leadership, institutional grants, or loans (Stafford, Perkins,
PLUS, etc.).
Division II institutions (more often than Division I institu-
tions) try to combine one of the foregoing types of financial
aid with a partial athletic scholarship in order to increase the
total amount of financial aid to a prospect. The larger the
non-athletic financial aid package, the greater the chance of
recruiting the prospect. However, unlike Division III institu-
tions, Division I and II colleges usually don’t negotiate an
increase in the non-athletic categories of financial aid. The
category left open for negotiations is usually the athletic
financial aid award.
As you discuss/negotiate financial aid, paying very, very
close attention to your financial aid arithmetic, be sure you
are combining all types of financial aid in order to calculate
the total financial aid package. When you and the coach agree
upon the athletic scholarship, he/she and the athletic direc-
tor will notify the college financial aid office of the amount
offered. This is accomplished by sending an initial Athletic
Tender (that must be signed by you, the athletic director, and
the coach) to the institution’s financial aid office. The NCAA
requires this so that the total amount of financial aid being
offered in that sport can be monitored. It’s required so that all
athletic tenders offered are compatible within the institution’s
and the NCAA’s allowable limits of total athletic financial aid
for that particular program.
The financial aid office then combines the athletic scholar-
ship with the financial aid you will be awarded in the other
categories previously noted. You will receive two documents
indicating the awarding of financial aid:
- Award Letter. This document itemizes each financial aid
106 The Sports Scholarships Insider’s Guide