The NCAA Division I Degree Completion Award Program was established in 1989 to provide financial assistance to student-athletes who wish to complete their education within their five-year eligibility period. Applicants must be former student-athletes who have exhausted their athletic eligibility. The award covers tuition, fees, and provides an allowance for textbooks and other related expenses.

Due to new legislation 15.01.5.2.1 adopted August 2024, an institution that provides athletically related financial aid to student-athletes shall provide, at a minimum, tuition and fees, and course-related books to a former student-athlete who requests financial aid to complete the individual's first baccalaureate degree provided:

1. The former student-athlete received athletically related financial aid in a head count sport or received athletically related financial aid that resulted in the student-athlete receiving (through athletics aid and other aid combined) the value of full tuition and fees, room and board and required course-related books while previously enrolled in a regular term at the institution;
2. Fewer than 10 years have elapsed since the former student-athlete's departure from the institution;
3. The former student-athlete's most recent enrollment as a full-time student occurred at the institution;
4. The former student-athlete was previously enrolled as a full-time student at the institution for a minimum of two academic years (four semesters or six quarters);
5. The former student-athlete meets all institutional admissions and financial aid requirements;
6. The former student-athlete has exhausted other available degree completion funding options (e.g., funds from a professional league or contract); and
7. The former student-athlete is in good academic standing at the institution and meets NCAA and institutional progress-toward-degree requirements. This requirement applies to initial and continuing eligibility for degree completion funds.

To date, the program has awarded over $30 million to over 2,900 deserving student-athletes. 90 percent have successfully received their undergraduate degree using this program.

Requirements for the Award

To be eligible for the award, the applicant must be a former student-athlete who meets the following criteria:

1. Must have exhausted their athletics eligibility at an NCAA Division I member institution.
2. More than 10 years must have passed since the former student left the institution.
3. Must have recently received athletically related financial aid in a headcount sport or have received athletically related financial aid that resulted in obtaining partial athletics-related financial assistance.
4. Must meet all institutional admissions and financial aid requirements.
5. Must be entering at least their sixth year of post-secondary education and have exhausted athletic eligibility (five years) for competition.
6. For HBCU and limited resource institutions, the applicant must have also exhausted athletic eligibility for competition.
7. Must be within 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of completing their first undergraduate degree. Students enrolled in programs that extend beyond a baccalaureate degree or in graduate programs (e.g., PharmD) are not eligible.

How to Apply

The following materials are required to complete the application process.

1. Nomination can be initiated by the FAR, Athletics Director, SWA or other athletics administrator.
2. The nominee must include a personal statement detailing why you have not completed your degree, how the scholarship will benefit you and how you plan to use the degree. 
3. An official transcript from the institution where the student-athlete exhausted his or her athletics eligibility must be included. Applications must also include official transcripts from all institutions the student-athlete previously attended. Official transcripts can be scanned and uploaded to the system as a .pdf document.
4. Academic information from a, faculty advisor or head of the department responsible for the applicant’s academic program.
5. Athletics information from an athletic department representative.
6. Financial aid information from the financial aid office.

We begin accepting applications April 10, for the fall term and August 1, for the winter/spring/summer term each year. 

Selection Process

Applications are reviewed by a committee comprised of representatives from seven Division I member institutions and are from varying positions, such as directors of athletics, financial aid administrators, and faculty athletics representatives.

The following links will provide you more information regarding this program.

• Click here to access the Program Hub
• Click here (PDF) for Nomination Guide

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