Lacrosse at College
Playing Lacrosse at College in the USA is an incredible experience! The elite environment- including the facilities, training and game schedule is what makes the experience so great, alongside earning yourself a degree!
Numerous world class players are former College athletes. Well known names such as Lizzie Colson, Alice Ripper, Izzy Scane, Charlotte North, Lyle Thompson, Matt Rambo, Will Baxter and Christian Scarpello (to name a few!), played College Lacrosse before turning professional or representing their country. But it’s also a once in a lifetime opportunity to compete in the sport you love and experience playing in elite facilities alongside top players, even if professional Lacrosse isn’t your primary aim.
How much scholarship is available and how many schools have Lacrosse programs?
Depending on the division your school competes in, there are different rules regarding scholarships. The amount of schools offering Lacrosse as a varsity sport also differs, which you can see below:
211 schools in NCAA D1 offer Lacrosse – 78 for Men’s Lacrosse and 133 for Women’s Lacrosse.
189 schools in NCAA D2 offer Lacrosse – 78 for Men’s Lacrosse and 111 for Women’s Lacrosse.
70 schools in NAIA offer Lacrosse – 33 for Men’s Lacrosse and 37 for Women’s Lacrosse.
538 schools in NCAA D3 offer Lacrosse – 247 for Men’s Lacrosse and 291 for Women’s Lacrosse.
To clarify, you will be playing Lacrosse at College with approximately 48 other players as part of a Men’s team. The Women’s teams have a squad size of approximately 38.
If you’re interested in understanding how a scholarship is constructed, you can read more on our blow about Scholarships at College.
Univeristy of North Carolina Women’s Lacrosse Team.
What else to know?
How can I maximise my scholarship package?
When playing Lacrosse at College, it’s important to balance your playing form and your academic grades. (Read more about the Academic System). In other words, if you have strong academics and SAT/ACT scores, you can earn more academic scholarship funding. This means you won’t need to rely quite as heavily on athletic scholarship to afford your education and living costs. Read our blog – 5 Tips of How to Maximise Your Scholarship Offers.
How do College Lacrosse coaches assess you?
Lacrosse coaches assess potential recruits by watching video footage. Your footage can be a combination of club, school, regional and national team games. It’s worth keeping in mind that your clips should demonstrate your strongest attributes in order to ensure you stand out!
When does the College Lacrosse season take place?
Lacrosse is a sport that you will compete in all year round, but the official NCAA/NAIA season is in the Spring. The National Tournament takes place in late May, often meaning that this extends past the end of your academic school year. But we are you you won’t mind that if you’re competing for a national title!
Complete our Lacrosse CV for more personalised feedback on your opportunities and becoming a College Lacrosse player!
Men’s Lacrosse team at Princeton University.