U.S Field Hockey Scholarships

Number of field hockey scholarships by division level

There are approximately 280 colleges with sponsored field hockey teams. Below you can see how these field hockey teams are distributed amongst the major division levels:

How do you get a field hockey scholarship in America?

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While there are no Field Hockey scholarships available for men, talented female players can obtain athletic scholarships in both NCAA Division 1 and Division 2. NCAA Division 3 teams can award scholarships such as academic scholarships but not athletic scholarships. Division 1 Ivy League teams can provide financial aid based on household income but also do not have the ability to offer athletic scholarships. Field Hockey in the US has seen its popularity rise over the last few years, and university teams have followed this trend by increasing the quality of the coaching, the facilities, and the competition. More and more national team players from around the world are deciding to enrol at an American university to combine Field Hockey and education, rather than staying in their respective countries and focusing on either their education or on hockey. Field Hockey powerhouses such as Duke, North Carolina, Stanford and others have been able to attract growing numbers of foreign players and have actually started focusing their recruiting on all parts of the world. This has led to the fact that in 2015, for the first time, over 10% of all college Field Hockey players came from outside the US. This number is likely to increase rapidly over the next few years, as we have experienced a high interest level in international players among college coaches.

The majority of field hockey programs are located in northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions of the United States.

– NCAA Division 1 field hockey programs will be allowed to offer 27 scholarships, up from the current limit of 12.
– NCAA Division II has 40 colleges offering 7 Scholarships per team.
– NCAA Division III has 168 colleges with athletic scholarships unavailable.

Field hockey scholarships are most often awarded first to athletes in positions that directly impact scoring opportunities. For field hockey, this means college programs prioritise goalies and well-rounded forwards, as these positions prevent scoring and put points on the board. Following these positions are defenders and midfielders.

Below we have given you the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about securing a field hockey scholarship in America.

Am I eligible for a field hockey scholarship?

An athletic field hockey scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a U.S college or university awarded to an individual based on their academic and athletic capabilities. A field hockey scholarship can cover anywhere between 0-100% of costs depending on what governing body and division that team competes in and these offers are authorised by the coaches at American colleges/universities.

What determines how much scholarship I get in the USA?

Your scholarship will depend on many factors including your playing ability and academic standing, as well as your coaches assigned budget for the season. However, don’t worry it is our job to ensure that we find you an American college which best suits your preferences and capabilities. If, for example, a university costs $50,000 a year all in and the coach is giving you a scholarship worth $42,000, then this is a partial scholarship as there is a $8,000 shortfall that the coach wants you to contribute towards the costs of attending the university. Most partial scholarships come with the incentive that if you perform well, both on the pitch and in the classroom, then the coach can reward you with a scholarship increase and cover any costs that you had been contributing towards.

The female game is one of the most popular college sports, with increasing attendances and more and more new programs being created. As of 2025 NCAA D1 teams are limited by the number of athletes in their roster rather than by the amount of scholarships available to them, which had been the case historically. Previously, Women’s Field Hockey was an equivalency sport, meaning that coaches were given the freedom to draw from a total pool of funds, not exceeding the value of 12 full scholarships, and allocate scholarship types in any combination. However, this new ruling means a NCAA D1 team can have a maximum of 27 players who technically could all be awarded full scholarships but this will not be the case as scholarship funding is split across all athletic teams at a university.

So there are plenty of scholarship opportunities available for female Field Hockey players among the 122 division 1 and 2 teams. So if you are interested in combining your education and your Field Hockey career, the US college system might just be the perfect fit for you.

Which universities offer field hockey scholarships?

Student-athletes can find scholarship opportunities at every NCAA division level. Division 1 and 2 programs award full or partial athletic scholarships, while Ivy League and Division 3 institutions award academic scholarships to student-athletes in high academic standing and with strong ACT/SAT test scores.

Below is a list of the best field hockey programs with the best scholarships at each NCAA division level. These field hockey programs were identified using our U.S SS University Ranking system, which ranks schools based on academics, cost, graduation rates and more.

Top NCAA Division 1 Colleges: Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, Duke University, Columbia University, University of Virginia, Stanford University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Pennsylvania (Penn), Dartmouth College

Top NCAA Division 2 Colleges: Bentley University, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Assumption College, Stonehill College, Bellarmine University, Slippery Rock University, Converse College, Saint Anselm College, Queens University of Charlotte, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Top NCAA Division 3 Colleges: John Hopkins, Amherst College, Tufts University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Williams College, Middlebury College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, Wesleyan University, Washington & Lee University

What are considered some of the best NCAA D1 field hockey programmes?

• North Carolina Tar Heels: North Carolina has been a dominant force, securing national championships in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. Their consistent excellence has solidified their reputation as a powerhouse in collegiate field hockey.
• Northwestern Wildcats: Northwestern emerged as a formidable contender, capturing national titles in 2021 and 2024. Their recent successes highlight their ascent in the field hockey landscape.
• University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies: UConn clinched the national championship in 2017, adding to their impressive history in the sport.
• Syracuse Orange: Syracuse secured the national title in 2015, marking a significant achievement in their program’s history.
• Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens: In 2016, Delaware captured the national championship, showcasing their program’s strength.
• Maryland Terrapins – A historically strong program with multiple NCAA titles, they have consistently been among the top teams, reaching the Final Four several times.
• Michigan Wolverines – Regular contenders in the NCAA Tournament, they reached the national championship game in 2021.
• Louisville Cardinals – Have become a strong program in recent years, making deep tournament runs and competing at a high level.
• Penn State Nittany Lions – A consistent force in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament, often ranked among the top teams.
• Duke Blue Devils – Reached multiple Final Fours, showcasing their competitiveness on the national stage.
• Boston College Eagles – A rising program that has made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and deep runs.

These programs have consistently demonstrated excellence in NCAA Division I field hockey over the past decade, contributing to the sport’s competitive landscape.

Can I Play Field Hockey Professionally After Graduating?

Below are a few examples of the many talented field hockey players who have attended universities in America. Playing at the college level can be a great stepping stone to a successful career in field hockey, as well as a valuable opportunity to earn an education and make lifelong connections.

• Lauren Crandall – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Crandall is a former captain of the US women’s national field hockey team and a two-time Olympian. She played for the UNC Tar Heels from 2003-2006, where she was a two-time All-American and helped lead the team to two national championships.
• Michelle Vittese – University of Virginia: Vittese is a former midfielder for the US women’s national field hockey team and a two-time Olympian. She played for the University of Virginia Cavaliers from 2008-2011, where she was a four-time All-American and the 2011 ACC Player of the Year.
• Katelyn Falgowski – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Falgowski is a former midfielder for the US women’s national field hockey team and a two-time Olympian. She played for the UNC Tar Heels from 2007-2010, where she was a three-time All-American and helped lead the team to two national championships.
• Carissa Messimer – University of Maryland: Messimer is a former midfielder for the US women’s national field hockey team and a two-time Olympian. She played for the University of Maryland Terrapins from 1999-2002, where she was a two-time All-American and helped lead the team to two national championships.
• Paige Selenski – University of Virginia: Selenski is a former forward for the US women’s national field hockey team and a two-time Olympian. She played for the University of Virginia Cavaliers from 2008-2011, where she was a four-time All-American and the 2011 ACC Offensive Player of the Year.

Can you get full ride athletic scholarships for field hockey?

How do I find out more about U.S Field Hockey Scholarships?

To find out more about the field hockey scholarship process, fill out our form and a U.S Sports Scholarships consultant will be in touch to answer any questions you may have. Alternatively, you can register for one of our UK field hockey Information Days where our expert team will deliver a detailed presentation that will provide you with information on the entire process and how we can help you with securing a field hockey scholarship. If this is of interest please complete our free online application now.

What are the chances of getting a field hockey scholarship?

If you are aged between 15-22, in education or have been in the last 2 years and have a clean criminal record whilst playing field hockey at a competitive level, you are well positioned to become a successful U.S Sports Scholarships applicant. However, only the best young players will be considered for a field hockey scholarship by coaches so ideally you will have represented your county or county at youth level.

Why use a recruitment consultancy like U.S Sports Scholarships

U.S Sports Scholarships is like no other service provider in the world in that we only offer 50 places on our recruitment programme each year to ensure that every single player receives the necessary time and personal attention to take them through the complex process of finding a suitable school in America; helping them secure the best possible financial package. To help achieve this, each player is assigned their own designated representative who is with them every step of the way. If you think you have what it takes to play and study in the USA on a field hockey scholarship, please complete our free online application now.