11 Best Colleges For Swimming Scholarships (USA, Canada) 2024

You’re probably fresh out of high school or currently a high school senior searching for the best colleges for swimming scholarships, you have come to the right place. This blog post will not disappoint you in your quest of seeking for answers.

If you are looking for the best colleges for swimming scholarships either in the US or Canada then it means that you are currently in high school probably in senior year and part of your school’s swim team. Or you are a fresh high school graduate and were an active member of the swimming team of your former school. But if you are still in high school, apply for high school swimming scholarships to receive funding and other benefits that will take your swimming skills to the next level.

Searching for colleges with swimming scholarships is also proof that you are passionate about swimming and earning a college degree. Fortunately earning a swimming scholarship strikes a balance between both passions allowing you to pursue college and swimming without having to choose between any of them. You can carry both of them along and come out successful at the end.

If you are or were an active swimmer in high school, participating in swimming competitions and training sessions, and attending events you truly deserve a swimming scholarship because you deserve it. Swimming is no easy sport, it requires a lot of training Therefore, getting a scholarship should be a form of reward.

Swimming scholarships are offered in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and many other countries but the United States is the biggest and best provider of sports scholarships, swimming included. And it is overall the best place for student-athletes to grow their career because there are just so many opportunities there.

Student athletes will not just earn a world-class degree but they will be groomed to become world-class athletes and come across opportunities to go pro when they graduate if that is what they wish. They will also have their degree that guarantees them success in the business world.

If you are here looking for the best colleges for swimming scholarships specifically in the US and Canada, you have come to the right place. You may also be interested in learning about the swimming scholarships in the UK. The more options you have, the better.

Table of Contents

Best Colleges for Swimming Scholarships

If you are seeking for swimming scholarships for college, your performance in academics and swimming is of the utmost importance. Canadian and American colleges offering swimming scholarships will accept you into their swimming team and offer you scholarships based on your excellent academic performance and outstanding athletic abilities.

These abilities are assessed through your submission of high school transcripts, letters of recommendation from your coach and teacher, and a portfolio of your swimming achievements/awards. Other factors a coach will use to consider you for a swimming scholarship include the competitions you have participated in and your potential for further improvement. Your achievements in the pool will count for nothing if you do not have good grades.

Swimming scholarships in the US are awarded in the following divisions:

NCAA Division 1
NCAA Division 2
NAIA
NJCAA

The colleges and universities under these divisions offer more than 600 swimming scholarships combined in men’s and women’s categories all of which offer an Olympic-sized pool and first-class training facilities for their student-athletes. The division you choose to apply for swimming scholarships has a big influence on your career, so, do appropriate research before setting out.

There are 627 colleges, universities, and junior colleges supporting women’s swimming programs throughout the United States. Here is the divisional breakdown:

200 NCAA D1
77 NCAA D2
242 NCAA D3
31 NAIA
77 Junior Colleges

There are roughly 490 colleges supporting men’s swimming programs in the United States. Here is the divisional breakdown:

143 NCAA D1
58 NCAA D2
200 NCAA D3
22 NAIA
67 Junior Colleges

You must know all of these before setting out to apply for colleges with swimming scholarships as it will help you make better informed decisions.

The best colleges for swimming scholarships in the US and Canada are:

Stanford University
Texas A&M University
The University of California, Berkeley
Simon Fraser University (SFU)
The University of Toronto
The University of Calgary
The University of Michigan
McGill University
The University of Georgia (UGA)
The University of Southern California (USC)
The University of British Columbia (UBC)

1. Stanford University

Stanford University is nationally and internationally renowned for its academic excellence but it also has national recognition in athletics. Stanford has a swimming and diving program both for men and women’s categories and offers full-ride and partial athletic scholarships to those with exceptional performance. The women’s swimming team has a lot more reputation and has produced many Olympic swimmers and coaches.

Stanford University is one of the best colleges for swimming scholarships in the US as athletes gain world-class academic experience and opportunities in the sports industry.

2. Texas A&M University

Texas A&M is a prestigious higher institution in Texas, US widely recognized for its programs in engineering, technology, and agriculture. The institution houses a renowned swim team in both men’s and women’s categories competing under NCAA Division 1. Teams under Division 1 are typically at the top of their game and are usually the best, they also offer full-ride scholarships as well.

The swimming team at Texas A&M has a good track record of hosting world-class swimming events and provides excellent funding options to support its athletes.

3. The University of California, Berkeley

UC, Berkeley is one of the top-ranked colleges for swimming providing top-notch pool facilities and renowned coaches that groom student-athletes to become the best. Aquatic sports at Cal Berkeley are all the best in the country, winning multiple national titles every year. Even recently the men’s team earned a triple crown, winning national championships in swim & dive, crew, and water polo.

Its swimming program is under the NCAA Division 1, there is no way they are not among the best. This also means that a full-ride scholarship is available to swimmers with outstanding athletic performance and academic achievement.

4. Simon Fraser University (SFU)

SFU is a prestigious higher institution in Canada consistently ranked among the top research-intensive universities in Canada and a renowned world leader in research, knowledge development, and sustainability. SFU has a swimming and diving program that is nationally recognized among the best swimming teams at the collegiate sports level.

There are also swimming scholarships available So far you have maintained good academic standing and demonstrated high standards of leadership and athletic ability.

5. The University of Toronto

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues offers 19 swimming scholarships every year to incoming and current students. It is one of the best in Canada and as a high school senior/graduate, you do not want to miss out on this. The U of T is also among the leading higher institutions in Canada and the world.

6. The University of Calgary

The University of Calgary provides swimming scholarships to international and domestic students and this is what sets it apart from the others and makes it one of the best colleges for swimming scholarships in Canada. If you have a GPA of 80% as a new student or 65% as a transfer student or maintain a minimum of 2.0 GPA as a current student, you can qualify for the swimming scholarship.

Of course, you must also have a good track record in swimming in addition to your good academic record. The swimming scholarships are offered every year to support the financial cost of new and current student-athletes.

7. The University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a top-ranked public university known for its excellence in research, learning and teaching, sports, and the arts. Its swimming team is in the NCAA Division 1 which shows that getting into the school and the swimming team will be highly competitive but very rewarding. The swimming team competes in the Big Ten Conference and is in the men’s and women’s categories.

Student-athletes in the swimming team at U of M are eligible for full-ride and partial athletic scholarships to help talented students pay for college whilst they represent the school in swimming competitions.

8. McGill University

Here is another reputable university in Canada with swimming scholarships. You can make the swim team of McGill University whether as a new or current student provided you meet the requirements to make the team. Then for the athletic scholarship, you must maintain a high GPA and good track record in the swimming team to be eligible for the award.

9. The University of Georgia (UGA)

The University of Georgia has one of the top Division I swimming programs in the US, and they offer a variety of scholarships to talented swimmers. The team has won numerous NCAA and SEC championships, and many of their swimmers have gone on to compete at the Olympic level. If you’re interested in a swimming scholarship at UGA, it’s important to know that the team is very selective and only accepts a small number of recruits each year

10. The University of Southern California (USC)

The University of Southern California is one of the best colleges for swimming scholarships. Its swimming team competes under Division I and offers a variety of scholarships to talented swimmers. The USC Trojans have won multiple NCAA championships and have a long tradition of success in the sport.

The team is known for its intense training regimen and its focus on developing well-rounded athletes. If you’re interested in a swimming scholarship at USC, it’s important to know that the competition for these awards is very fierce.

11. The University of British Columbia (UBC)

The University of British Columbia is another higher institution in Canada with an awesome swimming scholarship for student-athletes to consider. UBC has one of the top swimming programs in Canada, and they offer a variety of scholarships to their athletes.

Their team is a member of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and has won multiple national championships. To qualify for a scholarship, you’ll need to be an excellent swimmer with strong academic record.

Conclusion

If you’re a talented swimmer who’s interested in pursuing a college degree, there are several excellent schools that offer swimming scholarships. It’s important to consider your academic and athletic goals when choosing a school and to make sure that you’re applying to a program that’s a good fit for you. With hard work and dedication, you could end up swimming for a top college and earning a scholarship that will help pay for your education.

11 Best Colleges For Swimming Scholarships (USA, Canada)