| "body"> | | | | Department of Education National Center for |
| Conventional wisdom in college recruiting is that the | | | | Educational Statistics (NCES) as well. This study |
| best high school student athletes won't have to pay a | | | | looked at the COA for 336 Division I universities, and |
| penny for a college education because they will get full | | | | compared it to the costs that the NCAA allows a |
| ride scholarships to Division I athletic programs. The | | | | scholarship to cover. They found additional educational |
| premise of a full ride scholarship has always been that | | | | expenses across the different schools (not covered |
| the full cost of an education from soup to nuts will be | | | | by an athletic scholarship) that ranged from $200 per |
| covered by this scholarship. | | | | year to $6000 per year, a surprisingly large variation |
| A recent study by the NCPA (National College Players | | | | across schools. The average out-of-pocket expenses |
| Association) in conjunction with Ellen J. Staurowsky | | | | were $2763 per year. At this rate, over the course of |
| (Professor and Chair, graduate program of Sports | | | | five years, a typical athlete who is redshirted freshman |
| Management at Ithaca College in New York) sheds | | | | year would have to pay $13,800. At the schools with |
| some doubt on whether there really is such a thing as | | | | the highest incidental expenses, a five year tab could |
| a full ride scholarship. | | | | exceed $30,000. So much for a free ride. |
| Why is this important to you? Because if you are lucky | | | | What constitutes these out of pocket expenses that |
| enough to have multiple scholarship offers to choose | | | | aren't covered by a scholarship? They vary widely |
| between, having a more complete picture of the | | | | from school to school and could include a student |
| hidden costs you may incur at one school vs. another | | | | orientation fee, first year program fee, new student |
| could influence your decision. In addition, those who | | | | fee, continuing student fee, student activity fee, parking |
| assume they will have no financial liability for their child's | | | | fee, loan fee, and numerous other program fees. |
| college education may not be prepared to finance | | | | Apparently, colleges excel at coming up with fees. |
| whatever the scholarship doesn't cover. This | | | | Here's what you can do about it. The NCPA has a |
| information can help you better plan for these costs. | | | | tool on their website which allows you to calculate the |
| Here's what you need to know. The NCAA is very | | | | estimated scholarship shortfall for any of 336 Division I |
| specific about what athletic scholarships can cover: | | | | universities. Find it at shortfall_search.asp. Take a look |
| tuition and fees, room and board, and course-related | | | | at the estimated additional costs at the schools you're |
| books. Each school reports an estimate of the total | | | | seriously looking at. And consider this just another |
| cost of attendance (COA). This is typically found on | | | | important piece of information that can help you zero |
| the school's website, and information for the | | | | in on the right college decision. |
| 2008-2009 academic year was used for this study. It | | | | You are welcome to reprint this article. |
| was supplemented with data from the United States | | | | |