College Tennis
SpoRecruit Tennis was created to support talented male and female tennis players in securing scholarship opportunities at colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. Since its launch, SpoRecruit has helped hundreds of student-athletes navigate the academic and athletic recruitment process, enabling over 1,000 tennis players to advance their educational and sporting careers abroad.
College tennis in the U.S. offers a highly competitive and well-structured environment where student-athletes balance rigorous training and match schedules alongside their academic commitments, under associations such as the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA. With access to high-level coaching, cutting-edge facilities, and opportunities to compete against top-tier opponents, college tennis provides an ideal platform for both athletic and personal development.
How do Tennis scholarships work?
If you’re between 18–24, currently in education (or recently graduated within two years) and play competitive tennis, you could be a strong candidate for a U.S. tennis scholarship. However, to stand out, you should be competing at a high level—ideally beyond local club events and into national tournaments.
With over 1,100 women’s and 950 men’s college tennis programs, the U.S. offers one of the most competitive and elite environments for developing your game. Coaches often prioritize players with international experience due to the high level of competition.
SpoRecruit takes a personalized approach by limiting our recruitment program to just 50 athletes per year. This ensures each player receives dedicated, one-on-one support throughout the entire scholarship process—from identifying the right schools to securing the best financial offers. If you believe you have the talent and commitment to succeed in U.S. college tennis, fill out our free application to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the tennis season take place and what is the roster size?
In the U.S., college tennis is played as a spring sport, with the official season starting in January and concluding with the national championships in May. These championships determine the top team, singles, and doubles players. Much like other college team sports, schools compete in head-to-head matches throughout the season, and each team’s performance is tracked through a win-loss record—readily available on their athletic department’s website.
The roster is usually 10-12. The coach selects six players from a roster of 10–12 to compete against another college tennis team. These selected players represent their school in a series of matches, which typically include six singles matches and three doubles matches.
Can a tennis player go on to play on the ATP or WTA Tour after graduating from University?
Yes, many former college tennis players have gone on to enjoy successful professional careers. Notable examples include Kevin Anderson (University of Illinois), Danielle Collins (University of Virginia), Cameron Norrie (Texas Christian University), Irina Falconi (Georgia Tech), and Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA). College tennis is widely regarded as one of the strongest pathways to a professional career, thanks to its high level of competition. Student-athletes regularly face off against some of the best amateur players globally, gaining valuable match experience and development opportunities.
When should I start the process?
The earlier, the better. Ideally, you should begin 12–24 months before your desired start date. This gives you time for eligibility checks, video creation, and communication with coaches.
What are the chances of getting a college scholarship for tennis?
Did you know there are four main types of offers college tennis coaches can make to recruits? Each pathway provides a different opportunity for athletes to join a college team:
Full-ride scholarship: At fully funded NCAA Division 1 programs, coaches can offer full scholarships to up to eight players. Division 2 programs, if fully funded, can provide the equivalent of six full scholarships. These comprehensive offers cover tuition, housing, and other key expenses and are more commonly seen at the Division 1 level.
Partial scholarship: To maximize their scholarship budget, Division 2 coaches often offer partial scholarships to several athletes. For instance, a program with 12 players might distribute partial funding among eight of them, allowing more players to receive some level of financial support.
Recruited walk-on: When a coach wants a player on the team but doesn’t have available scholarship funds, they may offer a recruited walk-on spot. This means the athlete is invited to join the team but will not receive athletic-based financial aid.
How many scholarships per division?
For Division 1 tennis, teams can offer a maximum of 8 scholarships for women and 4.5 for men. There are a total of 317 women’s and 255 men’s Division 1 tennis teams, with an average team size of 10 players.
In Division 2, teams can offer up to 6 scholarships for women and 4.5 for men. There are 167 women’s and 163 men’s Division 2 teams, with an average team size of 10.
In Division 3, there are no athletic scholarships available. Division 3 has 328 women’s and 329 men’s tennis teams, with an average team size of 10.