Volleyball College Athletic Scholarships for Men
If you play high school volleyball 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 volleyball—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 Volleyball—Divisions
There are 239 men’s volleyball colleges spread across NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA and JUCO. Here’s an overview of how these divisions work and what they have to offer:
NCAA Division I – Volleyball Men’s Programs
- As you’ve probably already guessed, NCAA Division I men’s volleyball offers student athletes the highest level of college competition and athletic rigor. You’ll play on the biggest stage against the stiffest competition. Due to larger budgets and alumni interest, you’ll also usually have access to the newest equipment and best athletic facilities of all the NCAA divisions.
- Starting in the 2025-2026 season, new rules will allow DI programs to offer up to 18 scholarships; whether a school can fully fund all 18 will depend on its budget. Recruits will have to communicate with college coaches to find out if there will be athletic scholarship money available for them:
- DI volleyball scholarship limit per team: 18
Total number of DI volleyball teams: 28
Average team size: 21.1
NCAA Division II – Volleyball Men’s Programs
- Division II volleyball teams will have much of the athletic talent seen at DI, and in some cases will even be ranked higher, but there will be a better balance between athletics, academics and the social aspects of college. Top recruits will also have more playing time at DII, as the competition at DI is so intense that even the best athletes have to vie for time on the court.
- DII programs are allowed 4.5 athletic scholarships per team, and the NCAA enforces the maximum number of scholarships that can be broken up and dispersed. However, since the level of athletic competition is slightly lower at DII, top recruits may want to consider dropping down from DI to find more scholarship opportunities.
- DII volleyball scholarship limit per team: 4.5
Number of DII volleyball teams: 34
Average team size: 18.1
NCAA Division III – Volleyball Men’s Programs
- Potential recruits will find the most men’s volleyball teams in DIII. They’ll also find DIII schools are some of the most academically competitive schools in the country. Unsurprisingly, student athletes playing DIII volleyball will also have the most flexibility in their schedules, compared to DI and DII.
- DIII programs don’t offer athletic scholarships, but they can put together attractive financial aid packages that rival the athletic scholarships at other levels. Importantly, DIII programs usually have limited recruiting budgets and rely on student athletes reaching out to them to express their recruiting interest.
- DIII volleyball scholarship limit per team: N/A
Number of DIII volleyball teams: 114
Average team size: 15
NAIA
- After DIII, NAIA has the second-most number of men’s volleyball teams, with 43. Class and campus sizes are smaller than at NCAA schools, which can be good for students who like more in-person feedback and interaction with their professors. There’s also better balance between athletics, academics and social life at an NAIA school. Finally, since there aren’t any recruiting rules or calendars to worry about, the NAIA college recruiting process is easier to navigate.
- NAIA schools offer athletic scholarships for men’s volleyball and provide significant opportunities at this level. With the recent NCAA changes, NCAA DI programs may now offer more scholarships than NAIA, but NAIA programs still remain a strong option for student athletes.
- NAIA volleyball scholarships per team: 8
Number of volleyball teams: 61
Average team size: 15
Top Men’s Volleyball Programs
Next College Student Athlete (NCSA) offers Power Rankings of the country’s best colleges with men’s volleyball 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 volleyball program you’d like to be accepted into.
Here are the top men’s volleyball programs in the U.S. across all divisions, according to NCSA. All of them are DI except for MIT, which is DIII, and five of them are in California:
- Stanford University
- Princeton University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Harvard University
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- University of California, San Diego
- University of Southern California
- Ohio State University
- University of California, Irvine
- University of California, Santa Barbara
What Does It Take to Play College Volleyball?
Extra height will never hurt, nor will extra experience at the high school or club level, but there are other ways to get the attention of a coach. How do you respond to adversity? How do you manage 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 volleyball 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 also may fly under your preferred program’s radar. Show those coaches and scouts how much you want to compete for them in their volleyball program. That type of drive gets attention and will help you distinguish yourself from those you’re competing with.
Volleyball Skills & Recruiting Guidelines
- Potential recruits should check in with college coaches individually to find out what their particular standards are. But generally, college coaches reference measurables for vertical jump, approach jump, block jump, attack jump, and height and standing reach (position dependent), to make sure recruits have the baseline requirements for playing at that school.
- Coaches also prioritize recruiting hitters and setters over libero/DS players. They look for approach jump and block jump measurables first so they can gauge how a player plays above the net—with physicality (strength, quickness, etc.) and volleyball IQ (understanding the game and strategy) also taken into consideration.
Libero Skills & Recruiting Guidelines
- DI to top DII
Club experience: 3–5 years elite club experience
High school experience: 2–4 year varsity starter
- DII to top DIII
Club experience: 2–5 years national/elite club experience
High school experience: 2–3 year varsity starter
- DIII to top NAIA
Club experience: 2–3 years national club experience
High school experience: 1–2 year varsity starter
- NAIA
Club experience: 2–3 years national club experience
High school experience: 1–2 year varsity starter
Setter Skills & Recruiting Guidelines
- DI to top DII
Club experience: 3–5 years elite club experience
High school experience: 2–4 year varsity starter
- DII to top DIII
Club experience: 2–5 years national/elite club experience
High school experience: 2–3 year varsity starter
- DIII to top NAIA
Club experience: 2–3 years national club experience
High school experience: 1–2 year varsity starter
- NAIA
Club experience: 2–3 years national club experience
High school experience: 1–2 year varsity starter
Outside Hitter Skills & Recruiting Guidelines
- DI to top DII
Club experience: 3–5 years elite club experience
High school experience: 2–4 year varsity starter
- DII to top DIII
Club experience: 2–5 years national/elite club experience
High school experience: 2–3 year varsity starter
- DIII to top NAIA
Club experience: 2–3 years national club experience
High school experience: 1–2 year varsity starter
- NAIA
Club experience: 2–3 years national club experience
High school experience: 1–2 year varsity starter
Middle Blocker Skills & Recruiting Guidelines
- DI to top DII
Club experience: 3–5 years elite club experience
High school experience: 2–4 year varsity starter
- DII to top DIII
Club experience: 2–5 years national/elite club experience
High school experience: 2–3 year varsity starter
- DIII to top NAIA
Club experience: 2–3 years national club experience
High school experience: 1–2 year varsity starter
- NAIA
Club experience: 2–3 years national club experience
High school experience: 1–2 year varsity starter
Right Side Hitter Skills & Recruiting Guidelines
- DI to top DII
Club experience: 3–5 years elite club experience
High school experience: 2–4 year varsity starter
- DII to top DIII
Club experience: 2–5 years national/elite club experience
High school experience: 2–3 year varsity starter
- DIII to top NAIA
Club experience: 2–3 years national club experience
High school experience: 1–2 year varsity starter
- NAIA
Club experience: 2–3 years national club experience
High school experience: 1–2 year varsity starter
When Can Colleges Start Recruiting for Men’s Volleyball?
- The NCAA dictates when and how college coaches can contact recruits. For 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 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 even 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 being recruited.
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
It’s worth repeating. 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 event times may put you in the mix for DI recruiting, but if you also consider DII or NAIA you might have a better chance of earning a roster spot. Putting it all done on paper (or in a digital document) will help you order your thoughts and see the overall situation even 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 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!
