Money and signing

Scholarships, Offers & Signing

How track and field scholarships, written offers and signing work. Rules checked Oct 27, 2026. Rules change, so confirm details on the linked sources and with each school's compliance office. This is general guidance, not legal or eligibility advice.

Athletic aid by level

  • D1: schools in the House settlement have roster limits of 45 (indoor), 45 (outdoor) and 17 (cross country), men's and women's, and may give aid to any or all of them. Ask each school whether it opted in.
  • D2: up to 12.6 equivalencies per gender for cross country and track combined, usually split into partial awards.
  • D3: no athletic aid. NAIA: up to 12 (indoor and outdoor track combined) and 5 (cross country). NJCAA: up to 20 track and field and 10 cross country Letter of Intent signees per team.
  • Track scholarships are usually partial awards spread across many events.

Offers and signing

  • A D1 school can't give you a written offer of athletics aid before Aug. 1 of senior year (Bylaw 13.9.3.1).
  • D1 and D2 signing opens Nov. 11, 2026 for 2026-27; NJCAA Letters of Intent from Nov. 1.

Compare net cost

  • Ask whether academic aid combines with athletic aid.
  • File the FAFSA (and the CSS Profile where a school requires it) to see need-based aid early.

Sources (checked Oct 27, 2026)

← All track & field recruiting guides