Preferred Recruit · Track StandardsCan you get a track scholarship
Yes. NCAA Division I, Division II and NAIA schools can give track and field scholarships, and NCAA Division III schools cannot. Since July 2025, D1 schools that opted into the House settlement can fund up to 45 athletes per track team, but the NCAA says most athletes get partial aid rather than a full ride.
Updated 2026-10-16 · Preferred Recruit · rules checked against official NCAA and NAIA sources, marks from 1,143 college programs' standards
Which colleges give track and field scholarships?
The NCAA says "Most, but not all Division I or II schools offer athletics scholarships," and Division III schools do not offer them. Division III athletes can still get academic scholarships and need-based aid. NAIA schools give athletic aid too, with each school deciding how much an athlete receives (NAIA: Financial aid).
Junior colleges in the NJCAA are another route with their own scholarship rules. Check the NJCAA (official site) and see the junior college recruiting guide.
| Division | Athletic scholarships for track? | Programs on this site |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA D1 | Yes, at most schools | 357 |
| NCAA D2 | Yes, at most schools (partial model) | 274 |
| NCAA D3 | No (academic and need-based aid only) | 351 |
| NAIA | Yes | 161 |
What changed with the House settlement?
From July 1, 2025, NCAA Division I rules no longer have sport-specific scholarship limits for schools in the settlement. Those schools have roster limits instead and may offer scholarships to any athlete on the roster (NCAA: DI Board of Directors adopts roster limits (June 23, 2025)). Schools had to decide by June 30 whether to opt in for 2025-26.
For track and field, the roster limit is 45 athletes for men's indoor, men's outdoor, women's indoor and women's outdoor, and 17 for each cross country team. The old limits were 12.6 scholarships for men's track and 18 for women's (College Sports Commission: roster limits (old scholarship limits vs new roster limits)). Each school still sets its own budget, so ask each coach how their program funds the roster.
Does a scholarship have to be a full ride?
No. The NCAA says most student-athletes receive partial aid rather than a full ride, and coaches decide who gets aid and how much (NCAA: Scholarships and financial aid). Many track families combine athletic money with academic scholarships, need-based grants and other aid. See how many track scholarships there are for how the money gets split.
What marks does it take?
Every school sets its own bar. Across 357 NCAA D1 programs on this site, the typical Recruit mark (where scholarship conversations usually start) looks like this:
| Event | D1 Recruit (median) | D1 Walk-On (median) | D2 Recruit (median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 100m | 10.55 | 10.75 | 10.74 |
| Women's 100m | 11.90 | 12.08 | 12.22 |
| Men's 400m | 48.05 | 48.85 | 49.16 |
| Women's 400m | 55.99 | 57.00 | 58.04 |
| Men's 1500m | 3:49.39 | 3:52.78 | 3:59.06 |
| Women's 1500m | 4:31.77 | 4:34.97 | 4:46.02 |
See every event in D1 scholarship times, the walk-on standards and how fast you need to run in college. Then search your own mark on the standards finder.
How do you get seen by college coaches?
Coaches recruit athletes they know about. Build a list of schools where your marks fit, email the event coach with your marks, results links, grades and video, and send an update after every PR. Follow how to get recruited for track and field and use the coach email templates. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center for D1 or D2 and with PlayNAIA for the NAIA.
Common questions
Do D3 schools give track scholarships?
No. The NCAA says Division III schools do not offer athletics scholarships. They do award academic scholarships, need-based grants and other institutional aid (NCAA: Scholarships and financial aid).
Did the House settlement give every D1 track athlete a scholarship?
No. It removed the scholarship cap for schools that opted in and set a 45-athlete roster limit per track team. Each school still decides how much aid to give and to whom.
Can a D1 school take away my scholarship if I lose my roster spot?
The NCAA says that if an athlete on aid loses a roster spot for roster management, performance or injury, the scholarship cannot be revoked unless the athlete chooses to transfer (NCAA: DI Board of Directors adopts roster limits (June 23, 2025)).
Does hitting a standard guarantee a scholarship?
No. Standards show where coaches look. Aid depends on the school's budget, roster needs, grades and timing.
Related
Sources
- NCAA: Scholarships and financial aid
- NCAA: DI Board of Directors adopts roster limits (June 23, 2025)
- College Sports Commission: roster limits (old scholarship limits vs new roster limits)
- NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27 (Bylaws 13 and 17), via NCAA legislation and policy
- NAIA: Financial aid
- NJCAA (official site)
Rules change every year. Confirm dates and limits with the governing body and the school before you plan around them.