Facts about Lacrosse Scholarships
Scholarships & Walk-Ons
Once the athletic staff has finalized its recruiting list, it’s time to decide which incoming freshman or transfer students will receive athletic scholarships and how much money each person will be offered—remember Division III athletes do not receive athletic scholarships. All other athletes on their recruiting list will continue the application process and if they attend the school will be invited to make the team as a walk-on.
Facts about Scholarships
Big changes are expected for Division I sports as the NCAA introduces new scholarship rules and roster limits in the 2025-26 school year. Under a recent settlement agreement, these regulations will reshape how scholarships are distributed and how teams manage their rosters. Currently, each Division I lacrosse program is limited to 12 scholarships for women and 12.69 for men, with Division II offering slightly fewer. Lacrosse, being an equivalency sport, allows coaches to divide scholarships among several players, offering partial scholarships instead of full rides to maximize their roster's potential.
However, this approach may shift dramatically in 2025. The NCAA plans to lift the current scholarship cap, increasing the number of scholarships available for women's lacrosse from 12 to 38. This substantial boost will provide more financial support to female athletes, potentially allowing every player on a Division I roster to receive some scholarship aid. Despite this, new roster limits will be enforced to ensure teams don't exceed the maximum number of players.
The NCAA plans to lift the current scholarship cap
| Current | New | Increase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lacrosse | 12 | 38 | 26 |
Until these changes take effect, coaches will continue to divide their limited scholarships strategically, often offering partial scholarships to reduce risk. Scholarships aren't just for incoming freshmen—they can be awarded to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with the amount potentially increasing based on performance. This means that many high school athletes may not receive any scholarship offers, despite their talent.
It's also important to note that scholarships are awarded on a year-to-year basis, and while they are typically renewed, there are no guarantees. Even with an athletic scholarship, students may still face significant costs for room and board, books, and other expenses. Division III schools, Ivy League, and most Patriot League institutions do not offer athletic scholarships, though military academies do offer tuition-free education in exchange for service requirements.
As these changes approach, athletes and their families should explore all financial aid options, including non-athletic scholarships and grants, to supplement any athletic aid they may receive.
Scholarship Resources:
NCSA Women's Lacrosse athletic scholarships portal – a helpful portal for high school student athletes across the country.
NCAA Roster Limits Information - a helpful article about recent scholarship rulings in detail, discussing how they could affect recruiting for student-athletes.
