Running for the track team in high school can be a great experience—you get to exercise and hang out with friends, plus you can credit it as extracurricular involvement. Participating in the track team has another hidden benefit as well: it qualifies you for a track and field scholarship.

Track scholarships are financial aid awards for track athletes who go above and beyond. Maybe your track stats are impressive, or you’ve earned high grades on top of that. Or maybe you’re just really passionate about track and field. In any case, you should apply for track and field scholarships—and you’re in the right place for that.

You can continue competing in track and field at the college level as well. There are track scholarships for students who’ve participated in their high school teams, as well as those who are serious about pursuing college track.

For students dedicated to athletics and academics, track scholarships can enormously reduce the cost of college while providing the opportunity to compete at a higher level. At Scholarship Institute, we have gathered what you need to know about track scholarships, from their value and types to tips for securing one.

Did you know that athletes can get up to 100% of their tuition covered through scholarships? Don’t miss out on the opportunity to turn your athletic talent into a ticket to college—start exploring your options today!

Top Track Scholarships: A Guide to Securing Your Future in Sports

Understanding Track Scholarships

A Track scholarship is a form of financial award given to a student-athlete who excels in track and field. The award can cover a portion or, in some cases, even all of a student’s college expenses, depending on the type and level of scholarship. Some scholarship programs focus exclusively on athletic ability, while others consider things like GPA or personal character.

Before applying to any scholarship package or thinking about the ones you’d like to apply for, make sure to fill out the FAFSA form with all the necessary information and documents. Many schools require students to have filled out the FAFSA before applying for any scholarship opportunities. However, a few special scholarships that track athletes could explore include:

• The Nike HSI Scholarship Program is a scholarship award for Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) students. An HSI is an institution of higher education with an undergraduate student enrollment of at least 25 percent Hispanic. You can check the U.S. Department of Education NCES list to confirm if an institution is part of the HSI. The award is given based on merit, and the amounts range from $5,000 to $10,000, where demonstrated financial need affects eligibility as well.
• Track scholarships are available at the NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 levels, NAIA schools, and junior colleges for both men and women. Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, NCAA D1 scholarship limits are set to be eliminated. This will allow scholarship programs to give up to 45 scholarships. While full athletic scholarships are typically reserved for elite recruits who can score in multiple events, most athletes can receive partial scholarships.
• NAIA Track & Field Scholarships: Smaller schools also provide opportunities for athletes to help them compete while pursuing their degrees.

Solutions to Lack of Scholarship Money

Full rides in the D1 track are rare and typically secured for All-American-level athletes. Coaches divide limited scholarships among multiple athletes and re-evaluate them annually, and scholarships may decrease over time to free up funds for new recruits unless you’re a top performer.

Some athletes start with no scholarship and earn aid later based on improvement. Still, this approach can be risky due to factors like injuries or performance since navigating academics and athletics can get challenging. This is why we recommend applying regularly to other kinds of scholarship money. For example, if you are an athlete but also a minority, you can apply to minority-based scholarship programs. The same will be true for students or families with financial needs or even athletes with other passions or talents.

Minority Scholarship Money

This is money given to students who belong to a specific group, like a particular race, ethnicity, or culture, to help them pay for their college expenses, such as tuition, room and board, or books. For example, there might be scholarships for Hispanic, African American, Native American, or LGBTQ students. They also offer them to immigrants.

Need-Based Scholarships

For students who don’t have a lot of money to pay for college, need-based scholarships are always a must. If you or your family doesn’t earn much money, you should qualify for these types of scholarships to make sure you can afford school.

Merit Scholarships

This kind of scholarship money is given to students because they are really good at something, like getting high grades, being great at sports, or doing awesome community service. You earn it by being talented or hardworking. This opportunity can be given by the school you are in or by applying for outside scholarships and having all the necessary documents on point for the scholarship program you are applying for.

Academic Performance Scholarship Money

This is particularly true for students who do really well in school. If you are the kind of student who has excellent grades or test scores, you can get money to reward your hard work and help you pay for college. These can also be part of the merit category.

The Recruitment Process: Track and Field Scholarships

For many students, the process of getting a track and field scholarship usually starts in their junior year of high school.

College coaches and recruiters often attend track meets to look for talented athletes. If you’re interested in a track and field scholarship, you should look into the colleges with a strong track and field program and even contact the coaches to let them know you’re interested.

You can start by sharing your achievements in sports and school with them, like your scores, grades, and awards. You might also need to send your school records and letters of recommendation from teachers or coaches if they show interest.

If a student gets an offer, congrats! It is tough to get one. Yet, students should consider a few important things if they get one. First, look at how much money the scholarship gives and check out the college’s track and field program, like how well the team performs and its reputation.

It’s important to research the school’s academics, campus culture, and community to see if it’s a good fit for you. Think about how you want your day-to-day life to be, and choose from there. Finally, make sure you understand the rules of the scholarship, like what you need to do to keep it.

Maintaining Your Athletic Scholarships

Student-athletes need to meet specific academic and athletic requirements if they want to maintain a scholarship throughout their years in school. They also must follow NCAA and NAIA rules about being eligible to compete.

Athletes are expected to stay active in the college’s track and field team and perform well in their sport. They also need to keep a minimum GPA and take a required number of classes each semester. If students don’t meet these requirements, they could lose their scholarships. So, make sure you want to commit to the discipline of being an athlete and the hard work of maintaining good grades.

Frequently Asked Questions: Track Scholarships

1. What’s the Difference Between College Track Scholarships and Academic Scholarships?

Track scholarships are given to students who demonstrate superior athletic ability and competitive talent for a track team, while academic scholarships are based on your grades and school performance. You can often apply for both and secure more scholarship money to finance your education.

2. Are Athletic Scholarships at the Junior College Level vs. Four-Year Colleges the Same?

Junior colleges can offer athletic scholarships but are usually smaller (less money). However, they’re an excellent option to start and transfer to a four-year college later. It’s a great strategy for saving money.

3. Cross Country Programs and Track Scholarships: Can I Be Recruited for Both?

Yes! Many colleges recruit cross-country and track athletes since the skills often overlap. It really depends on the school, the coaching staff, and their recruiting process. There is plenty of information online in blogs such as Reddit, where you can find answers from other athletes from specific schools.

4. Financial Aid Options for College Athletics Beyond Scholarships?

If you don’t get a sports scholarship, it’s not the end of the world. There are plenty of other opportunities to finance your education. You can apply for financial aid like grants, loans, or other scholarships to help pay for college in digital scholarship platforms. We recommend filling out the FAFSA form before applying for any scholarship so you know how much money you’ll need. In addition, different federal and state programs offer financial resources for students each semester, so don’t rely uniquely on athletic scholarships and take advantage of all the other opportunities waiting for students like you.

5. How to Contact Track Coaches and What to Include?

Nowadays, there are several ways to do this, such as social media, Linkedin, or their websites. We still recommend emailing since it’s more professional. You can send them your times, grades, and highlights from your track or cross-country events. Be polite, show interest in their program, and include your contact info. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t get an answer. Make sure to follow up after a couple of weeks if this happens.

6. Joining a College Cross Country Program as a Track Athlete: Does It Affect Scholarships?

It might, but it is common for athletes to do both. We recommend asking the coach if running cross country is part of the scholarship deal.

7. How Can Cross Country Athletes Benefit from Cross Country Programs and Athletic Scholarship Money?

Cross-country athletes can also join cross-country programs at colleges, where they’ll welcome training, coaching, and even opportunities to compete. If they perform well, they could be offered athletic scholarship money, which can cover college costs like tuition and housing.

If you’re looking for more athlete scholarships, we gather some of the best opportunities for all kinds of student-athletes at Scholarship Institute.