In recent years, the esports industry has exploded in popularity. Esports competitions garner millions of views and the best players can make a very good living. As a result, many teens and young adults are hopping on the bandwagon.
The new era of college sports
In the past, sports have been socially defined as physical activities that take place outdoors. Colleges would award scholarships for sports like football, basketball, and soccer, which had these characteristics and filled their stadiums. It has classically been believed that in order to warrant a scholarship, an activity must have these physical and social dimensions.
However, with esports’ rise in viewership and growth in revenue, it is now impossible for colleges to ignore the fact that esports presents both a major financial opportunity, a significant pool of potential student athletes, and a great opportunity to help them.
Esports has the social components that colleges are looking for in sports, but also appeals to a very specific demographic—the young adult market. A major concern among college admissions counselors is how they can attract these students during recruitment season. Offering scholarships for esports is one way to do this.
What colleges are offering scholarships?
Currently, there are over 100 colleges and universities in the United States that offer some form of scholarship for playing esports. This number is only going to continue to grow as the industry does. Here are the best schools right now for esports scholarships:
1) Arcadia University ($25,000)
Arcadia University offers one of the most lucrative scholarships for esports. The school will award students up to $25,000 per year to play esports. This is a major incentive for potential students and could help draw in some top talent. They feature scholarships for League of Legends, Hearthstone, Overwatch, and Rocket League.
Arcadia University isn’t just about the money though. They have a top-notch program that is constantly being ranked among the best in the nation. Players can expect to receive a world-class education while playing for their school’s varsity esports team.
2) Robert Morris University ($19,000)
Robert Morris University was one of the first schools to offer scholarships for playing esports. They started their program in 2014 and have been a leader in the space ever since. RMU offers scholarships for players of League of Legends, Super Smach Bros., Overwatch, Rocket League, and CS:GO.
RMU is also one of the most successful schools when it comes to esports. Their League of Legends team has gone on to win several national championships and their CS:GO team was ranked as the best in the nation for a period of time.
The school is also home to one of the most impressive arenas in college sports—the 120-seat, $750,000 Robert Morris University Island Sports Center. It’s the perfect place for gamers to compete.
3) Ohio State University ($3,000-$12,000)
Ohio State University also offers a hefty esports scholarship and is one of the biggest schools nationally. While they only support League of Legends, Rocket League, and Overwatch players at the moment, the program is set to expand in the future.
OSU has a unique arrangement with competitive gaming company Electronic Arts, or EA Sports for short. The school’s team is sponsored by both OSU and EA games, which includes having their players’ jerseys branded with the companies logos as well as hosting events on campus that promote esports.
Esports is growing in popularity and schools are starting to offer scholarships for playing the games. for more information on how to get involved, click here: https://combine.gg/
