College Softball Scholarships and Recruiting
How to get a Softball Scholarship
There are plenty of schools that offer softball scholarships, but you must first contact the coaches in order to get on their watch list. Softball coaches value pitchers most, and position players need to compete for the remaining scholarships. Give yourself the best chance to get a scholarship by following our instructions on the recruiting process.
Getting Softball Coaches and Scouts to Watch You Play
Getting a coach to your softball games only happens after they have made their initial evaluation of you. You will need a high-quality skills and highlight video. Remember, don’t assume if you see a coach at your tournament that they are recruiting you.
Learn the steps needed to get a coach to watch you.
Get Recruited to Play College Softball
Softball coaches recruit athletes based on positional needs for their program. Make sure to research your schools of interest to determine whether or not a school already has a number of underclassmen who play your position. Here is our formula for getting recruited.
What are the Eligibility Requirements for a Softball Scholarship?
If you are interested in a specific school, check to see what that school’s academic standards are. Meeting the NCAA and NAIA minimum requirements is only the first step in the admissions process.
How Good do I Need to be to Get a Softball Scholarship?
These are the general guidelines for what coaches look for in a softball player. If you fall outside of these general requirements, there are still opportunities for you.
| NCAA D1 | NCAA D2 | NCAA D3/NAIA | NJCAA | |
| Pitchers | ||||
| Height | 5’9″ | 5’7″ | 5’6″ | 5’5″ |
| Velocity | 60+ | 58+ | 55+ | 54+ |
| Middle Infielders | ||||
| Height | 5’8″ | 5’4″ | 5’4″ | 5’3″ |
| Weight | 160 lb. | 150 lb. | 140 lb. | 135 lb. |
| Pop Time | <1.8 | <1.9 | <2.0 | <2.2 |
| Home to 1B | <3.0 | <3.1 | <3.2 | <3.4 |
| Corner Infielders | ||||
| Height | 5’7″ | 5’6″ | 5’5″ | 5’4″ |
| Weight | 145 lb. | 140 lb. | 135 lb. | 130 lb. |
| Home to 1B | <2.9 | <3.0 | <3.1 | <3.3 |
| Outfielders | ||||
| Height | 5’7″ | 5’5″ | 5’4″ | 5’3″ |
| Weight | 135 lb. | 130 lb. | 130 lb. | 125 lb. |
| Home to 1B | <2.8 | <2.9 | <3.1 | <3.3 |
Statistical requirements (i.e., batting average, homeruns, ERA, K, etc.) for both position players and pitchers are not listed here because these numbers will depend largely on the level of competition around you. For example, it can be more impressive for a player to hit .300 in a tough league than for a player to hit .400 in a very easy league. Similarly, it is more impressive for a pitcher to have a 3.00 ERA in a tough league than to have a 2.00 ERA in an easy league.
High School Recognition’s
NCAA DI
- All-State, All-League, MVP, 4-Year Starter
NCAA DII
- All-League, MVP, All-State Honorable Mention, 3-Year Starter
NCAA DIII/NAIA
- Honorable Mention, All League. 2-Year Starter
NJCAA
- Honorable mention, All League. 2 Year Starter
Other Information
- Playing on a club team is very important—the higher profile tournaments your team can attend the better chance you will have of having a coach come watch you.
- Because softball is an equivalency sport, scholarships are not divided equally among players, and pitchers usually receive larger scholarship offers than position players.
How Many Scholarships are Available at Each School?
The number of softball scholarship varies by division level. Depending on how important a scholarship is to you choosing your division level will be very important.
The Number of Scholarships per Team at Each Division Level
Softball is an equivalency sport which means all scholarships are not full scholarships. For example, in NCAA DI, coaches can divide the value of the 12 scholarships available to them between as many players as they see fit.
NCAA DI: 12
NCAA DII: 7.2
NAIA: 10
NJCAA (DI): 24
Number of College Softball Programs
NCAA DI: 295
NCAA DII: 290
*NCAA DIII: 427
NAIA: 191
NJCAA: 491
Total: 1,694
*NCAA Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but they do offer other forms of financial aid.
IMPORTANT: NCSA College Recruiting provides a college search tool where you can explore softball scholarships by state. What are you waiting for? Start your search today!
The Top College Softball Programs at Each Division Level
Take the time to look over each of these programs and get a feel for how good their players are. It’s more important that the school is the right fit than what the name is.
NCAA DI: Alabama, Washington, UCLA, Arizona, Michigan, Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Hawaii, Tennessee, LSU, Texas, California, Arizona State, Auburn.
NCAA DII: West Texas A & M, North Georgia, Valdosta State, Humbold State, USML, Hawaii Pacific, Metro State, Midwestern State, Bloomsburg, Wayne State, Lenoir-Rhyne, North Alabama, Arkansas Tech. Indianapolis, Rollins, New Haven, Emporia Street, Alabama-Huntsville, Sonoma State
NCAA DIII: Louisiana College, Texas-Tyler, Salisbury, Luther, Ohio Northern, Cortland State, Messiah, Linfield, TCNJ, DePauw, Eastern Connecticut State, East Texas Baptist, Virginia Wesleyan, Texas-Tyler, Salisbury, Luther, Texas Lutheran, Cortland State, Messiah, Linfield, Berry, Emory, East Texas Baptist
NAIA:California Baptist University, Simon Fraser University, William Carey University, Concordia University, Lubbock Christian University, Lee University, California State University—San Marcos, Trevecca Nazarene University, Shorter University, Oklahoma City University, Belhaven University, Dickinson State University, Bethel College, Oklahoma City, Saint Xavier, Auburn Montgomery, Southeastern (FL), St. Gregory’s, Simpson (CA), Williams Baptist.
IMPORTANT: NAIA Rule Changes. You must now register with the NAIA Clearinghouse.
NCAA Softball Scholarships and Recruiting
Find opportunities for athletic scholarships and get connected to college coaches.