If you’re an international athlete and want to get recruited at a U.S. college or university–there are plenty of opportunities for international athletes to pursue their sport at the college level in the United States. However, in order to compete at a U.S. college or university, all international recruits must also go through the college recruiting process. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

-Sports with the highest rates of international athletes include tennis, track and field, ice hockey, golf, field hockey, soccer, water polo and basketball. This means college coaches are more familiar with recruiting international athletes or more likely to offer international athletes a scholarship.

-Sports with the lowest rates of international athletes include football, baseball, softball and wrestling. This doesn’t mean you don’t have a chance at getting recruited if you play one of these sports, but it may make your recruiting process more difficult unless you’re an elite recruit. 

-International athletes need to be prepared to do plenty of research ahead of and throughout their recruiting journey. There’s a lot that goes into this process, and it can get confusing even for U.S. athletes. 

-You’ll need to register with the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Center and make sure you meet academic and amateurism requirements. International athletes also need to be prepared to send trasnlated official documents to verify grades, test scores and academic courses.

-International athletes shouldn’t wait to get noticed by a college coach or for a coach to reach out to them first. Instead, be proactive in contacting a coach first to ensure that you get their attention. 

-International athletes are eligible to receive athletic and academic scholarships, and even some types of financial aid. 

• Athletic scholarships. Full and partial athletic scholarships are offered at the NCAA D1 and D2, NAIA and Junior College levels. Keep in mind that most athletic scholarships only cover a portion of the school’s tuition, room and board and fees, but there are plenty of other financial aid and scholarship opportunities available for high-academic students or other specific criteria.
• Academic scholarships. These are typically given to students who have a strong GPA, test scores or a high (grad) class rank. 
• Non-academic scholarships. If you’re not sure whether your grades will qualify for an academic scholarship, many schools also offer non-academic scholarships for students. International athletes may qualify-wise decision to inquire about this at each instituation you have interest in. 
• Financial aid. While international athletes aren’t eligible to receive U.S. federal student aid like grants or loans, some colleges and universities also have their own institutional aid they offer to both national and international athletes based on financial need.
• Student loans. International athletes may qualify for private loans. Depending on the lender, you may need to find a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and/or has good credit. Keep in mind that unlike a scholarship or grant, loans need to be repaid, with interest, typically.