amateur status"
College players must be amateurs. For academy players, this is the part to check most carefully. From what the NCAA and LFE (League Football Education, which runs EFL club apprenticeships) publish, the questions that matter are:
- Was the player paid more than their expenses? A wage or bonuses above the allowed level can end eligibility.
- Did the player play senior competitive games for a professional team?
- How long has it been since the player left education? More than a year out of formal education can cause problems.
Signing academy forms does not by itself make a player a professional. But LFE warns that each case is decided individually, and that some former apprentices have received bans stopping them from playing some games. Two former apprentices at the same college were treated differently. See LFE's American scholarships guide.
In April 2026 the NCAA allowed future college players to have agents and accept prize money. It did not change the rules on professional contracts. See the NCAA announcement.
What to do: If your child was an EFL club apprentice, contact LFE's Transition team first. Their guide lists the number as 01772 326875. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center early and answer every question about pay and contracts honestly.
When to start
Colleges start in August. Coaches often plan their budgets one to two years ahead.
- 24–18 monthsResearch and film
Decide which levels fit your child's playing standard and grades. Start collecting full-match footage. Coaches want to see real games, not only highlights.
- 18–12 monthsContact coaches and register
Make a highlight video and a one-page player profile. Email coaches. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, or the NAIA's own eligibility centre if relevant.
- 12–6 monthsOffers and applications
Compare offers on total cost, not percentage. Apply for admission to the university as normal. Sit the SAT only if a college asks for it.
- 6–0 monthsPaperwork and travel
The college sends a form called an I-20. You use it to pay the SEVIS fee and apply for an F-1 student visa. Then book flights and insurance.
Released at 18 in the summer? An August start in the same year is usually too late. The next January or the following August is more realistic. That gap year matters for amateur status, so check the one-year rule above.
Do you need an agency?
No. LFE's own guide says doing it yourself is a real option. It is more work, and it is harder without contacts in the US.
What you can do yourself
What an agency can add
- Existing contacts with college coaches
- Filming and video editing
- Help with eligibility paperwork and the visa
- Advice when comparing offers
- Someone to call during the process
Be careful with promises. In 2011, BBC Radio 5 Live reported parents who said an agency's staff suggested large scholarships that never came. One family was offered places that still left $17,000 a year to pay. Read the BBC report. No agency controls what a coach offers. Treat any "guaranteed" scholarship with caution, and read the contract, not the sales talk.
UK agencies compared
These are well-known UK agencies that place footballers in US colleges. This is not a ranking. We list what each company publishes about its prices.
| Agency | Published price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FirstPoint USA | Professional £3,450. Elite £5,950. Digital membership from £14.99 a month. | One of the largest UK agencies. All sports. Higher packages include filming and SAT support. |
| U.S Sports Scholarships | Online package £99.99. Full-service packages priced on request. | Also sells add-ons such as a highlight reel (£100 + VAT). |
| Scholarship Sports USA (SSUSA) | Not published on the home page | Founded 2014. Several sports. |
| Soccer Assist | Not published on the scholarships page | Soccer only. Starts with an assessment trial led by licensed coaches. |
| Statebound | Not checked | Its own guide says agencies typically charge £1,000 to £3,000 up front. |
Prices from each company's website, checked 23 September 2026. Prices change. Confirm in writing before paying.
Questions to ask any agency before you pay
- What exactly do I get for the fee, step by step?
- Is any part of the fee refundable if my child gets no offer?
- Who will be our contact, and how often will we hear from them?
- How many players did you place last year, and at which levels?
- What was the typical scholarship percentage for those players?
- Can we speak to two families whose children had a similar level to ours?
- Have you handled a former academy player's amateur status before? What happened?
- Does the contract promise anything the salesperson said out loud?
Common questions
My child was on an academy scholarship. Can they still go?
Often, yes, but it is decided case by case. The key questions are pay above expenses, senior first-team games and time out of education. Speak to LFE if your child was an EFL apprentice, and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center early.
Does my child need to take the SAT?
Not for NCAA Division I or II eligibility since January 2023. Some colleges still want a score for entry or academic money. Ask each college.
Is a full scholarship likely?
Full scholarships exist but are not the norm. Plan for a partial offer and work out what your family would pay over four years.
Is Division III worth considering?
Division III colleges cannot give sports scholarships. They can give academic or need-based money, which can be generous at some colleges. The football is less intense, and there is more time for study.
Can girls do this?
Yes. There are more women's college teams than men's at every NCAA level. Some agencies work only with girls.