What college esports is
College esports is organized, school-versus-school competition in video games. Players are enrolled students who represent their college the same way a soccer or volleyball team does: tryouts, practice schedules, coaches, uniforms and a season that ends in playoffs.
- Colleges with teams
- 428 in 48 states
- Varsity programs
- 350 run by the college
- Club programs
- 78 run by students
- Two-year colleges
- 171 mostly in NJCAA Esports
Unlike most college sports, esports isn't run by the NCAA. Colleges join leagues and conferences directly, so programs range from big-budget varsity teams with arenas and full-time coaches to student clubs that practice in a dorm lounge.
Varsity vs club esports
| Varsity | Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | The college: athletics, student affairs or an academic department | Students, as a registered organization |
| Coaching | Usually paid staff or coaches | Student officers, sometimes a faculty adviser |
| Roster | Recruited and tryout-based | Open to students; top teams hold tryouts |
| Scholarships | 101 of 350 offer them | 1 of 78 offer them |
| Programs we track | 350 | 78 |
Many big state universities, including several in the Big Ten and SEC, compete through student clubs that play in the same leagues as varsity teams. Smaller private colleges are often the ones with varsity programs and scholarships. Every program on GG Scholar is labeled varsity or club; here's how we decide.
What games college esports teams play
Most programs field several titles. Team games (5v5 shooters and battle arenas, 3v3 Rocket League) form the core, with fighting games and card games played as individual events.
College esports leagues and conferences
Colleges usually belong to a membership association and one or more conferences or leagues, and many also enter game publishers' own college competitions. The groups our programs list most often:
| League or association | What it is | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| NJCAA Esports (NJCAAE) | The esports arm of the National Junior College Athletic Association, for two-year colleges. | 160 |
| NACE | The National Association of Collegiate Esports, the largest membership body for varsity programs at four-year schools. | 129 |
| Gateway Esports | The competition platform that runs NJCAA Esports seasons, plus its own open college league. | 59 |
| NECC | The National Esports Collegiate Conference, an open league with seasons in most major titles. | 48 |
| ECAC Esports | The esports division of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, strong in the Northeast. | 33 |
| Big Esports Conference | A conference built around Big Ten universities. | 15 |
| GLEC | The Great Lakes Esports Conference, for Midwest programs. | 11 |
| Power Esports Conference | A conference of universities from the major athletic conferences. | 9 |
Counts are programs that list the affiliation on their own pages; many list several and some list none.
How a college esports season works
- Fall and spring seasons. Most leagues run a regular season each semester, with weekly matches.
- Mostly online, some in person. Regular-season matches are usually played online from each campus. Playoffs, championships and invitationals are often played in person on LAN.
- Practice like a team sport. Varsity players typically practice several times a week, review match footage (VODs) and scrim against other colleges.
- Academics come first. Players must stay enrolled and keep the grades their program and league require.
Do college esports players get paid?
Not with a salary: college players are students, not employees. The value comes in other ways:
- Scholarships, the main form of support. See how esports scholarships work and how much they pay.
- Stipends, rare and small. WSU Tech lists cash stipends of up to $1,000 a year for a select few players.
- Prize money. Ashland University says varsity players keep 100% of prize earnings; University of Miami pays tournament winnings as a scholarship to the student's account.
- Gear, travel and facilities, which varsity programs usually cover.
How to get involved
- Shortlist colleges that field your game: browse by game or by state.
- Check whether each program is varsity or club and whether it offers scholarships. Every program page answers both.
- Fill in the program's recruiting form or contact the coach, and ask about fall tryouts.
- If you're not being recruited, join the club or try out after you enroll. Many programs hold tryouts each fall that are open to enrolled students.
Questions & answers
How does college esports work?
Colleges field teams of enrolled students who compete against other colleges in video games, much like other college sports. Teams play weekly matches, mostly online, in fall and spring seasons organized by leagues and conferences, with playoffs and championships. Varsity programs are run by the college, often with coaches and scholarships; club teams are run by students.
How many colleges have esports teams?
We track 428 US colleges with competitive esports teams across 48 states for 2026–27: 350 varsity programs and 78 club programs, including 171 two-year colleges.
What games do college esports teams play?
The most common are Rocket League (252 colleges), Overwatch 2 (245 colleges), VALORANT (240 colleges), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (230 colleges), League of Legends (171 colleges), Marvel Rivals (122 colleges). Most programs field teams in several titles.
Do college esports players get paid?
Not with salaries: college players are students, not employees. The money comes as scholarships, and a few programs add small stipends or let players keep or bank tournament prize money.
Is college esports part of the NCAA?
No. The NCAA does not govern esports. Four-year programs organize through groups like NACE and conferences such as ECAC Esports, and two-year colleges compete in NJCAA Esports.
What is the difference between varsity and club esports?
Varsity programs are run or sponsored by the college, usually with paid staff or coaches, recruited rosters and sometimes scholarships. Club teams are student organizations: open to students, run by student officers and almost never funded with scholarships. 101 of 350 varsity programs offer esports scholarships, against 1 of 78 clubs.
More guides
- Best colleges for esportsThe top programs ranked on scholarships, cost, outcomes and program strength, with weights you can change.
- Esports scholarships: how they workCan you get a scholarship for esports? Which colleges offer them, who qualifies and what they cover.
- How much are esports scholarships?Every published award amount, the typical scholarship and how far it goes against the real cost of college.
- Full-ride esports scholarshipsWho really offers full tuition, the biggest awards, and how players stack aid to get close to free.
- How to get recruited for college esportsA recruiting timeline, what coaches want in a player profile, and a coach email builder.
- Esports scholarship requirementsGPA, credit load, rank and renewal rules for every program that publishes them, side by side.
- Most affordable esports collegesColleges with esports teams ranked by real cost: net price, and what’s left after a published esports scholarship.
- NACE member schools listEvery college NACE lists as a member, with athletic division, varsity or club, scholarships and cost.
- Esports scholarships for high school studentsHow high school players actually earn esports scholarships, which competitions award them, and colleges that host high school events.
- Women's college esportsColleges with women's teams, scholarships for women in esports, and how co-ed college esports works.