Athletic scholarships are an integral part of college athletics and the recruiting process. They can have a direct impact on where an athlete decides to go to school to play their sport. One question that may perplex potential college athletes is whether or not they are able to negotiate their athletic scholarship offers. The short answer is yes.

The Rundown

Athletic scholarships can be offered to prospective college athletes at both the NCAA Division I and Division II levels. Schools at the NCAA Division III level, though, can only offer academic scholarships. Additionally, NAIA schools and junior colleges can also give athletic scholarships. 

Athletic scholarships can cover the full or partial cost of attendance, depending on the sport. In head count sports, including FBS football, basketball, tennis, volleyball and gymnastics, schools are limited in the number of scholarships they can offer, but these scholarships cover the entire cost of attendance. Meanwhile, in equivalency sports, which encompass most other varsity sports, schools can divide their allotted number of scholarships amongst the athletes on the team, meaning they can have multiple athletes on partial scholarships. 

Related: Scholarships 101: 2 Types of Athletic Scholarships

Why Negotiate?

College athletes may choose to negotiate their athletic scholarships with their prospective coaches for multiple reasons. These reasons all stem from the same purpose: to receive more financial aid than the original scholarship offer provided. 

One reason an athlete might work with a college coach to negotiate their scholarship offer is simply because they might need it to attend that school. If an athlete wants to attend a certain school to play their sport but needs more financial aid to do so, that athlete may want to ask their coach to increase the value of the athletic scholarship being offered. 

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Athletes may also choose to negotiate their athletic scholarship offers if they have received another offer from a different school. Going to a prospective coach and explaining that another school has offered more financial aid may cause the coach to increase the offer to avoid losing that athlete to the other school. 

Another reason an athlete may attempt to negotiate their scholarship offer is if they have improved significantly in their sport since the time that the scholarship was presented. Athletes can use their recent improvements to show coaches that they will provide more value to the team than originally expected and ask for more financial assistance to reflect this. 

To Bargain or Not to Bargain?

If done correctly, it is not a bad idea to try to negotiate an athletic scholarship. There is always the chance that more money may have become available to a school's team or another athlete who received a scholarship offer committed to another school. Regardless of the reason, though, if an athlete decides to try to negotiate their athletic scholarship, it is important to remain respectful of the coaches and schools they choose to negotiate with. It is also vital to remain honest so that the coach understands exactly why an athlete is asking for additional financial aid. Being courteous and transparent offers athletes the best opportunity of increasing the value of their athletic scholarship. 

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* Originally published on April 27, 2023, by Owen Roche