Soccer Recruitment

If you’re an aspiring soccer player dreaming of studying and playing in the USA, get started early to ensure you earn your place.

Your Guide to a Soccer Scholarship in the USA

Scholarships range from partial to full-ride, covering tuition, housing, and more. They’re offered by NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA institutions, each with unique eligibility criteria.
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Research Programs
Look for colleges with strong soccer teams that align with your academic goals and playing style. Explore both Division I and Division II schools, as well as options within NAIA and NJCAA. Create a shortlist of schools that offer scholarships and fit your preferences.
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Create a Player Profile
Include achievements, stats, and an engaging highlight video showcasing your skills. Make sure your video highlights key moments that demonstrate your technical abilities, tactical awareness, and versatility on the field.
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Connect with Coaches
Email college coaches with your player profile, attend showcases, and participate in recruitment events. Personalize your communication to each coach, emphasizing why their program is a great fit for you. Recruitment begins 2-3 years before college starts.
4
Maintain Academic Excellence
Scholarships often require a minimum GPA and standardized test scores (e.g., SAT/ACT). Balancing academics and athletics shows commitment and discipline, which are qualities coaches value.

Top Soccer Programs

Stanford University

Known for its elite program, academic excellence, and state-of-the-art facilities. Stanford consistently produces players who succeed at professional levels.

UNC

A powerhouse in women's soccer, UNC has a legacy of success and a strong network of alumni in the sport.

UCLA

Consistently ranked among the best for men’s and women’s soccer, UCLA offers top-tier training and competitive opportunities

Princeton

Princeton Soccer combines Ivy League academic excellence with a storied Division I athletic tradition.

Strategists

Meet our Soccer Strategists

Our team includes elite athletes and former coaches with careers in soccer, tennis, golf, track & field/XC, swimming & diving, basketball, volleyball, water polo, rowing, baseball, triathlon, and more.
Soccer
Taner Dogan
Former Harvard Captain & Professional at Dundalk Utd.
Basketball
Soccer
Ellery Gould
Caltech, Bowdoin Coach | US Coaches 30-under-30
Soccer
Rowing
Tennis
Jennifer Clark
Dartmouth Alumna | Standford, Caltch, Pomona Ex-Coach
FAQ

Still Have a Question?

Our strategists have carefully answered some of the most common questions that they receive from their student athletes, read on to hear more about your sport.
What role do academics play in recruitment?

Academics are crucial. Many coaches look for players who meet or exceed the school’s admissions standards, as this can improve their chances of offering you a roster spot. A strong GPA and test scores make you more attractive, especially for academically rigorous schools.

Can I still get recruited if I’m not in the U.S.?

Absolutely! Many U.S. college soccer teams recruit international players. You’ll need to create a professional player profile, share video highlights, and reach out to coaches. Being proactive is key, as international athletes often face additional NCAA and visa requirements.

What should I include in an email to a college coach?

Your email should be professional and concise. Include your name, graduation year, position, club team, GPA, and test scores, as well as a link to your highlight video. Mention why you’re interested in their program and ask about their recruiting needs.

What are NCAA eligibility requirements for soccer?

NCAA Division I and II require you to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, meet specific GPA and standardized test score thresholds, and take required high school courses. Division III and NAIA have different standards, often determined by the school.

How do I get noticed by college coaches?

Create a highlight video showcasing your skills, participate in college showcase tournaments, attend ID camps, and email coaches directly with your player profile. At Crimson we make direct introductions to coaches, because emails are not a reliable source of evaluation.

Do I need to play for an elite club or academy team to be recruited?

While playing for an elite team can improve exposure, it's not a requirement. College coaches value performance, potential, and attitude over where you play. Consistent communication and attending ID camps can bridge gaps for players without elite-level club experience.

When does the recruitment process start?

The recruitment process often begins as early as freshman or sophomore year of high school for Division I programs. For most players, junior year is critical for showcasing skills and contacting coaches. Starting early gives you more options and time to build relationships with college coaches.

What are the best colleges for academics plus soccer?

Many schools offer strong academics alongside competitive soccer programs. Examples include Stanford, Duke, UCLA, Georgetown (Division I), or schools like Amherst, Middlebury, and Wesleyan (Division III). The right fit depends on your academic interests and athletic goals.

How much scholarship can I expect to receive?

NCAA Division I soccer programs offer partial scholarships, as most teams share their scholarship budget among multiple players. Full scholarships are rare. Division II, NAIA, and junior colleges also offer athletic scholarships, but Division III focuses on academic or need-based aid.

Upcoming Events & Webinars

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preparing

The Recruit's Journey

Crafting a winning strategy requires preparation of an elite athletic-academic profile, and connection to coaches at the right time.
First: Evaluation

All student-athletes must evaluate their candidacy against their college goals. Identify gaps in your profile, and start buidlling your gameplan. For some candidates, the plan will revolve all about sport recruitment (athlete-first). For others, we take a comprehensive and combined approach to US college admissions, working on both academic and athletic fronts (scholar-athlete).

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College Recruitment Pathway
Build Your Timeline

Map out key recruitment deadlines, showcase events and application milestones up to three or four years out. Strategic timing is crucial - great recruits take time to ensure quality across video creation, testing, interviews, and visits.

Master Academic Eligibility

Navigate NCAA eligibility while building an academic profile that appeals to your target schools. Smart course selection, standardized test planning, and understanding school-specific pre-requisites can make the key difference in recruitment.

Craft Your Athletic Profile

Develop a compelling athletic narrative through carefully selected footage, performance metrics, and achievement highlights. Presentation matters - coaches receive hundreds of profiles, and often don't know international systems.

Connect With Coaches

Execute a targeted outreach strategy that gets noticed by the right programs. Timing, communication, and understanding each program's needs are essential. Building meaningful connections takes time and consistency.

Excel In-Person

College soccer has changed to the point where serious programs need to see you in real-life. So, maximize every interaction - from showcase events to campus visits and coach meetings. These moments determine your outcomes.

Strategize Your Selection

Balance athletic fit, academic opportunity, and program culture to make an informed decision. Consider playing time potential, scholarship, and development. Your choice shapes not just four years, but your future.

Make your final decision

With offers in hand, you can select your best-fit college. Most recruits apply in the early round and sign the National Letter of Intent.

Typically, you’ll receive a final decision by December of your application year!

Need Support? Speak to Our Team!

Speak to an Advisor
Alumni

Our Athletes are Currently Studying at

Southern Methodist Univ.
Queens University
Boston University
University of Oregon
UC Davis
Hofstra
University of Texas
University of Arizona
Indiana University
Dartmouth
Emory
Trinity College
Boston College
Hamilton College
Babson College
Pomona College
Caltech
Tufts
UC Berkeley
University of Michigan
UNC Chapel Hill
NYU
UCLA
MIT
Stanford
Yale
Princeton
Cornell
Columbia
Harvard University
$100m+
in Scholarship & Aid
550+
Top-50 College Offers
98+
Ivy League Offers

3+

Offers per Student-Athlete

Launch Your College Journey Today

Candidacy evaluation
Custom roadmap
1:1 guidance

Dan

UC Berkeley • Rugby

"We had eight schools come back to us overnight after my player profile was sent out to coaches - and that was places I never would have dreamed of, like Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth and obviously Berkeley."