How to Unlock Scholarships in Non-Mainstream Sports

Sharing is caring!

As educational expenses soar, scholarships become more significant than ever. While mainstream sports like football and basketball dominate the scholarship scene, an untapped well of potential lies in non-mainstream sports. Yet, most student-athletes and their parents are unaware of these opportunities. 

 

The Challenge of Getting a Non-Mainstream Sport Scholarship

 

When you think about major college athletics, you probably assume these sports are “cash cows” that make their respective universities money hand over fist. But this isn’t always the case. 

 

Sure, certain programs bring in large sums of revenue. The University of Oregon, for example, brings in roughly $391 million per year; Ohio State rakes in $233 million, and Texas is right around $200 million. Other schools like Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and South Carolina easily clear the nine-figure revenue mark as well. 

 

But even these schools, who are at the top of the food chain in terms of revenue, have massive expense sheets. A program like Oklahoma University, for example, spends $149 million per year – which puts the athletic department in the red when you consider they “only” generate $148 million.

 

Here’s the thing: Football is typically a big winner for university athletic departments – meaning they generate the lion’s share of the revenue. Occasionally, a basketball program or baseball program will find itself in the black, as well. 

 

But virtually every other sport – including the non-mainstream ones – loses money. (So much so that it can wipe out the massive gains in football.)

 

What does this have to do with earning a scholarship? Well, it means there just aren’t as many scholarships to go around in non-mainstream sports. Most of the athletic scholarship money is set aside for the sports that bring in revenue, leaving lesser-known sports to suffer. A team with a roster of 20 athletes might only have three or four full athletic scholarships available. The rest of the players have to get creative. 

 

How to Get a Scholarship in a Non-Mainstream Sport

 

There are plenty of non-mainstream sports at the average university, but let’s use rowing as an example. Rowing is a growing sport that’s been a staple of many university athletic departments for decades – particularly in the Ivy League and northeastern colleges. But there simply aren’t a ton of scholarships to go around inside of most programs. This leaves competitive rowers wondering what to do. 

 

Thankfully, there are options for unlocking scholarships. Let’s take a look at several suggestions:

  • Leverage connections. Join local or regional clubs, leagues, or associations related to your non-mainstream sport to expand your network. Attend tournaments, competitions, and conferences where you can connect with coaches, athletes, and professionals who may provide valuable insights or recommendations.


  • Become a no-doubt scholarship athlete. Dedicate time and effort to training in your chosen non-mainstream sport, seeking out coaching and guidance from experienced individuals in the field. Attend specialized camps, workshops, or clinics to improve your skills and gain exposure to college coaches and recruiters. For example, Sparks Rowing has a college counseling program that takes a rowing-specific approach to helping students find scholarships and college programs.


  • Identify the right schools. Explore the athletic programs of various colleges and universities to identify those that prioritize non-mainstream sports. Look for schools with a strong history and investment in the sport you excel at to increase your chances of securing a scholarship.


  • Pursue a mainstream sport scholarship. You might want to row in college, but are there other mainstream sports where you’re also gifted enough to receive a scholarship? For example, could you get a scholarship as a football kicker or a baseball player?  This would pay for your school and allow you to row without needing a rowing scholarship. This isn’t an option for everyone, but it can help super gifted athletes who are maybe a little bit more talented in another sport or activity. 

 

As you can see, there are ways to get creative. You may simply have to look outside the box to find the right combination of opportunities and options. 

 

Explore All of Your Options

 

Getting a full athletic scholarship in a non-mainstream sport may be difficult, but there are options. Whether it’s building relationships early on so that you secure one of those precious scholarships, or creatively exploring other scholarship opportunities to pay for your schooling, you have choices. Don’t give up!