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Guide · 2026–27 season

Esports scholarships for high school students

High school players earn esports scholarships mainly by being recruited onto a college team: 102 colleges offer esports scholarships for 2026–27. A few competitions, like the PlayVS Cup for high school league champions, also award scholarships, but there is no general national esports scholarship you can simply apply for.

Updated · Figures from GG Scholar's directory of college esports programs and the U.S. Department of Education. How we verify

How high school players actually get esports scholarships

Almost all esports scholarship money comes from colleges recruiting players onto their teams. You earn it the way athletes do: by being good at a game the college fields, having the grades to be admitted, and making the roster.

Colleges offering awards
102
for 2026–27
Typical award
$2,500
per year, where stated
Host HS events
24
colleges in 17 states
  1. Compete now. Join your high school team and play in your state or league championship. Results give coaches something to evaluate.
  2. Shortlist colleges that field your game and offer scholarships: start with the colleges with esports scholarships and the program finder.
  3. Contact coaches in 11th grade. Use our recruiting guide and coach email builder.
  4. Meet coaches in person at college-hosted tournaments and camps (below).

Competitions that award scholarships to high schoolers

CompetitionScholarshipsWho can enter
PlayVS CupPlayVS (scholarships administered by Scholarship America)Over $50,000 in scholarships in 2026 across nine game brackets (for example VALORANT: $5,000 first place, $2,000 second)High school teams that won a full-season PlayVS league (fall, winter or spring); one team per title per school. Scholarships can be used at accredited four-year, two-year, technical or vocational colleges. Held each spring; the 2026 Cup ran May 18 – June 4, 2026.
Louisburg College at Carolina Games Summit$5,000 scholarships to play esports at Louisburg College for the top 3 finishers in each game title at Carolina Games Summit tournamentsPlayers at Carolina Games Summit tournaments (source 2024-25); scholarships are to attend Louisburg.

Scholarship prizes are usually paid to the college you enroll at, not to you in cash. Read each event's rules for which colleges qualify and when the money must be used.

PlayVS Recruit isn't a scholarship, but it's worth knowing: new in 2026, it lets high school players aged 16 and up (with a parent's consent) opt in so colleges can contact them. How it works.

Colleges that host high school esports events

These 24 colleges run current tournaments, camps or state championships for high school players, a good way to see a campus and meet its coaches. None of these events advertises scholarship prizes; ask the program.

CollegeHigh school events
California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks, CAEsports program hosts 'Tournaments for local high schools and colleges' at its gaming center (current esports page, no dates given) source
University of North FloridaJacksonville, FLHosts high school events at the Flight Deck arena: Duval Kart Clash (Mar 7, 2026), a countywide Mario Kart 8 tournament open to all high school students, and a GeoGuesser Tournament (Apr 10, 2026) for 50+ high school students; program says it runs annual tournaments for Jacksonville-area high school students source
Boise State UniversityBoise, IDHosts the Idaho High School Esports State Championship (May 2026, 700+ attendees); Esports Summer Camp for high school and middle school students (summer 2026) source
Northern Illinois UniversityDeKalb, ILHosts seven Illinois High School Esports Association (IHSEA) state finals at the NIU Esports Arena during the 2025-2026 academic year source
Manchester UniversityNorth Manchester, INSuper Smash Bros. Overnight Camp, June 26-28, 2026, for students entering grades 7-12 (plus a day camp for grades 3-6) source
Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso, INValpo Esports Summer Camps for campers entering grades 7-12, led by Valpo esports players and coaches; dates announced and registration opens March 2027 source
Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown, IAEsports summer day camps for middle and high school students held every year; first overnight high school esports camp June 28-July 2, 2026 (camp fees fund MCC esports scholarships, no scholarships awarded to campers) source
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MIHosts Michigan High School Esports League fall season championship (Dec. 7, 2024); MSU-MHSEL accord to host the fall event for up to the next five years (Dec. 2025 event at MSU reported by Mason County Press, third-party) source
Northwood UniversityMidland, MIGreat Lakes Gaming Convention (fall 2026) with Great Lakes Loons includes a high school Rocket League invitational for 8 Michigan high schools; prize pool, no scholarships stated source
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MIWMU Esports Summer Camps at the WMU Esports Arena: Beginner Camp (June 15-19, June 22-26, grades 6-8) and Advanced Camp (July 13-17, July 20-24, grades 7-12) source
Minnesota State University, MankatoMankato, MNMaverick Esports Summer Camp for middle and high school students (2026 camp held) source
The University of MontanaMissoula, MTHosts the Montana High School Championship Series each spring (100+ students from 26 schools, ending in a LAN State Championship at UM) source
Lorain County Community CollegeElyria, OHLCCC Esports Summer Camps for ages 14-17: six 3-day camps (League of Legends, Hearthstone, Smash Ultimate, Overwatch 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Valorant), July 6-23, 2026, $50 per camp source
Warner Pacific UniversityPortland, OR2026-27 Esports Youth Camps (posted Aug 2026): academy classes, STEM camps and tournaments for students in the WPU esports arena source
Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyHarrisburg, PAAnnual PA Cup high school esports tournament (Rocket League, Marvel Rivals) plus HU Esports Day, run by HU students; 2026 edition held April 24, 2026 source
Montgomery County Community CollegeBlue Bell, PAMCCC to host the Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League tournament finals in fall 2025 (per May 2025 news release) source
Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown, SDEsports Camp in the Lake Area Tech Esports Lab, listed under LATC for High Schoolers > Camps & Tech Days (date TBD, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM) source
Cumberland UniversityLebanon, TNHosted the CyberCon TN High School State Championship (May 9, 2026) at Alumni Hall, 14 Tennessee high schools source
Baylor UniversityWaco, TXHosted the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation (TexSEF) Undisputed State Championships for high school students on campus, May 1-2, 2026 source
Blinn CollegeBrenham, TXBlinn College Esports Youth Camp for grades 6-12 (Rocket League, Smash Ultimate, Valorant), Nov. 15-16, 2025 source
Brazosport CollegeLake Jackson, TXLegends Fest High School Esports Championship (Legends Cup, TexSEF-sanctioned state qualifier) on Friday, March 20 [2026] in Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, Mario Kart and Smash Ultimate; Legends Fest 2027 set for April 2-4 source
Texas A&M International UniversityLaredo, TXTAMIU Esports Invitational for High School Students (Super Smash Bros. Ultimate), April 18, 2026; top awards to top 3 teams and top 3 players (scholarships not stated) source
Shenandoah UniversityWinchester, VAHosted VHSL's first fully sanctioned high school esports state championships with PlayVS (Dec. 13, 2025); arena 'supports both university & high school gamers' source
University of WashingtonSeattle, WAUW Esports Summer Youth Program (grades 9-12): Esports, Gaming & Broadcasting camps, July 13-24, 2026 source

For graduating seniors: the ESA Foundation Esports Scholarship

The ESA Foundation Esports Scholarship is one of the few national esports scholarships, and incoming college freshmen qualify. Women or members of under-represented groups with financial need; U.S. citizens; rising college freshmen through seniors enrolling full time at an accredited four-year college and competing, or confirmed to compete, on a college esports team or club. Graduating high school seniors can apply.

  • Amount: Amount not stated for 2026-27; ESA Foundation scholarships ranged from $5,000 to $10,000 in 2025 (all its scholarships combined) (source).
  • When: 2026-27 window was April 1–30, 2026; the ESA says the 2027-28 application opens March 1, 2027.

What to watch out for

  • Old lists. Many "esports scholarships for high school students" articles list programs that ended years ago (several national high school scholarship programs last ran in 2020–2022).
  • Sweepstakes dressed as scholarships. Random-drawing "no essay" awards aren't tied to esports and rarely pay much. Legitimate awards name the sponsor, amount, eligibility and deadline.
  • Pay-to-play recruiting promises. You never need to pay to contact a college coach; every program page on GG Scholar links to the official esports page.

Questions & answers

Are there esports scholarships for high school students?

Yes, but most come from colleges recruiting high school players onto their teams: 102 US colleges offer esports scholarships for 2026–27. Separately, the PlayVS Cup awards scholarships to high school teams that win a PlayVS league season, and a few colleges award scholarships at tournaments they host.

Can I apply for an esports scholarship in high school?

Usually you apply to the college and its esports program rather than to a standalone scholarship: fill in the program's recruiting form, contact the coach and try out. Graduating seniors who are women or from under-represented groups can also apply to the ESA Foundation Esports Scholarship if they will compete on a college team.

How do I get noticed by college esports coaches?

Play on your high school team, compete in your state or league championships, keep your rank and grades up, and contact coaches directly with a short player profile. Many colleges host high school tournaments and camps, which are good places to meet coaches.

What high school esports leagues lead to scholarships?

PlayVS runs high school leagues, including leagues for several state associations, and its PlayVS Cup awards scholarships to league champions. Competing in any organized league or state championship gives you results to show college coaches.

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