Over 25,000 international athletes compete in US college sports. $4.2 billion in scholarships are awarded every year. This is your complete guide to how UK athletes across every sport can access that opportunity — and how EPP performance data gives you a critical advantage in the recruiting process.
The US college athletic scholarship system is one of the most underutilised opportunities available to UK youth athletes. While most families focus exclusively on UK academy pathways — which accept a tiny fraction of applicants — the US system offers thousands of scholarships across Division I, Division II, Division III and NAIA programs in 37 sports.
UK athletes are particularly well-positioned. Football (soccer) players are actively recruited by hundreds of US colleges. Track and field athletes are heavily sought after, especially female athletes. Tennis players benefit from one of the highest scholarship limits in college sports. Rugby sevens was added to the collegiate programme in 2020 and is growing rapidly.
The key difference between UK athletes who get recruited and those who don't is usually not ability — it's visibility. US college coaches cannot recruit what they cannot see. EPP performance data, combined with highlight video and an NCSA profile, solves the visibility problem.
A verified performance data report from EPP gives US college coaches exactly what they need — sprint times, agility scores, force-velocity data and a written expert analysis. This is the equivalent of a UK athlete submitting a scouting report alongside their highlight reel.
Scholarship availability, competitiveness and the likelihood of international recruitment varies significantly by sport. Here's what UK athletes need to know for the sports EPP tests.
Soccer is one of the most internationally recruited US college sports. Both men's and women's programs actively seek UK players. Under the House v NCAA settlement, roster limits expanded significantly in 2025-26, opening more scholarship spots.
Explore Scholarship Data →Tennis has one of the highest scholarship availability rates for international athletes. UK players are well regarded — strong singles ranking, good technique and USTA/LTA ratings all help. Both men's and women's programs recruit internationally.
Explore Scholarship Data →Track and field has undergone massive scholarship expansion under the 2025 House v NCAA settlement. Female athletes in particular have hundreds of new scholarship opportunities. Sprint-specific athletes tested by EPP have a direct data advantage in US coach evaluations.
Explore Scholarship Data →Rugby sevens is the fastest-growing NCAA emerging sport. Many US colleges are building programs and actively recruiting UK players. UK rugby players have a significant physical advantage and are viewed as high-value international recruits.
Explore Scholarship Data →International basketball players are increasingly recruited by Division II and NAIA programs. UK players with strong athleticism data and highlight video can access programs that domestic US players overlook.
Explore Scholarship Data →Cricket is not an NCAA sport but some colleges have club programs. However, many UK cricket athletes successfully transition to baseball scholarship programs — the skill sets (throwing mechanics, athletic base) transfer well.
Explore Scholarship Data →Field hockey is well supported at Division I and II level with good scholarship availability for female athletes. Male field hockey players can explore ice hockey programs if they're prepared to transition.
Explore Scholarship Data →Netball is not a widely sponsored NCAA sport in its traditional form, but UK netball athletes have the athletic profile — agility, vertical jump, court movement — that transfers directly to basketball scholarship programs.
Explore Scholarship Data →Complete a baseline performance assessment. Your sprint data, agility scores and force-velocity profile become the cornerstone of your recruiting profile. US coaches trust verified data far more than self-reported times.
Create a free profile on NCSA (ncsasports.org), the world's largest college athletic recruiting platform connecting athletes with 35,000+ US college coaches across 37 sports. Upload your EPP report, highlight video and academic data.
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (if targeting Division I or II). International athletes need verified academic transcripts and must meet amateurism standards. NAIA has separate eligibility requirements.
US college recruiting is a two-way process. Research schools where your athletic AND academic profile fits. Division III schools offer excellent academic aid even without athletic scholarships — don't overlook them.
US college coaches expect athletes to reach out. Send introductory emails with your NCSA profile link, highlight video and EPP performance data. Follow up. Be proactive — this is not a passive process.
Official campus visits are the final stage. Once a coach is interested, you'll be invited for an official visit — expenses often paid. Scholarship offers follow for athletes who fit the programme. Start the FAFSA process early for additional financial aid.
These are the major platforms and organisations UK athletes should know when pursuing US college sports scholarships. EPP works alongside these platforms — our performance data supports athlete profiles on all of them.
The world's largest college athletic recruiting platform. Free to join. Connects 40,000+ college-bound athletes with 35,000+ US college coaches annually. Created over 30,000 college commitments in 2024 alone. International athletes are actively supported. Start here.
If targeting Division I or II, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to certify your academic and amateurism eligibility before enrolling. Required for all international athletes. Free to register.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics covers ~250 colleges — often overlooked but offering significant scholarship opportunities with slightly less competition than NCAA Division I and II.
Data on scholarship limits, average awards and odds by sport and division for every major college sport. Useful for understanding realistic expectations before starting the process. Data current through 2025-26.
Alternative recruiting platforms to NCSA that are growing in use among international athletes. Good for building exposure to coaches at smaller Division II and NAIA programs.
Not a US scholarship platform, but worth understanding as a domestic alternative. Some students pursue BUCS sport at UK universities alongside US scholarship applications, using BUCS performance data as supplementary evidence.
EPP does not act as a scholarship agency and does not charge for referrals. We provide performance data and personal introductions to support athletes who are already engaged in the process. Our assessment report is a tool that makes your NCSA and college coach outreach significantly more credible.
Ideally from age 14–15 for most sports. Division I programs begin recruiting as early as Year 10 in some sports. The NCSA recommends having a profile active by Year 9. The earlier you have verified performance data, the earlier coaches can evaluate your athlete.
Yes. Student-athletes on scholarships typically hold an F-1 student visa. The university's international student office manages this process. Your place on an athletic scholarship makes visa approval significantly more straightforward.
NCAA Division I athletes cannot receive payment for their sport during their college career (though revenue sharing rules changed in 2025). However, college sport in the USA is viewed positively by professional clubs worldwide — many European and UK professional players started their careers at US colleges.
A full scholarship at a Division I program typically covers tuition, accommodation, meal plan and course materials — equivalent to £40,000–£70,000 per year in total value at major universities. Partial scholarships cover a percentage of this.
NCAA Division I requires a minimum 2.3 GPA (equivalent to approximately 4 GCSEs at grade C or above) and satisfactory SAT or ACT scores. Division III and NAIA have different academic requirements. Stronger academics open up better programs.
EPP provides performance data and personal introductions from Ben Royal where appropriate. We do not act as a full scholarship placement agency. For end-to-end support, we recommend working with NCSA alongside EPP data.
Book your EPP performance assessment. Your verified sprint profile, agility scores and force-velocity data are the most powerful tools a UK athlete can have when approaching US college coaches.