Here’s the unfiltered truth about full-ride wrestling scholarships: they’re rare. The main reason being that men’s wrestling is an equivalency sport. In other words, NCAA Division 1 and 2 coaches are given a pool of scholarship money and can divide it up among recruits and current wrestlers however they like. So instead of offering full rides to a few wrestlers, it’s more common for them to divide their funds into partial scholarships across multiple athletes. Even though NCAA Division 3 coaches can’t offer athletic aid, they tend to create scholarship packages with other sources of money. In this section, we uncover all the facts when it comes to scholarships for wrestling.

How many college scholarships are offered for wrestling?

Men’s wrestling is an equivalency sport, which means there isn’t a strict number of athletes who need to be on scholarship. Instead, each division is given an allocated number of scholarships and the coach decides how to divide the money up. For example, if there are 32 people on a team, instead of offering 9 full rides, the coach can choose to award partial scholarships to several athletes. For this reason, most men’s wrestlers are on partial athletic scholarships. Keep in mind, though, that these scholarship limits are the maximum amount coaches can offer. Some programs aren’t fully funded and may have fewer wrestling scholarships than listed above. 

How hard is it to get a wrestling scholarship?

In short: It isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible either. There are roughly 10,500 men’s wrestling athletes across 536 programs from NCAA Division 1 to the NCWA. If we break it down to the two NCAA divisions with athletic scholarships, it comes out to 4,390 athletes competing for 1,310 wrestling scholarships.  spots. From an NAIA perspective, we’re talking 1,806 athletes competing for 488 wrestling scholarships. Any way you look at it, the competition is fierce.

Plus, the number of high school men’s wrestlers has grown in the past two years, while the number of roster spots in NCAA Division 1 has historically declined from 2,754 athletes in 2000 to 2,461 today. Recruits looking to secure an athletic scholarship need to do their research, stand out academically, stay proactive in their recruiting and extend their search. For example, student-athletes may find that a Division 3 financial package made up of other forms of aid, such as academic scholarships and grants, cuts college costs the most.

How to get a wrestling scholarship

Student-athletes can improve their chances of being awarded an athletic scholarship by targeting schools that are a good fit for them, keeping their grades up and anticipating which weight classes coaches will recruit. Keep these tips in mind:  

1. Research first. Know the key differences in the division levels. NCAA Division 1, Division 2, NAIA and NJCAA programs offer athletic scholarships, while NCAA Division 3 programs provide scholarship packages made up of academic scholarships, need-based aid, and merit-based scholarships. Division 3 and NAIA programs are typically smaller, private schools.
2. Know the athletic requirements. College coaches prioritize wrestling scholarships to recruits who have the ability to score points both at the state and national level. For example, a recruit who can continuously score points against elite competition would be ranked higher than a wrestler who has won more total matches but has scored fewer overall points. Maximizing your point potential in high school, in addition to being nationally ranked, will improve your chances of securing a roster spot.
3. Excel academically. College coaches are looking for student-athletes. They consider a recruit’s academic standing just as seriously as their athletic ability. Plus, high test scores and a solid GPA can land you additional academic aid. If you’re interested in D1 or D2, remember to sign up for the NCAA Eligibility Center.
4. Keep your options open. Don’t overlook a division just because it isn’t Division 1. There are several competitive programs—from Division 2 to NJCAA—that could offer a better financial package than Division 1. For example, you might find that a Division 3 package, made up of grants and academic aid, brings college costs down significantly. Not to mention there are more wrestling scholarships available per team at junior colleges. 

The thing about colleges in the US is that training sessions fit around the student-athlete’s schedule. This creates the perfect environment for students to excel in their sport with world-class facilities and equipment. In addition, it encourages and pushes them to excel academically. These programs are designed so that students can succeed in both, providing they have the right mentality and drive to do so.