Can You Get a Scholarship for Cheerleading?

Are you a high school cheerleader with dreams of getting a cheerleading scholarship?

Fort Hays State University, University of Hawaii, Indiana Wesleyan University, University of Delaware, University of Central Arkansas are some top colleges that make Cheerleading Scholarships available to the students. These universities offer up to $2,500 to $8,000 in scholarships every year to the students wish, cheerleading scholarships. Additionally, if you're at a leadership position in your squad, you may qualify for an additional scholarship of up to $3,375 per year.

Sadly, cheerleading isn’t acknowledged by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a sport. Hence, for the same reason, there is very little funding available for college cheerleaders. Still, it is possible for you to be worthy to win a full-ride scholarship that requires to have a GPA of 3.8 or above.

Instead, the big news is that more and higher scholarships are becoming available to cheerleaders. While there are scholarships obtainable in many places, the best place to search in the college you are planning to attend.

How to Get a Scholarship for Cheerleading?

To get a cheerleading scholarship, you’ll require to be the best among all the competitors. Possibilities will be better if you registered in the cheerleading unit as soon as possible in your high school.

Also, having exceptional gymnastics skills, it’s also essential to have high-grades. While you’re obtaining a scholarship toward your athleticism, universities look for well-balanced amateurs.

There aren’t multiple full-ride cheerleading scholarships, but many institutions award miniature scholarships. Also, they may offer little stipends to meet daily expenses like the cost of food, housing, and travel expenses.

American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) and the National Council for Spirit Safety and Education (NCSSE) are cheerleading organizations that offer scholarships to athletes looking to continue the sport on the college level. 

According to Cheerdaily list of top 10 colleges for Scholarship of Cheerleading

10. University of Memphis – Memphis, Tennessee

The University of Memphis consistently has a strong cheerleading program but they are so high on our list because of the great scholarship opportunity there. They offer 12 full rides for the coed team and up to $1,000 per semester for qualifying all-girl team members, which is some of the most amounts of scholarships offered out of anyone on this list.

9. Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge, Louisiana

LSU cheerleaders lead the crowds at one of the nation’s best college football venues, Tiger Stadium. They also fare well at nationals every year, consistently placing in the top 10.

8. University of Mississippi – Oxford, Mississippi

They award a good amount of scholarships to their cheerleaders and are improving in competition with each year.

7. Oklahoma State University – Stillwater, Oklahoma

Oklahoma State University is ranked almost every year not only in cheerleading but also in football and basketball, making it a great place to cheer.

6. University of Tennessee – Knoxville, Tennessee

Nothing says game day atmosphere like leading a crowd of 103,000+ fans at every home football game. If game days in Knoxville aren’t enough to make Tennessee a top cheerleading destination, 12 full-tuition scholarships should.

5. University of South Carolina – Columbia, South Carolina

The University of South Carolina has a strong all girl and coed competition team that competes at NCA Nationals and that leads the crowd at games for one of the SEC’s strongest athletic programs.

4. University of Louisville – Louisville, Kentucky

U of L is home to the winningest program in NCA National titles. They cheer for one of the nation’s elite basketball programs as well as cheering for the football team that has done well in recent years.

3. University of Central Florida – Orlando, Florida

UCF is one of the perennial powerhouses in college cheerleading. They are consistently among the top three in Division 1A Coed cheer and offer scholarships to up to 16 of its cheerleading squad members.

2. University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Getting to cheer for the 15-time national championship football team, having access to some of the best athletic facilities in the country, and being on one of the best cheerleading teams in the nation make Alabama one of our top colleges for cheer.

1. University of Kentucky – Lexington, Kentucky

The 20-time UCA National Champions are at the top of this list for more than just their impressive number of titles.