Equestrian pursuits have always been popular in our country, and they’re rising in prevalence. In fact, equestrian is now considered an emerging sport by the National College Athletic Association (NCAA). This additional attention means more college and university scholarships are available for skilled and passionate young equestrians to pursue higher education while participating in equestrian programs.
In this post, we’re sharing a list of equestrian scholarships offered by associations, schools, and private foundations and grants. Though this list includes a lot of great options, it’s by no means exhaustive. If there’s a school you’re interested in that has an equestrian program, make sure to reach out directly to see what financial assistance options they may have.
The NCAA offers scholarships to Division 1 and 2 schools that offer programs following their guidelines. The eligibility for these scholarships varies across different universities and colleges. They offer only 15 per school, but each equestrian program can divide the scholarships to provide more students with smaller awards.
The following Division 1 colleges and universities offer NCAA equestrian team scholarships:
There are currently four Division 2 equestrian programs offering NCAA scholarships and they are Stonehill College in Massachusetts, University of Minnesota, Pace University in New York, and West Texas A&M.
Division 3 schools are not eligible for NCAA scholarships. Some well-known and respected schools do have Division 3 NCAA Programs, like the University of Lynchburg in Virginia, SUNY New Paltz in New York, and scholarship awards are generally still available at these schools. However, they offer scholarships to support recruiting top talent based on academic performance and financial need.
Not all colleges compete in the NCAA, but they still offer strong equestrian programs. These colleges provide equestrian scholarships.
If you’re interested in equestrian colleges or a university equestrian program and don’t see it listed, inquire directly to see what they might offer. Don’t forget to also check other colleges and universities with strong equestrian programs that don’t compete. Not all of the top schools with equestrian programs do.
Equine program scholarships are also offered through organizations and privately-funded sources. Here is a list of some of the top scholarship awards available through these programs.
Higher education can be an expensive proposition, especially so for young equestrians who may compete. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of the financial resources available. And remember — just because the school of your choice isn’t listed in this article, doesn’t mean they don’t have scholarships available. Opportunities change with financial cycles, so be sure to reach out to inquire if you’re interested in a particular school or program.
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