15 Best Colleges for Baseball Scholarships

To successfully land any of the baseball scholarships and get your college education paid for, you are going to have to get a plan together.

Baseball has always been number 3 on the list of favorites for the citizens of the United States of America, after soccer and softball.

In this article, we will take you through the best colleges for baseball scholarships in 2024.

How to Apply for baseball scholarships for college students
15 Best Colleges for Baseball Scholarships in 2024
Conclusion
References
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How to Apply for baseball scholarships for college students

To play college baseball, you will need to figure out what schools you are interested in and where they are located. Going through the recruiting process alone does not work for everyone, and paid services can provide the extra boost. When looking for a baseball college scholarship;

Create a baseball scholarship recruiting resume highlighting your academic and athletic achievements. Make a baseball highlight film, and you don’t only want to tell coaches how good you are; they want you to show them.

Find baseball coaches’ contact information and reach out to them. Send your resume to coaches once you have researched programs.

Don’t just stop there; follow up and continue the conversation. If you don’t hear from a coach after a week, you need to send them a follow-up email.

So, do not stop pitching until you are awarded a baseball college scholarship!

15 Best Colleges for Baseball Scholarships in 2024

Check out the 15 Best Colleges for Baseball Scholarships in 2024

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#1. Vanderbilt University

The Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team reigns as the NCAA Division I national champion and says something about its excellent play. Indeed, Vanderbilt University undoubtedly has the best college program in the country!

Vanderbilt University offers athletic scholarships for its baseball players. The head coach typically has the discretion of scholarship distribution but with NCAA guidelines in mind.

Student-athletes can also apply for merit scholarships offered by the private research university. However, these merit scholarships are open only to the top 1% of the freshmen applicants, and these are competitive due to their limited number.

Unless otherwise specified, these are renewable for four years of undergraduate and financial needs.

Vandy offers three signature scholarships:

Ingram Scholarship Program
Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship Program
Chancellor’s Scholarship Program

All three programs provide full tuition support for an academic year and a one-time summer stipend for a summer service project, either after the sophomore year.

It may also provide scholars with showed financial need over full tuition with additional financial aid from the university. But there are different eligibility requirements for each scholarship.

Take note that there are only about 250 recipients of these three scholarships every year, and thus, it’s an extremely selective process.

For clarifications about athletic and academic scholarships, be sure to complete the contact form or call the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at (615) 322.3591.

Office hours are 9:00 am – 4:00 pm CST, Monday – Friday. No walk-in applicants will be entertained since the office is temporarily closed because of the pandemic.

#2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team competes in NCAA Division I baseball and in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

They have eight ACC championships and have made 11 College World Series appearances, which is why high school baseball players are attracted to its program.

UNC offers athletic scholarships to its baseball players, but most of them are only on partial scholarships. Every student-athlete typically has his unique scholarship agreement outlining what’s being offered.

The scholarship agreement can also be a multi-year or single-year contract with an annual renewal option. For example, Player A may have part of his tuition and fees covered, while Player B may have part of his room and board covered.

It may not provide only these athletic scholarships to active players. Student-athletes who have suffered career-ending injuries and those who are still pursuing their degree but whose athletic eligibility has expired may still be under scholarship.

UNC has a unique program called “Complete Carolina,” which the Department of Athletics manages. The program financially supports former student-athletes who left UNC in good standing before earning their degree, usually because they pursued professional sports careers.

The financial support is proportional to the athletics scholarship that the student-athlete received during his initial enrollment. This can include tuition and fees, room and board, and textbooks.

At UNC, a full-ride scholarship costs about $25,400/year for an in-state student and $52,400 for an out-of-state student.

For more information about athletic scholarships and financial aid, email UNC or call them at 919-962-8396.

You can read this: 7 Best Football Scholarships in the USA in 2024

#3. University of California – San Diego

82 UCSD Tritons have been recognized with Academic All-American honors while they have been awarded 37 NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. Such academic excellence and athletics superiority make the Tritons baseball team among the best in the NCAA Division II!

More important, UCSD offers its student-athletes generous scholarship opportunities that will cover their tuition and other educational costs.

Keep in mind that these scholarships are merit-based athletic grants, so applicants must meet stringent academic and athletic requirements.

These scholarships attract promising baseball players to UCSD and make their education more affordable to student-athletes from diverse backgrounds.

The most notable scholarships, aside from the athletic scholarships, include:

Regents Scholarship ($8,000 honorarium)
Ellen and Roger Revelle Scholarship ($10,000)
James Avery Scholarship ($4,000)
Black Alumni Scholarship ($4,000)
Chancellor’s Associates Scholarship ($40,000)

These scholarships have their total award amount spread out over four years.

The scholarship application process is relatively easy, too, but be mindful of the deadlines. Be sure to file your application for admissions and scholarships by November 30.

You may also need to file your FAFSA or a California Dream Application by March 2; you cannot file for both types of aid. It may also require you to file additional documents by May 1

UCSD will then consider your application and provide notification by March 30. You can check your application status at UCSD’s Application Portal.

#4. University of California – Los Angeles

Athletic scholarships awarded by UCLA are strictly based on academic and athletic ability – not on showing financial need. UCLA Athletics ticket sales, private donations, media contracts, and corporate partnerships also funded these – not by state funds.

The university awards about 285 full athletic scholarships to its best student-athletes in various varsity sports every year, including baseball.

These scholarships cover tuition and fees, as well as room and board. Their recipients have to meet the stringent scholarship requirements and be registered at the NCAA Eligibility Center.

If you’re interested in becoming a UCLA student-athlete, you can contact the baseball coach through email or phone or ask your high school coach to do so on your behalf. You may also submit a recruiting questionnaire. You would be glad to join one of the top colleges for

Student-athletes can also apply for other internal (UCLA-managed) and external (third-party) scholarships. The notable internal scholarships include:

Regents Scholarships ($2,000 honorarium plus additional aid to cover the difference between the honorarium and showed financial aid)

UCLA Alumni Scholarships (Freshman gets $6,000 to $20,000 total over four years while transferees get $6,000 total over two years)

UCLA Achievement Scholarships ($500 to $10,000 per year for up to four years)

Chancellor’s Blue and Gold Scholarship ($1,000 to $5,000 per year for up to four years for newcomers and up to two years for transferees)

Contact Shana Wilson, the Bruins Sr. Associate Athletic Director for Communications, at swilson@athletics.ucla.edu or call her at 310-206-7870 for more information.

#5. University of Florida

The Florida Gators baseball team players are usually offered athletic scholarships to recognize their contribution to the university’s vibrant athletics record.

The team has won 15 SEC championships, won its first national championship in 2017, and appeared in a dozen College World Series tournaments.

For high school students interested in becoming a Gator, contact the baseball coach at U.F. You can also write the University Athletic Association, P. O. Box 14485, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32604-2485 or call (352) 375-4683. They may ask you to submit documentation and videos of your games.

Gator Student-athletes can also apply for merit-based and need-based scholarships, including:

Presidential Scholarship ($5,000 per year)
Presidential Gold Scholarship ($8,000 per year)
Presidential Platinum Scholarship ($10,000 per year)

These are merit-based scholarships available for in-state students. The awards are renewable for up to four years, too. There’s no separate application since all students who apply by November 1 are automatically considered.

Out-of-state students can apply for these scholarships:

Alumni Scholarship (Up to $8,000 per year)

Sunshine Scholarship (Up to $16,000 per year)

Gator Nation Scholarship (Up to 20,000 per year)

These are also renewable scholarships for up to four years, and there’s no separate application required.

Other notable scholarship programs at U.F. are the National Merit Finalists/Benacquisto Scholarship, the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars (full scholarship package with comprehensive support), and Lombardi and Stamps Scholarships.

Check this: 10 Best Colleges for C Average Students in the USA | 2024

#7. Texas Tech University

The Texas Tech Raiders are proud of themselves for a good reason! While they have yet to win a College World Series Championship, they have two conference tournament championships and five conference championships.

Their current head coach, Tim Tadlock, has made the Red Raider program among the premier NCAA and the USA programs.

And Texas Tech can now offer more baseball scholarships, thanks to the new NCAA Division I rule for college baseball teams.

The team now has the prerogative to grant scholarships to five more players than in previous years. Plus, any 2016-2020 seniors who will return to finish their senior season on the team will not be part of this number.

The bottom line: The Red Raiders are one of the top colleges, as they can grant up to 34 baseball scholarships for the next season. This is an opportunity for incoming newcomers and transfers students and current students.

But it must also make emphasized that very few baseball players have a full athletic scholarship. Most players only receive a 25% scholarship because of NCAA rules.

Student-athletes can apply for merit-based scholarships to bridge the gap between their grants-in-aid and their cost of attendance. The baseball-specific programs include:

The R.J. Latham Family Scholarship program welcomes former student-athletes whose athletic scholarship and eligibility have expired.

The Kal Segrist Scholarship Fund is open to baseball letter winners who have exhausted their athletic eligibility but are still pursuing their degrees.

Texas Tech also offers several test-optional, general, and presidential merit scholarships.

For more information, contact Forrest Kirsch or call him at 806-834-7161.

#8. Bentley University

The Bentley Falcons have the highest graduation rate among student-athletes in the U.S. at 99% (NCAA Division II Academic Success Rate). And what’s even more amazing is that this is the third straight year that the Falcons have occupied the top spot! This is just the reason for the popularity of athletic scholarships at Bentley University.

Prospective student-athletes can send their inquiries about Bentley’s athletic scholarships to the Athletic Department or complete the recruiting questionnaire.

First-year students and transfer students can also course their questions to the Undergraduate Admission office.

Bentley offers first-year students a wide range of academic scholarships based on their academic records.

All admitted freshmen, including aspiring student-athletes, are automatically considered for many of these academic scholarships – there’s no separate application process.

Eligible students are notified at the admission time to prepare and submit additional documentation by the deadline.

But there are scholarship programs with different application processes. The Women’s Leadership Award is one of these programs, and it’s open to newcomers with strong leadership potential.

The recipients will receive $10,000 annually for four years and participate in a leadership program.

Bentley also offers micro-scholarships through its RaiseMe partnership. Transfer student-athletes can also vie for the limited number of academic scholarships, which have awards ranging from $15,000 to $20,000 per academic year.

More information can be secured by sending an email to Bentley or calling 781.891.3441 or 877.362.2216.

#9. Grand Valley State University

The GVSU Lakers baseball team has experienced moderate success with frequent appearances in NCAA Division II tournaments. But its great athletic scholarship program continues to attract many top student-athletes.

Athletic scholarships are available to students who take part in varsity sports, including baseball. Most baseball players have partial scholarships, too, for the reasons mentioned above.

GVSU also has several merit-based awards open for incoming newcomers and transfer students who are first-timers at the university. Take note that most of these scholarships have high academic requirements, usually in high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores.

The award may be based on the information provided on the admission application. Hence, they are among the best colleges for baseball scholarships.

The university’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships sends out the scholarship notices in mid-January.

Final decisions, such as the list of scholars and the type of scholarships they were chosen for, will be made by July 31. Students are well-advised to file for FAFSA to maximize their financial aid.

The notable scholarships at GVSU include:

Presidential Scholarship ($4,000 to $7,000 per year for up to four years; up to $2,000 extra for National Merit Finalists)

Faculty Scholarship ($1,000 to $3,000 per year for up to four years; up to $2,000 extra for National Merit Finalists)

Award for Excellence Scholarship ($5,000 per year plus the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition or about $40,280; $5,000 per year for a non-Michigan resident)

You can search for scholarship opportunities, too, by sending an email to GVSU or calling the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships at (616) 331-3234.

#10. Truman State University

The Truman Bulldogs play in NCAA Division II and compete in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). While the team has yet to win national and conference championships, it’s well-known for its great athletic scholarships.

Truman State University also offers other forms of scholarships aside from baseball scholarships. Student-athletes should look into these opportunities, too, since an athletic scholarship may not meet all their education and living expenses.

Most of these scholarships don’t require additional steps from first-year students too. The completion of the undergraduate application results in automatic consideration for scholarships and financial aid.

Students eligible for the TruMerit scholarships only need to submit their application, official transcripts, and verified standardized test scores.

The automatic scholarships include the following:

General John K. Pershing Scholarship (Covers tuition, meal plan, and on-campus room annually and a one-time $4,000 stipend for studies abroad; up to 12 scholars)

Harry S. Truman Leadership Award ($10,000 per year for tuition, meal plan, and on-campus room assistance)

Midwest Student Exchange Program (About $3,370 for AY 2024-2024)

Non-resident Tuition Waiver (Covers a portion of out-of-state tuition or $7,975 for AY 2024-2024)

Bulldog Legacy ($1,000 for in-state students and $2,000 for out-of-state students annually)

The Financial Aid Office is the best resource for more information about scholarships suitable for student-athletes.

The head coach should also be consulted on matters related to athletic scholarships. Contact the Financial Aid Office or call them at 660-785-4130.

Also, read this: Top 10 D2 (DII) Colleges in North Carolina | NCAA List 2024

#10. Point Loma Nazarene University

The PLNU Sea Lions baseball team plays in the NCAA Division II, but it played under NAIA until 2014. Marty Decker and Mike Ekstrom, two of its former players, have made it to the professional league.

Many high school players also dream of being in the MLB and consider PLNU their stepping stone.

And rightly so, considering that PLNU has a good athletic scholarship program. The athletic scholarship can be used to pay for the tuition and fees and on-campus room and board.

Students can either complete the application form for prospective student-athletes or call the intercollegiate athletic department at (619) 849-2265.

PLNU also offers several scholarship programs that student-athletes can look into. More than half of students receive a merit-based scholarship, and many of them are student-athletes.

For AY 2024-2024, the merit scholarships for newcomers include the following:

Bresee Scholarship ($10,000)
Provost’s Scholarship ($12,000)
Trustee’s Scholarship ($16,000)
President’s Scholarship ($20,000)

These scholarships are based on cumulative GPA and ACT/SAT scores.

PLNU also awards merit scholarships for transferees. The amount depends on the GPA – transferees with a 3.6 or higher GPA receive $8,000, while transferees with a 3.3 to 3.59 GPA receive $6,000 yearly. Transferable credits apply.

#11. The University of Texas at Austin

The Texas Longhorns are championing through their six NCAA national championships, 35 appearances in the College World Series, and the most individual CWS games won. Many of its members have also become MLB players, such as Drew Stubbs, Roger Clemens, and Burt Hooton.

No wonder UT-Austin is sought after by top high school baseball players, not to mention that it takes good care of its student-athletes.

What’s more amazing is that the university doesn’t use public funds – it secures most of the funds for its scholarship program from ticket sales, private donations, and television rights.

The athletic department transfers the funds to the academic section to cover the athletic scholarships.

For questions about athletic scholarships, feel free to email Texas One Stop or call them at (512) 232-6988. You can also visit them on the Tower’s ground floor, but be sure to make an appointment first.

The Division of Athletic Training and Sports Medicine also grants three students scholarships through the ATP PRIDE Award, the ATS of the Year, and the Most Improved ATS of the Year. None of these programs have a guaranteed amount and annual renewal.

Other scholarships include the Tina Bonci Excellence in Athletic Training Scholarship, the LATSA Inspiration Award, and the University Leadership Network (ULN) Scholarship.

The ULN Scholarship is exceptional because of the number of students who can avail of it and the amount of incentive involved – up to 500 students and up to $20,000 over four years, respectively.

Yet another notable scholarship is the Texas Advance Commitment Award, which will cover 100% of the tuition costs for students of families with AGI up to $65,000.

#12. Texas Christian University

I must make emphasize that TCU-based baseball players and their parents still have to shell out at least $45,000 per year, even with a partial scholarship.

The cost of attendance is $60,000 per year and above, and an athletic scholarship will cover only about 25% of it. Most Division I baseball players are on partial scholarships only, not the desired full-ride scholarships.

But top-notch baseball players still come to TCU for a good reason – it’s among NCAA history’s most successful baseball teams!

TCU has made 14 NCAA Baseball Tournament appearances and boasts of 29 All-Americans, two pitchers of the year, and three players of the year awards. That’s why they’re one of the top colleges for baseball scholarships.

Tip: Submit TCU’s recruit questionnaire and possibly fast-track your college baseball career by getting on the radar of baseball coaches. Videotapes of your games, copies of statistics and articles, and other helpful materials may also be sent to the baseball department.

The baseball head coach makes a list of the student-athletes who he thinks deserve an athletic scholarship.

Furthermore, they evaluate every student based on his athletic and academic merits. The coach then deliberates the official transcripts, recommendation letters, study of gameplays, and every applicant’s sports records.

You can mail these documents and videos to the head coach at TCU Box 297600, Fort Worth, Texas 76129.

Student-athletes who are not for athletic scholarships may also look into academic scholarships, including:

Chancellor’s Scholarship (Full coverage of tuition and fees)

Deans Scholarship ($21,000 per year)

Faculty Scholarship ($18,000 per year)

Contact the Office of Scholarships and Student Financial Aid or call 817-257-7258 for more information.

#13. University of Miami

The Miami Hurricanes baseball team is considered among the elite teams because of its impressive record. It has won four national championships and 29 NCAA Regional Titles, and 25 College World Series appearances.

These successes can be partly attributed to the University of Miami’s generous athletic scholarship program. The university even has a dedicated office for student-athletes, The Office of Student-Athlete Development, which ensures its players’ personal and professional development.

Students interested in becoming part of the Miami Hurricanes should contact the baseball head coach, Gino DiMare, at 305-284-4171. You can also visit the Hurricane Athletics website for more information.

The university also offers several academic scholarships for which student-athletes may be eligible. These include:

The Stamps Scholarship covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, meal plan, on-campus housing, textbooks, university health insurance, and laptop allowance for four years.

An additional $12,000 enrichment fund can be used for international studies, unpaid internships, and undergraduate research.

The Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholarship covers the full cost of tuition for four years.

Other scholarships that cover the full cost of tuition for an undergraduate degree up to four years include the Ronald A. Hammond Scholarship, the Marta S. and L. Austin Weeks Endowed Scholarship, and the George W. Jenkins Scholarship.

#14. The University of Virginia

The Virginia Cavaliers baseball team is the 2015 College World Series champion. The Virginia Athletics Foundation establishes and promotes an annual fund that covers the team members’ athletic scholarships.

Student-athletes are strongly encouraged to apply for FAFSA, a requirement for many scholarship opportunities.

The university’s Student Financial Services also offers several endowed need-based scholarships, which student-athletes may well qualify for. There are dozens of scholarship programs, too, and patience is necessary to understand the best ones.

For more information, please email the University of Virginia with the name of the scholarships you’re interested in. You will be provided with further instructions.

#15. University of Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines baseball team has won two national championships and made eight College World Series appearances.

Its athletic scholarship partly relies on a privately funded scholarship fund, which requires $25 million each year for tuition payments.

The Michigan Athletics Endowed Scholarship Program provides educational assistance on many levels, including aid for tuition, fees, books, and full scholarships.

The most popular scholarship programs for baseball players are:

Jim Campbell Baseball Scholarship
William B. Giles Scholarship for Baseball
Marlin H. Pemberton Baseball Scholarship
Samuel L. Westerman Foundation Scholarship for Baseball
Moby Benedict Scholarship for Baseball
Buzz Newton Scholarship for Baseball
Foussianes Family Scholarship for Baseball
Don Lund/Ray Fisher Scholarship for Baseball
Walter S. Harms Baseball Scholarship
Ray Fisher Scholarship for Baseball

Write to the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships or call them at 313-593-5300 for more information about these baseball-specific scholarships.

College baseball players can have a shot at a successful professional career! It starts with the fullest possible support from their schools regarding scholarships, grants, and aid.

Conclusion

Of course, getting a 100% free ride on a baseball scholarship for four years is rare. But even a partial athletic scholarship, financial aid, and grants, if permitted, will significantly reduce your cost of attendance.

The bottom line: You should consider pursuing your dream of playing top-level college baseball. While college is a fairly expensive endeavor, you can ease the financial burden by winning a baseball scholarship. These colleges for baseball scholarships can make it easier for you.

15 Best Colleges for Baseball Scholarships

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How to Apply for baseball scholarships for college students