The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage graduate education by rewarding the Association's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. It provides a $10,000 one-time award given to student-athletes who have excelled academically and athletically, and who plan to pursue graduate school. Up to 126 scholarships are awarded each year—split evenly between men and women—across the fall, winter and spring sport seasons.

All former student-athletes who earned an undergraduate degree from an NCAA member school are eligible to be nominated by that school for an NCAA graduate degree scholarship, regardless of when they received their undergraduate degree.

Who's Eligible?

Student-athletes at an active NCAA member institution who:

• Must be in final season of NCAA athletics eligibility or must have completed athletic eligibility,
• Must be in final year of undergraduate academic work or received an undergraduate degree.
• Have an overall undergraduate minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.200 (based on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent, including all undergraduate hours earned at all undergraduate institutions attended. The grade-point average may not include any graduate-level hours.
• Have performed with distinction as a varsity team member in the sport in which the student-athlete is being nominated. The degree of the student-athlete's athletics achievement will be weighed in conjunction with academic performance, institutional involvement, and volunteer community service. Nominators and individuals submitting recommendations should note participation in activities in which the student-athlete serves as an example to other students and demonstrates leadership qualities.
• Must enroll in a graduate degree granting program on a part- or full-time basis at an academically accredited graduate or degree-granting professional school.
• Must be enrolled in a graduate degree granting program within one-year after the academic year the scholarship was awarded. All funds must be used within the same academic year.
• The scholarship cannot be used to fund any undergraduate work.
• Are outstanding citizens and excellent role models for the institution and intercollegiate athletics.

[Note: Student-athletes attending a provisional member institution are not permitted to be nominated. Additionally, a scholarship recipient may not use more than one NCAA scholarship award for graduate studies. International student-athletes are eligible to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.]

How to be Nominated?

You must be nominated by your school's Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) or their designee. They'll handle your nomination through the NCAA's Program Hub and you'll receive an email notification once it's been submitted. 

Each NCAA school may nominate up to five student-athletes per gender, per sport season.

Nomination and Selection Process

There are three nomination periods each academic year based on sport seasons. The seasonal sports breakdown is listed below. Emerging sports are in bold. Remember: cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field are separate sports.

Fall nomination period

• Men's: Cross Country, Football, Soccer and Water Polo
• Women's: Cross Country, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Rugby, Soccer, Triathlon and Volleyball

Fall sports nomination deadline: January 10, 2025

Winter nomination period

• Men's: Basketball, Fencing, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Indoor Track and Field, Rifle, Skiing, Swimming and Diving and Wrestling
• Women's: Basketball, Bowling, Fencing, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Indoor Track and Field, Rifle, Skiing and Swimming and Diving and Wrestling.

Winter sports nomination deadline: March 21, 2025

Spring nomination period

• Men's: Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track and Field, Tennis and Volleyball
• Women's: Acrobatics and Tumbling,Golf, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track and Field, Rowing, Beach Volleyball, Softball, Tennis and Water Polo.

Spring sports nomination deadline: May 23, 2025

Nominations are initially reviewed by seven regional selection committees. (see below for the regional breakdown). The regional selection committees forward finalists to the Postgraduate Scholarship Committee for its review. The Postgraduate Scholarship Committee selects each sports season 21 male awardees and five alternates and 21 female awardees. and five alternates

Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Region 2: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Region 3: District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

Region 4: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Region 5: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Region 6: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.

Region 7: Alaska, Arizona, California, Canada, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

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FAR Postgraduate Student-Athlete Nomination Guide 

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship nomination is to be submitted by the faculty athletics representative (FAR) or by a FAR designee.It is the responsibility of the FAR or FAR designee to ensur eall sections of the nomination are submitted to the NCAA national office not later than the sport season deadlines below.

• Fall sports: January 10, 2025
• Winter sports: March 21, 2025
• Spring sports: May 23, 2025

FARs or FAR designees must nominate qualified student-athletes using the application in the Program Hub. After creating a profile, refer to the Quick Reference Guide for Submitting Nominations System-generated emails will be sent to the student-athlete to notify him or her they have been nominated. Recommendation emails are generated after the student-athlete submits his or her application section.

Application sections

1. FAR nomination for undergraduate student-athletes.
2. Student-athlete section: To be completed by the nominee; which includes a formal personal statement.
3. Transcript(s): Applicants must upload official transcripts to complete the application. Official transcripts can be scanned and uploaded to the system as a .pdf document. You must upload all transcripts at one time. Transcripts must reflect ALL undergraduate work. [NOTE: An electronic transcript is not needed to meet this requirement.]
4. Letters of Recommendation:
   1. Coach or someone in the position to judge the student-athletes contribution to intercollegiate athletics.
   2. Someone in the position to speak to his or her community service and leadership.
   3. A professor teaching in the discipline of the student-athlete's baccalaureate degree.
5. The endorsements tab will appear after an applicant has listed each endorser's information (name and email address) and after the applicant has submitted his or her application. The endorser will receive an automated email upon application submission only. The endorser's email address provided by the applicant must be used to log in to Program Hub to endorse. This is the email address to which the notification was received.

[Note: All recommendations should be viewed as formal recommendations for the nominee.]

Online Instructions

• The FAR initiates the process by logging into the Program Hub by input of the student-athlete's first and last name and email address. NOTE: The student-athlete must use the exact same email address the FAR or FAR designee enters in the nomination to complete his or her application.
• The student-athlete will each receive an email with a link to instructions and the online system to log in and complete his or her application.
• Each NCAA member institution may nominate not more than five student-athletes per gender, per sport season.
• The FAR must provide a formal recommendation for the nominee. The FAR will receive an email with a link and instructions to complete his or her recommendation AFTER the student-athlete has submitted his or her application.
• The FAR may check the nomination status by clicking on the applications tab, applications I have applied for and locating the student-athlete's name.
• A confirmation email will be generated by the online system when the student-athlete submits his or her application.

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Student-Athlete Nomination Guide (Once Nominated)

Congratulations! you've been nominated for the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship by your Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR). Here's what you need to do next:

Access the Application System (Program Hub):

• You'll receive an email from Program Hub with a unique link to log in.
• Important: Use the exact email address the nofication was sent to when loggin in.
• You can save your progress as you go. (Note: the system will time out after about 5 minutes of inactivity).
• Here's a Quick Reference Guide for Submitting Applications.

Complete Your Application:

Your application will include the following required components:

Personal Information + Factual Lists

You'll need to complete these four sections:

• Athletic Achievements & Awards (specific to the nominated sport)
• Academic Honors (include the organization that granted the award)
• Service & Leadership (outside the classroom/degree requirements)
• Career & Professional Development (internships, research, employment)

Personal Statement

Write and upload a formal personal statement that shares your academic goals, leadership experiences, and how this scholarship will support your future.

Upload Official Transcripts:

• Combine all undergraduate transcripts into a single PDF.
• Upload all transcripts at once — the system does not allow multiple uploads.
• Electronic transcripts are not required; scans of official copies are fine.

Request Letters of Recommendation:

List three endorsers in the system using their name and email address:

• Athletics Endorser: A coach or staff member who can speak to your impact in athletics.
• Leadership/Service Endorser: Someone who knows your community service and leadership work.
• Academic Endorser: A professor in your undergraduate major field.

Once you submit your application, the system will automatically send an email to each endorser. Make sure the email address you provide for each matches the address they use to log in.

Track Your Application:

You can check the status of your application and submitted materials anytime using the Application tab within Program Hub.

Tip: Work closely with your FAR to ensure all materials are submitted on time, including your transcripts and endorsements.

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How to endorse for the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

• Download the Quick Guide for Endorsing in Program Hub

Endorser section

1. To submit your letter of recommendation, you must create a profile using the exact email address used by the student-athlete. If not, you will be unable to complete your letter of recommendation.
2. The Endorsements tab will appear after an applicant has listed each endorser's information (name and email address) AND after the applicant has submitted his or her application. The endorser will receive an automated email upon application submission only. The endorser's email address provided by the applicant must be used to log in to Program Hub to endorse. This is the email address to which the notification was received.
3. Upload a letter of recommendation that explains how you know the nominee and your relationship with them. The letter should include an evaluation of the nominee's skills and accomplishments with specific examples that illustrate their strengths. Do not include statistical information in your letter. All recommendations must be authored and signed.

[Note: All recommendations should be viewed as formal recommendations for the nominee.]

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FAQs regarding postgraduate scholarships

What are the ways for award recipients to use their NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship?

It is understood that the recipient has completed intercollegiate eligibility and/or competition in the sport for which the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was received. The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship liaison at the NCAA national office must be notified immediately if the award recipient's athletics eligibility status changes. If compliance with these requirements is not followed, the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship may be forfeited. The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship may not be used until ALL athletics competition has ceased.

Award recipients must be accepted into a graduate degree-granting program on a part-time or full-time basis at an accredited graduate or professional school. For more information on accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, please visit http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html for more information.

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship funds should be used only toward expenses associated with graduate courses that apply toward individual's graduate degree program.

• Full-time enrollment. If the award recipient chooses to enroll as a full-time graduate student (determined by the graduate institution), he or she must be accepted for matriculation into a graduate degree granting program within one-year after the academic year the scholarship was awarded. For example, an award recipient from the 2018-19 academic year has until July 31, 2020, to use the award. The full $10,000 is distributed to the institution once the completed original certification of graduate school enrollment form has been received by the NCAA national office liaison.
• art-time enrollment. If an award recipient chooses to enroll as a part-time graduate student (as determined by the graduate institution), he or she must be accepted for matriculation into a graduate degree granting program within one-year after the academic year the scholarship was awarded. For example, an award recipient from the 2018-19 academic year has until July 31, 2020 to use the funds. Half ($5,000) of the scholarship funds will be distributed to the institution at the onset of enrollment once the completed original certification of graduate school enrollment form has been received by the NCAA national office liaison. The remaining half ($5,000) will be distributed when the second certification of graduate school enrollment form has been received within the same academic year of the first payment. If the award recipient's enrollment status changes from part-time to full-time, the remaining $5,000 will be distributed upon the NCAA national office liaison receiving a completed second certification of enrollment form indicating the status change.

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship must be used to pay expenses of the student's postgraduate education to include such related activities as research and teaching.Other expenses include, but are not limited to, tuition, fees, room, and board (including off-campus housing), required course-related supplies, and books. NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships may be used at foreign universities.

If the student withdraws from the graduate degree program before the entire award has been used, the unused portion of the scholarship is to be refunded to the NCAA national office for return to the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship fund.

If the student transfers to another accredited institution, he or she is entitled to use any funds remaining of the scholarship at the transfer institution or program. Upon certification of enrollment at the transfer institution, the NCAA will issue the remaining funds received from the student's original institution.

It is the scholarship recipient's responsibility to update the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship liaison with current address and contact information.

There is a student-athlete I want to nominate using the Program Hub, do I have to complete a profile or is that just for the student-athlete?

Yes, you must create a profile before you can nominate the student-athlete. The mandatory sections are marked with an asterisk.

There is a three-sport (cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field) student-athlete at our institution, and we would like to nominate her in all three sports. Is that ok?

You should determine the student-athlete's best sport and nominate her in her final season of eligibility or competition for that sport. If she is equally successful in all three sports and as long as it is her final season of playing eligibility, she may be nominated in the fall for cross country, in the winter for indoor track and field, and in the spring for outdoor track and field. However, she will be awarded only one NCAA scholarship.

You may not include awards earned for cross country on nominations for indoor or outdoor track and field, you may not include awards for indoor track and field on nominations for cross country or outdoor track and field, and you may not include awards for outdoor track and field on nominations for cross country or indoor track and field.

If she is selected as a scholarship recipient in the fall, you must notify the NCAA national office to pull her nomination for winter sports. If she is not selected as scholarship recipient in the fall, but is selected as scholarship recipient in the winter, you must notify the NCAA national office liaison to withdraw her spring sports nomination.

I would like to nominate a football player this fall, but his GPA is 3.199. Can I still nominate him?

The minimum grade-point average must be not lower than 3.200 on a 4.000 scale. The grade-point average must include all undergraduate hours. Graduate level hours may not be included.

I have a student-athlete who has eligibility remaining, but she graduated last spring. Her GPA at the time of graduation was 3.140, so she missed the minimum GPA requirement to be nominated for an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. She will be enrolled full time in a graduate program in the fall but has one year remaining. Can she be nominated next year if her cumulative GPA rises above the required 3.200 due to her graduate grades?

Her cumulative grade-point average must include grades only from her undergraduate studies.

What needs to be sent to the NCAA now that the process is online?

All information must be included in the online Program Hub application. All parts of the application must be complete before it can be submitted.

I submitted a baseball student-athlete's nomination before the deadline. He has earned additional honors and awards. How can I add this information to his original nomination?

Send an email message including the student-athlete's name, institution and sport to the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship liaison at the NCAA national office. Additional information should be a concise summary about all additional honors or awards. Press releases are not considered a concise summary. The additional information will be printed and added to the original nomination up to two days prior to the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee selection meeting.

We now have final statistics for the basketball student-athlete nominated from our institution. How can I add them to her original nomination?

Send an email message including the student-athlete's name and institution with the final statistics to the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship liaison at the NCAA national office. The final statistics will be printed and added to the original nomination up to two days prior to the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee selection meeting.

At our institution, we view the running sports as one. One of our top runners, who has earned All-American status in cross country, is eligible to be nominated for outdoor track and field. Why can't I list that award on her nomination?

Cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field are three separate sports, and each has its own NCAA championship. The regional selection committees and the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee do not consider awards and honors from another sport when reviewing nominations.

Last season, our quarterback was told by doctors not to play football again due to an injury. Can he be nominated this fall since he will not be able to play his senior year?

A. Yes. A student-athlete may be nominated even if he/she has eligibility remaining provided the student-athlete will no longer be using his remaining eligibility due to the injury.

A runner at my institution will graduate in May after only three years. Can she be nominated in her final year even if she has eligibility that can be used in graduate school?

Yes, she may be nominated in her final year provided she does not use the remaining eligibility in graduate school. If she will be using the remaining eligibility and competing in her first year of graduate school, she must be nominated the year she is completing the eligibility.

I will nominate a transfer softball student-athlete. Her transferred hours appear on our institutions official transcript. Is that enough?

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee and the regional selection committees want to see all of the student-athlete's grades. If the grades from the school she transferred from do not appear on your institution's official transcript, you need to obtain an official transcript from the original institution.

The Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) told me that I was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Why wasn't I notified, and how do I get the money?

After the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee selects scholarship recipients, an email notification is sent to the person from your institution who submitted the nomination and the student-athlete. A letter, including an acceptance form and a certification of enrollment form, is then mailed to the awarded student-athlete's address listed on the application.

I was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and I am ready to enroll in a master's degree program. How do I get my scholarship?

Complete the certification of enrollment form (part-time or full-time) and have the admissions officer or dean of the graduate institution certify your enrollment. The graduate school's representative also needs to provide a complete institutional address. Once the original, completed form arrives at the NCAA national office, your scholarship check will be issued. The process takes approximately two to four weeks.

I will take six credit hours this summer in a graduate degree program. Is that considered full or part time?

You must check with personnel at the graduate institution to see what is considered full and part-time.

There are several prerequisite courses I need to complete before beginning my master's program. Can I use my NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship toward the pre-reqs?

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship must be used toward graduate level courses as part of a graduate degree program.

The program I want to enter is a certificate program, not a master's degree program. Can I use my NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship toward the certificate program?

No. The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship must be used toward a graduate degree program as a full-time or part-time student.

I am in training for the next Olympics and do not plan on attending graduate school until they are over. Can I defer my scholarship?

No. The scholarship must be used within one-year after the academic year the scholarship was awarded.

I plan to work while attending graduate school to help pay expenses. Can I attend graduate school as a part-time student?

The graduate school determines how many hours constitute part-time enrollment. Half of your scholarship amount will be issued upon your enrollment as a part-time student and the other half will be issued upon submission of the second request enrollment form, if this occurs within one-year after the academic year the scholarship was awarded. If at any time you become a full-time graduate student, the balance of your award will be issued when the institution sends the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship liaison at the NCAA National Office a second Certificate of Enrollment form that verifies you are currently a full-time graduate student.

Can my NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship be used toward expenses to obtain my teaching credential?

Your NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship must be used toward a graduate degree granting program. A teaching credential does not qualify as a graduate degree program.

I was selected to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for cross country and will attend graduate school in the fall. I still have eligibility to compete in track and field. May I use my NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship while I attend graduate school and compete in track and field?

No. You may not use your NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship until all of your sports competition has ceased.

I am enrolled in a combined BS/MS program. Can my NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship be used toward this program?

Your NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship may be used toward graduate level hours, but it may not be used toward undergraduate level hours. The institution will be able to verify when you complete the undergraduate level hours so your NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship can be applied toward graduate level expenses.

I will receive a fellowship from the graduate institution I plan to attend. Can I still use my NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship?

Receiving awards from sources other than the NCAA does not interfere with the guidelines to use your NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

I am from another country and plan to earn a master's degree in my homeland. Will I be able to use my NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship there?

Your NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship may be used at an international institution, as long as you are enrolled in a graduate-level program and you will matriculate with a graduate degree.

I received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for football. The next spring, I won an appeal for a medical red shirt. Now that my eligibility status has changed, what do I need to do about my NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship?

Notify the NCAA national office that your playing eligibility status has changed. You will not be able to use your NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship until all of your athletics competition has ceased.

Because of a family emergency, I had to drop out of the graduate program. What happens to the unused portion of my NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship?

The graduate institution where you were enrolled should return the unused portion of your scholarship to the NCAA national office, attention NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program. If you can re-enroll within the time allowed for you to use the award, the balance will be sent to the school with the graduate program where you will complete your graduate degree.

For more information, contact Lori Thomas at the NCAA national office at 317/917-6683 or by emailing lthomas@ncaa.org.