SO YOU WANT TO PLAY AND STUDY IN THE USA?

  • Studying overseas is an amazing experience and can be one of the most beneficial and impactful experiences of a lifetime. In college, studying abroad not only gives you the opportunity to improve your skills and learn about other cultures, it also enriches students with a valuable, lifelong experience. Students studying abroad in college form lifelong bonds with their classmates who are going through similar experiences. At college in the USA, students form deep relationships with their classmates in their host city. Alumni maintain friendships with each other and with their local friends long after returning from the U.S.
    Studying in the USA will let you explore vast academic opportunities, improve your career opportunities, gain a global perspective and receive world-class student support.

GET FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

Only certain sports have athletic scholarships available

You must meet the academic requirements of an athletic association to be eligible

Some universities offer eSports scholarships

University level sports are governed by athletic associations, who set the rules regarding scholarships and athletic recruitment. If a university isn’t a member of an athletic association, it is very unlikely that they have sports scholarships available

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) – the largest association with over 1,000 member institutions, the NCAA distributes the most funding and is highly competitive. This is for 4 year schools.

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) – the NAIA has around 250 member institutions.

National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) – the NJCAA covers two-year community colleges.

RECRUITMENT.

US athletic recruitment at the university level is highly competitive. Students in the USA can start the process as young as 14 years old. International students don’t have to begin quite so early but the sooner you start and the more time you put in, the more likely you are to achieve your goal.

You can follow a do-it-yourself route, contacting individual university coaches to inform them of your interest in their sport and to demonstrate your talent. The information on this website might help you with this: there are many links to other websites to help you research the best options for you.

The earlier you start the better, but for international students you can complete this process in your last year at school.

Fulbright Scholorships
NCAA - Men
NJCAA - Men
NAIA - Men
Featured School
NCAA - Women
NJCAA - Women
NAIA - Women

Featured Schools;

Onondaga CC, Upstate New York

Onondaga Lazers

Onondaga Lazers play in the NJCAA Division 3 in Region 3 (Upstate New York). The school is a junior college in the SUNY group and is located in Syracuse, in Central New York State. Facilities at the school are good and the educational programme is varied. The men’s soccer team has been led since 2024 by head coach Tom Bonus, previously a long-serving and highly successful NCAA Division 2 coach at Le Moyne College, and the Lazers have reached the Region III tournament in each of his seasons in charge.

Mens Soccer – Tom Bonus
Womens Soccer – Sean St. Denis

Contact the coaches

Featured School – Buffalo State, Western New York

Buffalo State Bengals

Buffalo State Bengals play in the NCAA Division 3 in the SUNYAC conference. The school is a 4 year university in the SUNY group and is located in Buffalo, in the west of New York State close to the Canadian border and Niagara Falls. Home matches are played at Coyer Field on campus. The men’s soccer team has been led since 2018 by head coach Francesco Cardillo, and the Bengals have become one of the premier SUNYAC programs — a record-breaking 2024 season brought a program-best 16 wins and a first-ever run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, followed by another SUNYAC Championship game appearance in 2025. The women’s team is led by head coach Victoria Caruso, a former Bengals player who took charge in 2025. Buffalo State University Athletics.

Note: as a Division 3 school, Buffalo State cannot offer athletic scholarships — but as a state university its fees are lower than private colleges, and academic and need-based aid is available. D3 is a genuine route for players who want strong competitive football alongside their degree 

Mens Soccer – Francesco Cardillo
Womens Soccer – Victoria Caruso

Contact the coaches