Sailing

40 +
College sailor teams in the USA
14
Average roster size
$30,000
Average scholarship we saved our athletes

How to get a College Sailing Scholarship

Even though college sailing is not an official NCAA sport, it is a very popular one among universities. Many of America’s most prestigious universities having varsity or club sailing teams. The sport is organized by the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association and is divided into seven different conferences. In total, there are 276 universities that offer sailing as a sport in one form or another. The sport is not considered an official NCAA sport. Hence sailing scholarships are not available in the form that they can be found in other sports such as basketball, football, golf or tennis. However, there are ways to reduce the cost of tuition for talented international sailors, especially for those with good grades and test scores.

The history of college sailing

College sailing has a very long tradition and the sport actually goes way back into the 19th century. Then, Yale was the first university to establish its own sailing club. In 1928, 47 years later, organized intercollegiate sailing was created and has since grown to where it is today. The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association has its own national championship. Through that, teams can qualify via their respective conference races. The ICSA holds national championships in 6 different categories. Since sailing is a fall and spring sport, half of those championships take place in the Fall and the other half in the Spring.

Scholarship Opportunities in sailing

Even though sailing is not an official NCAA sport, it is basically run like one and the level of competition is very high. This can be attributed to the very long tradition of the sport at the collegiate level and to the importance it has for the repuation of some of America’s most famous universities. Although athletic scholarships are not awarded in the same way as it is the case in other sports, there are ways to reduce the cost for talented international sailors. One of the way to do that, is through an academic scholarship.

Just like it is the case for all other sports, we cannot emphasize the importance of doing well in the SAT and Toefl enough. Furthermore, this will be your chance to qualify for some very good academic scholarship. Our team of experts can help you with the necessary steps for this and knows how you can receive some sort of financial aid at universities with sailing teams or clubs.

Please keep in mind that collegiate sailing in the U.S. is available only to undergraduates. Therefore, if you are currently enrolled in a degree program, you would have to apply to a university as a Transfer Student.

What are Sailing Scholarships?

Even though sailing is not an official NCAA sport, if you engage in a sailboat racing team, sports scholarships are still obtainable. Sailing scholarships can be achieved if you are at the right level. It is good to be aware that the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) doesn’t quite allow sailing athletes from university and college to earn scholarships or financial aid depending on sailing skills.

Here are a few points you might want to know about the sailing sport and sailing scholarships.

  • If you plan to play at the collegiate level, you’ll be required to examine college scholarships based on other attributes, like academic performance, economic requirement, volunteer assistance, and additional features.
  • The sport is organized by the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association and is divided into seven different conferences. In total, there are 276 universities that offer sailing as a sport in one form or another.
  • There are ways to reduce the cost of tuition for talented international sailors, especially for those with good grades and test scores. In the simplest form of words, it is an Academic Scholarship.
  • You may also qualify for this list of athletic scholarships with your participation in sailing. Start your search here and discover free money for college waiting for you.
  • Some athletes receive full awards, some receive partial and many receive none.
  • Please keep in mind that collegiate sailing in the U.S. is available only to undergraduates.
  • If you are currently enrolled in a degree program, you would have to apply to a university as a Transfer Student.

Important Tips

Here are a few important tips you can consider in order to achieve this scholarship.

  • For good sailors on the level of the Division I the chances to receive a full scholarship are relatively high if you know who to contact.
  • Academics will play a major part in receiving a full-ride sailing scholarship.
  • In order to gain the most opportunities from your profile and therefore receive more eminent scholarship offers, it is important that you try to participate more in national tournaments in the time prior to starting U.S college.
  • Show your college coaches that you are capable of handling the pressure and will be able to compete at a high level.
  • If you are competing at a national level then you have a great chance of receiving a 100% sports scholarship.
  • Coaches will also look at an athlete’s potential.
  • A college recruitment coach will look at a sport CV or the athlete, photographs, video, and our staff advice regarding the athlete’s ability.

Sailing Scholarship FAQ's

How do you get recruited for sailing?

Most schools recruit sailors for “early decision;” start in the summer after your HS sophomore year or early in your junior year. Visit the schools in the spring of your junior year. Many team members are not recruited (walk-ons) and some have very little sailing experience. In order to gain the most opportunities from your profile and thus receive higher scholarship offers, it is important that you try to participate more in national tournaments in the time prior to starting U.S College. This will show college coaches that you are able to compete at a high level.

Am I eligible?

Having a high enough GPA or SAT/ACT score is the passport to obtaining an American football scholarship. Achievements on the football field will count for nothing if you do not have the right academic grades. ASM Scholarships team has the ability and the experience to steer you through the qualification process. It is an integral element of our approach to carefully evaluate and fulfill your personal potential by tailoring a college program to improve your grades if necessary.

Is sailing in the NCAA?

Sailing is not an official NCAA sport. The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) is the governing authority for sailing competition at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

What is the best college for sailing?

As of March 2021, Sailing World’s College Rankings has Yale leading both the coed and women’s teams. Also in the coed top five is Georgetown, Stanford, Charleston, and Boston College, while the women’s top five also includes Brown, Charleston, William Smith, and Cornell.

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