Many student athletes competing in all three NCAA divi-
sions are receiving some federal and/or state financial aid. In
addition, many students are awarded institutional financial
aid on top of the federal and state aid that is loaded into a
student athlete’s total financial aid package.
Another Financial Aid Consideration
You may win a scholarship from an organization outside the
college’s regular financial aid sources, such as your church or
booster club. If you do, most colleges ask that you report or
even send the award to the school’s financial aid office. Typi-
cally, the financial aid office will reduce your financial aid
package by the amount of the award. This saves the school
money, but won’t improve your overall financial aid pack-
age. Ask the organization to give the award directly to you
so the school won’t reduce your financial aid package by the
outside entity’s award amount.
Pell Grants
After you have completed the FAFSA form and sent it in to the
Department of Education, its computers will decide if you are
in need of a federal financial aid grant. If so, it awards the grant
based on a sliding scale. The maximum award is $4,731 and is
renewable each year that you are in good academic standing.
The award is made directly to the institution and credited to
your total financial aid package.
Awarding Financial Aid
There exist a number of methods and means for institutions
to award financial aid for athletic ability. Institutions attempt
to fashion financial aid packages in such a manner that the
Recruiting and Financial Aid 23