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The NCAA recognizes and values student-athletes who excel both in the classroom and in their respective sports. By offering scholarships like the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the NCAA encourages student-athletes to continue their education and pursue advanced degrees while acknowledging their achievements in athletics.
Pursuing graduate or professional studies can be financially challenging. The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to student-athletes who wish to continue their education at a higher level, helping alleviate some of the financial burden associated with graduate programs.
If you’re a student-athlete dreaming to further your education, this scholarship could be a great fit. We’ll look into all the details below, covering eligibility requirements, the nomination process, and more.
What is the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship?
NCAA awards postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have excelled both academically and athletically during their time in college. These scholarships are known as NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships.
The program is designed to assist student-athletes in pursuing graduate or professional studies after completing their undergraduate degrees. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, a strong commitment to their sport, and leadership qualities.
Additionally, offering postgraduate scholarships can motivate student-athletes to remain engaged with their sport and the NCAA even after their competitive careers have ended. This can lead to a continued connection with the association and a positive impact on their alma mater’s athletic programs.
Each year, a limited number of NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships are awarded across various sports and divisions. The scholarship amount can vary, but it is typically a one-type grant that helps cover the costs of graduate or professional education.
The NCAA has been awarding scholarships to student-athletes since 1964. It began its scholarship program to provide financial assistance to college athletes who were excelling in their sports while pursuing their education.
Over the years, the scholarship programs offered by the NCAA have evolved and expanded to include various types of scholarships, such as athletic scholarships, academic scholarships, and postgraduate scholarships.
Program Benefits
The scholarship funds are meant to cover the costs associated with pursuing a postgraduate education. This typically includes graduate or professional degree programs after completing an undergraduate degree.
Moreover, the funds can be used for activities directly tied to your postgraduate education, such as research projects or teaching assistant roles. NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships is also funding college tuition fees charged by the educational institution for your postgraduate program.
Expenses related to housing, meals, supplies, and books are also covered by the scholarship.
Lastly, the scholarship funds are not limited to use at universities within the United States. You can use the scholarship to support your postgraduate education at foreign universities as well, provided that they are accredited institutions and your program aligns with the scholarship’s guidelines.
Eligibility and Requirements
To be eligible for a nomination, you must:
- Be in your final competitive season of NCAA athletics or have already completed your eligibility to compete in NCAA sports
- Be in your final year of your undergraduate academic program or have already completed your undergraduate degree
- Have achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher throughout your undergraduate study
- Have performed exceptionally well as a member of your varsity sports team
- Plan to enroll in a program that grants graduate degrees (such as master’s or doctoral programs) on either a part-time or full-time basis
- Enroll in the graduate degree program within one year after the academic year in which the scholarship was awarded
If you’re confident about meeting these eligibility criteria, reach out to your faculty athletics representative (FAR) or a designated FAR to initiate your nomination process. Once your nomination is confirmed, proceed to apply for the scholarship by following the instructions outlined below.
How to Apply for the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
The following information outlines the steps and process that you need to follow when applying for the scholarship:
- Student-athletes who are eligible and nominated for the scholarship will receive an email containing a link. This link will lead you to an online system where you can complete your application.
- To access the application system, you should use the exact email address to which the email containing the application link was sent.
- You can work on your application and save your progress as you go. However, if there is no activity for around five minutes, the system might time out for security reasons.
- As part of the application process, you will need to upload official transcripts. These transcripts provide a record of your academic performance and achievements.
- You must also complete four factual lists of the Athletic Achievements/Honors/Awards, Academic Achievements/Honors/Awards, Service and Leadership, and Career and Professional Development.
- Throughout the process, you can keep track of the status of your nomination by using the application tab within the online system. You can monitor your progress and ensure that you have completed all necessary steps.
Closing Date
Both the student-athlete and the FAR or a designated representative have a joint responsibility to ensure that all sections of the scholarship nomination are properly completed and submitted before the sport season deadlines:
- January 8th, 2024 (Fall Sports): For student-athletes participating in fall sports such as football, soccer, and cross country
- April 1st, 2024 (Winter Sports): For student-athletes participating in winter sports such as basketball, ice hockey, and skiing
- June 7th, 2024: For student-athletes participating in spring sports such as baseball, softball, and track and field
Keep in mind that you and your FAR or designated representative should work together to ensure that all required materials are submitted by the specific deadlines to be considered for the scholarship.
Contact Details
If you have any questions or need further information about the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, you can contact Lori Thomas at the NCAA national office either by phone (317-6683 or 917-6683) or email (lthomas@ncaa.org). They should be able to assist you with any queries you may have about the scholarship program.
Official Website
To get more detailed and up-to-date information about the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program, you should visit the official NCAA website at www.ncaa.org. The NCAA’s website will provide you with comprehensive information about the scholarship’s eligibility criteria, application process, and any other relevant details.
Additionally, if you have access to a college or university’s athletic department, they might also provide guidance and information about this scholarship program.
