Did you know that many of the greatest professional tennis players we look up to used to be collegiate champions? Dennis Ralston won several NCAA championships while a University of Southern California (USC) student; the Bryan Brothers, Bob, and Mike, played for Stanford University while on full-ride tennis scholarships; and Patrick McEnroe was also a Stanford student when he became a two-time NCAA champion.
The bottom line: The benefits of becoming a college tennis player are immediate and lifelong. You will find plenty of opportunities to earn your degree while also becoming a champion. The best thing is that you can get a full-ride scholarship while you’re at it!
Student-athletes on athletic scholarships receive plenty of benefits that their schools provide for them. These benefits include top-notch academic support, such as tutoring and mentoring services, full access to athletics services, and quality medical care. These advantages contribute to their higher chances of success on and off the field, as well as in life after college.
According to the NCAA, the probability of an NCAA athlete completing a degree program is higher. The graduation success rates for student-athletes are highest in Division III (87%), followed by Division I (86%) and Division II (71%). Indeed, the rigorous physical and mental training among student-athletes develop discipline and dedication that, in turn, influence academic performance.
But it isn’t easy to transition from high school athletics to college athletics! Statistics show that there are 159,314 high school players in men’s tennis, with only 7,785 or 4.9% of them moving into the NCAA. In women’s tennis, the overall ratio is slightly lower at 4.5% – 189,436 high school players against 8,596 NCAA players.
(These figures are from the 2018-2019 figures of the High School Athletics Participation Survey and the Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates Report)
There are many reasons why high school tennis players don’t become varsity tennis players in their college years. Among these reasons is the extremely competitive nature of college tennis, particularly among NCAA-member colleges and universities. Their coaches and athletic directors look for the cream of the crop – and it’s easy to fall through the cracks—unless you catch their attention while you’re still in high school.
The path toward a full-ride tennis scholarship involves plenty of preparation, too. You have to make many decisions, including:
- Where will you study for your bachelor’s degree? You must consider the track record, reputation, and culture of the tennis program in whatever college or university you’re planning to enroll in.
- What degree will you pursue? You have to consider the academic demands of the degree concerning your tennis dreams.
- What level of tennis will you want to compete in? You may want to pursue a professional career after college.
- What are your financial considerations for college? You have to look into the possibility that you may not be awarded a full-ride scholarship. Even with a full-ride scholarship, you will still spend on non-covered items, including your living expenses.
You should also consider the athletic and academic requirements for tennis scholarships. These requirements usually include a minimum cumulative GPA, SAT/ACT scores, other placement exams, athletic records, letters of recommendation, and game footage.
Tip: You must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center if you’re enrolling in a Division I or Division II school. Otherwise, you may become ineligible to compete under NCAA rules.
Interested? Explore these page jumps and find out the best colleges offering awesome athletic scholarships for tennis players:
University of Georgia
University of Southern California
University of Virginia
Stanford University
The Ohio State University
University of Texas
Texas Christian University
University of Illinois
University of Oklahoma
Pepperdine University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Baylor University
Texas A&M University
Auburn University
Texas Tech University
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia’s tennis program is considered among the best in the U.S. for good reasons. The Bulldogs have won eight national championships – two ITA Indoor and six NCAA titles – as well as 25 regular-season championships, 32 Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships, and seven SEC tournament championships. Just imagine being part of the Bulldogs and getting a free ride on your education, too!
Every year, the University of Georgia Athletic Association awards about 600 scholarships to deserving student-athletes. These scholarships cover tuition and fees, room and board, and required textbooks, among others. These cost the association over $11 million every year, with many of them funded by endowments.
The Athletic Association shoulders the full cost of both in-state and out-of-state tuition. No funds from the university itself and state and federal revenues are used for athletic scholarships. Instead, alumni and friends make generous donations to the scholarship fund.
The Athletic Association can determine the amount provided for each student-athlete but subject to the NCAA rules and regulations. For example, the book subsidy is set at $800/year by the NCAA, but the association can pay the books’ entire cost beyond the limit.
The NCAA also requires that the average rate of on-campus housing will be applied as the housing portion of the scholarship. But the Athletic Association will still cover the cost of your accommodations even when it’s over the average rate.
For more information about a tennis scholarship, you can call Glada Horvat at 706-542-7955 or email her at glada@uga.edu.
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California Trojans has conquered 21 men’s tennis national championships. The Women of Troy have bagged seven tennis championships. Indeed, many Olympic Games medalists and professional tennis players are proud Trojans! If you decide to become a Trojan, your tennis prowess will be put to the test with the program’s rigorous training.
Keep in mind that you must receive a National Letter of Intent before considering yourself a Trojan scholar-athlete; a verbal commitment isn’t a binding one. Under NCAA rules, you will be eligible for university-funded scholarship benefits for one academic year provided that you’re enrolled at USC, and you’re complying with its scholarship standards. You should also receive the scholarship agreement along with the National Letter of Intent.
Financial aid for the summer term can also be granted. But the award will be contingent on the coach’s approval, the Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS) Academic Counselor, and the SAAS Director. The USC Department of Athletics and SAAS determines the amount.
The tennis scholarship will only be awarded within the period stated in the agreement. The period of eligibility is five years, as set by the NCAA.
The USC Department of Athletics and SAAS will also cover the costs related to injuries and illnesses during the scholarship period. But the USC Team Physician and athletic medicine staff will coordinate with the necessary services.
For more details on athletic scholarships, please call the USC Compliance Office at (213) 740-6727. You may also visit the USC Financial Aid page.
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia’s Men’s Tennis team has won a total of four NCAA championships. They emerged victorious in 2013 and grabbed three consecutive titles from 2015 to 2017. The Cavaliers are also six-time ITA National Team Indoor Championship titlists, 13-time regular-season ACC champions (2004-2016), and 11-time ACC Tournament champions.
Interested in being a Cavalier? Look into athletic scholarships offered by the university! The Student Financial Services (SFS) administers several scholarship programs established by foundations, organizations, and individuals connected to the university. Many are need-based scholarships, but there are also awards based on merit, ethnicity, and areas of interest, including sports.
Students may also check out the AccessUVA program, the university’s financial aid program, that guarantees a 100% need-blind process. Check out this link, too, for a complete list of the scholar programs on the program.
In most of these scholarship programs, students aren’t required to follow a separate application process or complete a separate application form. The university considers all students as prospective scholars upon enrollment. The number of awards and their amount will depend on the number of recipients and the annual scholarship earnings.
Students, nonetheless, have to meet all eligibility requirements under Title IV rules. These requirements include but aren’t limited to:
- High school diploma or its equivalent
- Enrollment in an approved degree program
- Full-time enrollment (at least 12 credit hours every semester)
- U.S. citizenship or eligibility as a non-citizen
As a scholar, a student-athlete must also demonstrate satisfactory academic progress and abide by the rules of the tennis team.
Stanford University
The Stanford Cardinals men’s tennis team have won 17 NCAA championships from the 1970s until 2000. The Bryan Brothers and the McEnroe brothers, Patrick and John, have all studied and played as Cardinals. You may well be one of the greatest tennis players in the making whose career started as a Cardinal!
If you’re worried about paying for a Stanford education, you shouldn’t be as the university offers a full athletic scholarship! The full cost-of-attendance scholarship covers the following:
- Tuition fees
- Room and board
- Supplies
- Travel expenses (Student-athletes travel to different parts of the state and country for competitions)
- Health fee
- Orientation fee
- Documentation fee
- Required textbooks
But the student health insurance, known as Cardinal Care, isn’t included in the scholarship. If you have health insurance from a third-party provider, you must waive Cardinal Care on or before September 15 every year.
Student-athletes are rarely allowed to accept need-based university scholarships along with athletic scholarships. But if you’re interested in combining both types, you should talk with your coach or the coaching staff.
The university has rules about student-athletes accepting scholarships, aid, and grants from outside sources in conjunction with a university-funded athletic scholarship. These rules include:
- You should be free to use the money to attend the college of your choice.
- Your benefactor, whether an individual or an organization, must not be affiliated with Stanford University.
Student-athletes receiving a full athletic scholarship should consult with Compliance Services before accepting outside scholarships and aids. This is to avoid exceeding regulations about institutional and federal cost-of-attendance aids.
Send an email to financialaid@stanford.edu or call 650-723-3058 for general questions about Stanford’s athletic scholarship program.
The Ohio State University
The Ohio State Buckeyes men’s and women’s varsity teams are among the best in the NCAA, too. The men’s tennis team has won 12 Big Ten Championships and has made eight All-Americans, 23 NCAA singles appearances, and 11 NCAA doubles appearances. Indeed, the Buckeyes are just as attractive to aspiring college tennis players!
But there’s a catch: Incoming students aren’t eligible for the athletic scholarships offered under OSU’s Athletic Training (AT) program. Only sophomores and upper-level students are eligible once they are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training (BSAT) degree program. The AT scholarship opportunities are:
- Ernie Biggs Memorial Scholarship
- Billy Hill Memorial Scholarship
- Linda Weber Daniel Memorial Scholarship
- Jimmy Warfield Memorial Scholarship
If you don’t qualify for these programs, consider the Big Ten and the NCAA scholarships. Most of these are selection awards, which means that eligibility requirements include academic and athletic performance. These scholarships include:
- The Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor
- Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award
- Academic All-Conference Team
- The Walter Byers Scholarship
- NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships
- The Freedom Forum-NCAA Sports-Journalism Scholarship Program
- Ethnic Minority & Women’s Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics
- The NCAA Degree Completion Program
- The NCAA Internship Program
- Today’s Top VIII Award
Take note that leadership capability and community service are also considered during the selection process. Interested students can coordinate with the Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) for advice on related opportunities.
For more information, contact Chalisa Fonza.
University of Texas
The Texas Longhorns men’s tennis team may not be among the NCAA’s winningest teams, but it may well be soon! The team won its first-ever NCAA tennis championship in May 2019, and it was over one of its fiercest rivals, Wake Forest. In the ongoing TCU Invite, the Longhorns added eight more wins into its growing list of wins, and these included three doubles and five singles on the second day.
We can safely surmise that most, if not all, of these players are on an athletics scholarship that covers the following cost of attendance:
- Tuition and other required fees
- Room and board
- Required books
- Miscellaneous expenses
The amount specified on the scholarship agreement is in force during the eligibility period – either the first four years of full-time enrollment or earning a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first. Full-time enrollment means enrollment in at 12 credit hours and compliance with degree benchmarks every semester. Five years is the time limit set by the NCAA in which student-athletes can complete four competition seasons, and these should be continuous years.
Reduction and cancellation of athletics scholarships during the period of eligibility for athletic-related reasons aren’t allowed. However, the university may reduce or cancel the aid if the recipient becomes ineligible, makes a voluntary withdrawal from the team or violates the agreement’s terms. Concerned student-athletes, however, can appeal the reduction or cancellation via appropriate venues, particularly through the Office of Student Financial Services.
Questions about the terms and conditions in the scholarship agreement should be coursed through the Athletics Risk Management and Compliance Services Office, the Vice President/Athletics Director, or the Head Coach.
Recommended Schools
Texas Christian University
The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs men’s and women’s tennis teams are big in the Mountain West Conference Tournament and the regular season! You can see them play at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center, Tennis Magazine rates, among the best in the country. You can be a Horned Frog and get a top-notch Christian education by getting an athletic scholarship and being on the tennis team.
The full TCU scholarship covers the following expenses:
- Tuition and other fees
- Room and board
- Required books
- Stipend for additional living expenses and indirect expenses
The partial TCU scholarship will likely include a reduced stipend and a specific percentage of the costs. You may get, for example, a 25% 0r 50% scholarship.
The men’s tennis head coach makes recommendations of the student-athletes who deserve an athletic scholarship. Students are evaluated based on their academic and athletic record and potential. The coach considers the sports record, transcripts, and letters of recommendation from the student-athletes’ high school coaches and principals. The students’ game videos will also be analyzed and evaluated for merit.
The coach and other coaching staff may also conduct personal interviews with the applicants.
With that said, applicants should submit their printed online recruit questionnaire to the tennis coach care of the TCU Athletics Department with address at TCU Box 297600, Fort Worth, TX 76129. Copies of statistics, articles, and videotapes can also be included but keep in mind that these will not be returned to the sender.
University of Illinois
Founded in 1908, the University of Illinois men’s tennis program is enjoying unprecedented success in recent years. The Illini have won nine successive Big Ten Championships (1997-2005) and six Big Ten Tournament Championships (1999-2005) and appearing in the NCAA Final Fours and NCAA Sweet Sixteen. The 2003 NCAA National Championship was theirs for the taking, too, and they took it!
Trivia: Kevin Anderson, Jared Hiltzik, and Rajeev Ram were Illini tennis scholars.
In 2015, the average Illini scholar-athlete received $30,286 per year as financial aid. The university provides many of its student-athletes with a full scholarship, covering tuition and fees, room and board, required textbooks, and indirect expenses. Even student-athletes on a partial scholarship enjoy significant reductions on their tuition costs and other expenses.
The men’s tennis head coach must follow the NCAA’s specific budget, including the number of scholarships that can be awarded. With the Illini tennis teams, the men’s team has a total of 4.5 scholarships available, while the women’s team has eight scholarships. This is partly due to the rules regarding the number of scholarships given to headcount and equivalency sports.
Interestingly, the average male Illini received $30,100 in scholarship dollars, while the average female Illini received $30,556 in 2015.
Do you have questions about the tennis scholarship and becoming an Illini? Write to the:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
901 West Illinois Street, Urbana, IL 61801
Email admissions@illinois.edu or send a text to 217-600-2234 ((Monday-Friday, 2-4 p.m. CST).
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma Sooners competes in the NCAA Division I of the Big 12 Conference. The Sooners have the honor of being part of one of the best college sports program in the nation, as recognized by Sports Illustrated in 2002.
The Sooners student-athletes enjoy scholarship opportunities by virtue of their outstanding academic and athletic performance. Since 2000, the Athletics Departments’ total scholarship costs have increased by more than $12 million. Currently, the university has 118 endowed scholarships, with just under $30 million covering all athletics.
The university offers several merit-based scholarship opportunities for incoming first-year students, too. You should look into these scholarship programs to complement other need-based aid. The university adopts a test-optional admissions process for its scholarship decisions, wherein all applicants are considered automatically.
Are you interested in studying abroad? Look into the Student-Athlete Study Abroad Scholarship created by Renzi Stone and Lee Anne Stone. The recipients are chosen based on several factors, including the student’s educational goal, level of preparation for international studies and field of study, and financial need.
The specific requirements for the Student-Athlete Study Abroad Scholarship are:
- Full-time, regular enrollment in an undergraduate or post-graduate degree program
- 3.0 minimum overall GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Neither a contributor nor an immediate family member of a contributor
Preference will be given to Sooners student-athletes and to those planning to study in non-western countries.
Pepperdine University
The Pepperdine Waves women’s tennis team competes in the NCAA’s Division I level. Many of the members, if not most, are on an athletic scholarship, thanks to the university’s inclusive policies.
The terms and conditions for an athletic scholarship will depend on the unique circumstances of the student-athlete. Nonetheless, all agreements will indicate the percentage of direct and indirect expenses covered by the university. The direct costs include tuition and fees, room and board, and required textbooks, while the indirect expenses may cover living expenses and transportation.
If you’re on a full scholarship and living on-campus, you will receive financial aid for your room and board according to the rules set by the Housing and Residence Life Office. But if you live off-campus, you will receive financial aid for your room and board with the amount determined by the Office of Financial Assistance.
The Office of Financial Assistance also determines the average direct costs that will comprise the scholarship amount for partial athletic scholarships.
The award period starts on the first day of classes for a specific term or the first day of practice, whichever comes first, and it ends on the period stated on the agreement. The period should not exceed the NCAA-mandated five-year period of eligibility. The university also reserves the right to renew or not to renew scholarships on a case-to-case basis.
Call the Athletics Department at (310) 506-4150 or visit the Pepperdine/Seaver College Financial Aid page.
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology’s fight song, Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech, is known as its student-athletes, the Yellow Jackets. The 2006-2007 Yellow Jackets team made it their battle cry as they earned their first-ever tennis title at an NCAA tournament; however, their third consecutive ACC Championship. Such success is made possible through strong support for the Yellow Jackets!
For this reason, the Athletic Scholarship Fund remains among the top priorities for endowments and gifts made to the university. The scholarships awarded under the fund don’t require repayment, but the financial aid comes with responsibilities. The scholarship committee considers the student-athletes’ academic performance, athletic record, financial need, and field of study during the selection process.
Student-athletes on an athletic scholarship must maintain a semester and a cumulative GPA of 3.0, at least. In general, freshmen students can only receive institutional scholarships for only eight terms of their full-time enrollment. Scholarships are typically awarded during two semesters – fall, spring, or summer terms.
Other institutional merit-based scholarships include the G. Wayne Clough Tech Promise Program, Godbold Family Foundation Scholarship, BlackRock Hallac Scholarship, and Georgia Tech Army ROTC scholarship.
For more details on athletic scholarships, please visit the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid page.
Baylor University
The Baylor Bears women’s tennis team plays in the NCAA’s Division I and competes in the Big 12 Conference. Their home matches are played at the Hurd Tennis Center.
The women’s tennis team’s head coach has the authority to award athletic scholarships to women’s tennis players. But the award itself is subject to the rules and regulations implemented by the NCAA concerning college sports scholarships.
Student-athletes can apply to two or more scholarship programs aside from the athletics scholarship offered. You can check the boxes for the programs you’re interested in on the application form. But be prepared for the specific requirements, including the academic profile for each program.
The university considers all incoming freshmen for its academic scholarship, and, as such, there are no additional application forms required. Students also apply for financial aid, which requires the submission of your FAFSA and CSS profile. The application deadlines for both financial aid programs are on October 1 of each year.
For more details about athletic scholarships, you can contact Baylor Athletics at (254) 710-1234 and ask to be connected to the tennis head coach.
Texas A&M University
The Texas A&M women’s tennis team will be the hosts of a fall invitational at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center—promising a better season for the team after a long offseason! The Aggies are on a winning streak, too, a characteristic trait for which they are known among their competitors.
The university’s Department of Athletics awards the A&M-Texarkana Athletic Scholarships to deserving students every year. Every recipient must meet the eligibility requirements of the Department of Athletics and the NAIA Eligibility Center.
The university-mandated minimum requirements include:
- Must be accepted as a student by University Admissions
- Must meet NAIA eligibility requirements
- At least a 2.0 GPA in high school for incoming first-year students or 2.0 cumulative GPA in an undergraduate program for transfer students
- Maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA to continue the scholarship
- Must be active in an intercollegiate athletic team
- Must fulfill the academic and athletic requirements set by the head coach and Director of Athletics
Information regarding the scholarship can also be secured by visiting the TAMU-T Athletics page.
Auburn University
The Auburn Tigers women’s tennis team is on a winning streak, too, with their four singles wins and first doubles victory at the Music City Shuffle, an athletics event hosted by Vanderbilt University. This isn’t surprising as the team has strong players.
To become part of the tennis team, you should consider getting an athletics scholarship. You can then get significant relief from the costs of education as a Tigers player.
For the 2020-2021 academic year, the semester costs are $5,898 for an Alabama resident and $15,978 for a non-Alabama resident. The other costs include room and board ($6,889) and miscellaneous expenses ($3,552). These costs can quickly add up, too!
Student-athletes have several scholarship programs to choose from at Auburn University. Each of these programs has specific requirements, so ask the head coach or scholarship coordinator for more details.
- NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics
- H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarship
- Brad Davis SEC Community Service Postgraduate Scholarship
- NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships
- NCAA Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship
- NCAA Jim McKay Postgraduate Scholarship
- NACDA John McLendon Minority Scholarship
You can also use the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM) to find the best scholarship for your needs.
Texas Tech University
The Red Raiders women’s tennis team of Texas Tech University consists of strong individual and team players who never say die attitude. The latest proof is their solid performance at the Texas A&M Fall Invitational.
Such solid performance can be partly attributed to the financial support provided to the Red Raiders! Texas Tech is dedicated to developing its student-athletes through scholarships – and, indeed, 57% of its students received grants and scholarships in the fall 2019 term. The average amount for the same period is $4,265 per student.
Texas Tech also offers several general scholarships. You can use either the CommonApp or the ApplyTexas app for scholarship considerations. You may also apply for the Presidential Merit Scholarships, which are open for incoming freshmen students.
For more information about the Texas Tech athletic scholarships, you can send a letter to:
Texas Tech University Scholarships
West Hall Room 205, Box 45011 Lubbock, TX 79409-5011
You may also call 806.742.3144 or send an email to scholarships@ttu.edu
