9 College Scholarships for Cheerleading
Gone are the days when people believed cheerleaders were just there to support the football team. On the contrary, modern colleges recognize cheering as the impressive feat of athleticism that it is. And while the activity still isn’t considered an official sport by the NCAA, plenty of schools and organizations offer cheerleading scholarships to young people who take part. To earn a cheerleading scholarship, students typically need more than skill on the field. The most desirable scholarships also require applicants to have brag-worthy GPAs and a resume full of additional extracurriculars. Keep reading to learn about some of the best scholarships available to cheerleaders and other high school athletes, along with what it takes to apply. Amount: $500 to $2,000 (depending on location) Deadline: Entries for 2021 open January 1 Eligibility: Application Requirements: The PCA seeks out and rewards high school athletes who excel at their sport, while demonstrating the standards outlined in Elevating Your Game: Becoming a Triple-Impact Competitor by PCA Founder Jim Thompson. Along with showcasing personal mastery, applicants should work to support their teammates and make the game better. For the best shot at success, select references who can speak to the way you embody the Triple-Impact Competitor principles in your attitude and performance. Amount: $1,000 Deadline: TBD for 2021 Eligibility: High school seniors, college freshman, and college sophomores Application Requirements: Inspirational essay between 500 and 1000 words Sports Unlimited is passionate about sponsoring athletes who want to earn a college degree. Recognizing that academic achievement is just as important as what happens on the athletic field, the organization offers students $1,000 in scholarship money. Applicants are primarily judged based on the contents of their essay, and impressive entries may be featured on the company blog. The most recent prompt asked whether collegiate athletes should be allowed to be paid for playing sports. Amount: $20,250 Deadline: January 3, 2021 Eligibility: Application Requirements: For the Foot Locker scholarship, sportsmanship is as important as athletic achievement. The award committee will evaluate applicants based on a range of factors, including their moral character, enthusiasm, academic excellence, and commitment to building their community. To increase your odds of securing this cheerleading scholarship, look for ways to demonstrate characteristics like honesty, trustworthiness, and courage in your essays. Those applicants selected as semi-finalists will need to sit for interviews. Amount: $250 Deadline: TBD for 2021 Eligibility: Application Requirements: The South Dakota Cheer Coaches’ Association scholarship celebrates cheerleaders who are as impressive in the classroom as they are on the court or field. Each year, the organization selects two high school seniors to receive $250 each. For best results, make sure your essay highlights your scholastic achievements as well as your accomplishments in cheering. Amount: $5,000 Deadline: December 13, 2020 Eligibility: Application Requirements: The Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan Scholarship is open to cheerleaders who competed in the annual Scholarship Invitational. To apply for the award, you must submit an essay answering the prompt of how competitive cheer has impacted your life. Additionally, your essay should describe your career goals. Note that your coach must be a current CCAM member for you to apply. Amount: $1800 ($900 for fall semester and $900 for spring) Deadline: Students must attend tryouts (typically in March or April). Eligibility: Full-time students enrolled at Auburn University Application Requirements: Try out for the cheer team and be accepted While Auburn University doesn’t technically offer cheerleading scholarships, the institution does provide those who cheer with generous stipends. Designed to help students pay for tuition and fees, the stipends vary from one year to the next and are currently set at $1800 per year. Students who try out for the cheer team and are accepted are eligible for the award. Amount: Up to $7500 for in-state students Deadline: Currently postponed due to COVID-19 Eligibility: Full-time students enrolled at and cheering for the university Application Requirements: Try out for the cheer team and be accepted The University of Delaware offers several scholarships for its well-known Fightin’ Blue Hens Cheer Team. If you try out for the team and are accepted, you can earn up to $7500 as an in-state student. Along with appearing at school events and games, Delaware cheerleaders perform for public events and charities. Amount: Up to $750 per year plus benefits Deadline: February 1 (Freshman fall enrollment date) Eligibility: Full-time cheerleaders enrolled at KU Application Requirements: Try out for the cheer team and be accepted Students accepted to the University of Kansas cheer team will receive $650 per year to fund their education. As a bonus, students with a GPA of 3.0 or above qualify for an additional $100 annually, along with extra perks. For example, cheerleaders receive free Adidas apparel and shoes, free uniforms, per diems for away games, access to a top-notch weight room, and two tickets to every home football game. Amount: $1,000 Deadline: TBD for 2021 Eligibility: Application Requirements: Applicants must write a 500-word personal essay addressing the following: The WACPC has been honoring talented cheerleaders for almost two decades. As a graduating senior on your school’s dance or cheer team, you will have the opportunity to win one of 16 scholarships for $1,000 each. The most competitive applicants boast a high GPA and a wide array of extracurriculars. CollegeVine believes that applying to colleges shouldn’t be a guessing game. Understanding that students and families hear plenty of false information when it comes to acceptance rates, we go to great lengths to provide them with accurate chancing data. To learn more about your odds of attending your dream school, try our admissions calculator for yourself.Best College Cheerleading Scholarships
1. Positive Coaching Alliance: Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship
2. Sports Unlimited Scholarship
3. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes
4. South Dakota Cheer Coaches Association Scholarship
5. Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan Scholarship
6. Auburn University
7. University of Delaware
8. University of Kansas
9. Wisconsin Association of Cheer/Pom Coaches
