SPIRE Academy | Athletic Scholarships

Soccer College Athletic Scholarships for Men

If you play high school soccer and want to compete at the college level, you probably already know you’ll face stiff competition for both a spot on the roster and scholarship money. We’re here to help. This webpage is a resource for you to use during your college planning and placement process that will help you get noticed, meet deadlines and achieve your goal.

Never forget, in soccer—as in all collegiate sports—you need to take charge of your own recruiting. Narrow down the schools you’d like to attend and compete for. Then, take responsibility for introducing yourself to your sport’s decision-makers at these schools. Keep yourself in front of them in a professional, respectful way with regular emails or phone calls. Work hard to improve your athletic performance while also keeping an eye on your academics.

Earning a spot on any college team—and maybe even being awarded athletic scholarship money—isn’t easy, but don’t despair. While it takes time, discipline and persistence, it is doable.

Men’s Collegiate Soccer—Divisions

As in other college sports, men’s soccer is organized under two primary governing bodies: the NCAA and NAIA. Here’s an overview of how these divisions work and what they have to offer.

NCAA Division I – Soccer Men’s Programs

There are 205 men’s Division I soccer programs in the U.S. If you dream of being recruited for a DI team, you’re competing against the best players in the country for a roster spot and scholarship money.
Speaking of scholarship money, starting in 2025 the NCAA will remove DI scholarship restrictions, allowing all sports, including soccer, to divide scholarships among athletes.
This means DI men’s soccer programs will be allowed to offer 28 scholarships, up from the current limit of 9.9, and have a maximum roster limit of 28. DI soccer will stay an equivalency sport and continue to offer both partial and full scholarships to recruits.

Top Division I Soccer Programs for Men

Next College Student Athlete (NCSA) offers Power Rankings of the country’s best colleges with men’s soccer programs, and are compiled using a number of data sources that factor in various aspects of the college experience, including cost and graduation rates. Use it as a starting point in your search for a college-level soccer program you’d like to be accepted into.

Here are the top ten DI men’s soccer programs in the U.S., according to NCSA:

Stanford University
Princeton University
Harvard University
Columbia University
Yale University
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
University of California, Berkeley
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

NCAA Division II – Soccer Men’s Programs

There are 206 Division II men’s soccer programs in the U.S. But just because it’s not DI, don’t be fooled. Footballers of DI caliber may select a DII school instead for better balance between the social, academic and athletic aspects of college.
DII schools can and do offer full-ride scholarships. However, because men’s soccer is deemed an equivalency sport by the NCAA, schools are not required to give full rides.
With a maximum of nine scholarships per team, DII schools can choose to offer nine full-rides or split up the scholarships among the roster, an average of 31 players. It’s up to coaches to determine how much money they want to give to each athlete.

Top Division II Soccer Programs for Men

NCSA offers Power Rankings of the country’s best colleges with men’s soccer programs, and are compiled using a number of data sources that factor in various aspects of the college experience, including cost and graduation rates. Use it as a starting point in your search for a college-level soccer program you’d like to be accepted into.

Here are the top ten DII men’s soccer programs in the U.S., according to NCSA:

Colorado School of Mines
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Bentley University
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Truman State University
Rollins College
Florida Southern College
Adelphi University
Nova Southeastern University
Florida Tech

NCAA Division III – Soccer Men’s Programs

There are 410 DIII soccer colleges. Footballers who want to push themselves academically as well as athletically may find the best fit at a DIII school—able to develop as athletes while still having time and flexibility in their schedules to pursue passions and interests outside of soccer.
Notably, DIII schools don’t offer athletic scholarships. However, academic-related grants can be used in lieu of athletic scholarships. Since many DIII soccer players receive financial aid, seeking a
DIII roster spot is often a good way to offset the overall cost of college.

Top Division III Soccer Programs for Men

Here are the top ten DIII men’s soccer programs in the U.S., according to NCSA:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Johns Hopkins University
University of Chicago
Emory University
Tufts University
Washington University in St. Louis
Amherst College
Williams College
Carnegie Mellon University
University of Rochester

NAIA – Soccer Men’s Programs

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) can give student-athletes a more well-rounded college experience than even DIII schools. There are 188 NAIA schools that offer men’s soccer, and there are men’s soccer scholarships available.
The amount of scholarship money athletes can receive will depend on the school, coach, talent level and position. A fully funded program can give out 12 scholarships.
NAIA schools also have other financial aid opportunities outside of athletic scholarships. Potential recruits should look into academic, merit and need-based scholarships to bring down the overall cost of tuition.

Top NAIA Soccer Programs for Men

Here are the top ten NAIA men’s soccer programs in the U.S., according to NCSA:

Dordt University
Indiana Wesleyan University
University of California, Merced
Oklahoma City University
University of Michigan, Dearborn
Soka University
Marian University, Indiana
Madonna University
Northwestern College, Iowa
Taylor University

What Does It Take to Play Soccer At The College Level?

For starters, it doesn’t hurt if you have fantastic technical ability, but there are other ways to get the attention of a coach. As an example, how do you respond to adversity? How do you manage stress or pressure? Remember, recruiters are looking at the big picture, the total athlete.

Getting recruited also takes name recognition. In almost all instances, you need to let coaches know you’re interested in getting into their soccer programs. Here’s how to do that:

Build A Target List
Don’t waste time pursuing programs that aren’t a good match. Look at the roster to see how you qualify athletically and learn more about the school’s academic requirements.
Create An Online Profile
Think like an influencer, i.e., you need a platform to get noticed. Make it easy for coaches to see your highlight video, key stats, contact information and academic history.
Make Contact, Follow Up
You can’t sit around and wait to be discovered. Proactively reach out to college coaches by sending an introductory email that includes your online profile, highlight video, academic information, outstanding athletic achievements and personal interest in the program. Then continue to follow up with noteworthy updates throughout the year.
Get Visibility
Tournaments are an opportunity to test your skills against top talent and compete in front of college coaches. If you time it right and contact these coaches before you attend a tournament or camp, you’ll improve your odds of being evaluated in-person.
Be Persistent
If you’re an upperclassman who isn’t being actively recruited, rework your target list. Consider new opportunities, including lower-division programs where you might be more competitive. Make visits. Tap your high school coach for help in identifying programs.

You may have talent and self-discipline, but unless you get your name out there in a consistent and respectful way, you may also fly under your preferred program’s radar. Show those coaches and scouts how much you want to compete for them in their soccer program. That type of drive gets attention and will help you distinguish yourself from those you’re competing with.

When Can Colleges Start Recruiting for Men’s Soccer?

The NCAA dictates when and how college coaches can contact recruits. For NCAA DI and DII coaches, contact is off-limits until June 15 after the recruit’s sophomore year in high school. College coaches at the DIII and NAIA levels don’t have the same restrictions on when they can reach out to recruits, i.e., they can reach out to anyone they’re interested in at any time.
On August 1 before junior year, NCAA soccer recruiting rules permit student-athletes and their families to make an “official visit.” This means that recruiting efforts really ramp up during junior year. Coaches can send non-recruiting material, like brochures or camp information, at any time. This is also the same time that college coaches can begin communicating with high school and club coaches about student-athletes.
In creating these rules, the NCAA was trying to make sure elite recruits didn’t get overwhelmed by contact from coaches. However, coaches begin building their potential list of recruits far earlier. That’s why the more proactive you are in your recruiting journey—by targeting schools, creating a highlight video, emailing coaches, etc.—the better your chances are of getting recruited.

Men’s Collegiate Soccer Recruiting Standards

“Am I good enough to play college soccer?” If you’ve gotten to this point, this is a question you’ve almost certainly asked yourself. With so many men’s college soccer programs out there, athletic requirements to play on each team vary wildly. However, understanding the basic skill levels and experience that programs are looking for can help student-athletes at least target the level of competition that’s best suited for them.

Use the following guidelines as general benchmarks as you start to think about how your soccer skills match up against what college coaches will be looking for. Obviously, the higher the level you want to compete at, the higher the expectations for all of the skills mentioned.

Goalkeeper Standards

Taller than average. Can out-jump opposing forwards. Covers most of the goal-mouth when diving.
Catches everything when able to get two hands on the ball. Is able to consistently catch crosses. Punts and dropkicks travel past midfield. Goal kicks travel past midfield.
Can throw balls up to 35-45 yards. Vocal in communicating with teammates, calling out marks and calling for the ball.

Outside Defender Standards

Fast. Great first touch. Makes smart passes and always looks to keep the ball, as opposed to just randomly kicking it.
Looks to get involved in the attack and dribble up the wing. Defends well one-on-one. Clearly looks to force the ball one way or the other. Executes smart tackles.

Center Defender Standards

Fast. Great first touch. Ability to consistently win headers. Maintains consistently good positioning, i.e., in position to help support other defenders in case they get beat.
Vocal communicator to defenders and midfielders. Controls the backline in regards to pushing up and dropping back. Makes smart passes. Smart one-on-one defending.

Center Midfielder Standards

Very comfortable with the ball. Consistently has a great first touch no matter how good the pass (hard, soft, in the air, bouncing, etc.).
Connects a large majority of passes. Has vision to see and make passes that others can’t. Looks to switch the field of play away from pressure.
Completely comfortable using both feet. Can take deep shots. Strong in the air, winning headers on goal kicks and punts.
Strong in defending, either stealing passes or making strong tackles.

Outside Mid/Wing Forward Standards

Fast. Good endurance. Good one-on-one. Can consistently serve a cross that’s driven (not looped) into dangerous areas of the box.
Ability to get up and down the field (attack and defend). Ability to make combination plays (give and go, etc.).
Ability to get in behind the backline. Has the desire and vision to take shots if opportunity arises, i.e., not content to stay on the wing.

Forward Standards

One-on-one ability. More than just fast (has multiple moves to beat defenders). Good power combined with accuracy of shot.
Good shot placement and selection (knows when and where to put the ball). Has the ability to win headers on crosses.
Can use both feet equally. Ability to receive the ball with back to goal and then turn to attack goal. Ability to get in behind the backline.
Knowledge of when to make runs to receive the ball to attack the goal without being offside.

Final Thoughts on Achieving Your Goal

As mentioned earlier, while earning a spot on any college team isn’t easy, with time, discipline and persistence it is doable. Here are some final words of wisdom and strategy on the matter.

Find The Right Match
By researching schools and targeting programs where your particular skills would add to the team’s ability to put up points, you have a better chance of not just landing a spot on a college roster but even getting some scholarship money. So do your homework and find a program that will benefit from your event strengths. It’s a good way to make yourself stand out to a recruiter.
Create A Target List
After you’ve done your research, create a list of schools you’re competitive for. There might be a range of programs that span several different levels. As an example, your speed on the pitch may put you in the mix for DI recruiting, but if you also consider DII or NAIA programs you might have a better chance of earning a roster spot. Putting it all down on paper will help you order your thoughts and see the situation more clearly.
Keep Up Your Grades
Speaking of homework, make sure you keep a focus on your academics as you strive for excellence in your sport. Recruiters will be looking at both. Make sure you’re taking classes as required by the NCAA Eligibility Center, as well as the ACTs and SATs. And if you do land a spot on a college soccer team, you’re going to be expected to keep up your academic performance along with your athletic performance, so you might as well get used to doing it now. Good luck!

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