College esports is co-ed by default
Unlike most college sports, esports teams are almost always co-ed: rosters, tryouts and scholarships are open to everyone. That means women can earn the same varsity spots and esports scholarships as anyone else; see colleges with esports scholarships.
A small but growing number of programs add a women's or women-and-marginalized-gender team, often a VALORANT roster that competes in Riot's Game Changers circuit, as an extra pathway alongside their main teams.
Colleges with women's esports teams
We checked the current team pages of all 428 programs we track. These list a women's or women-and-marginalized-gender team for 2026–27:
| College | Team | Game | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks, CA | Women's teams (open tryouts for Varsity, Academy and Women's teams in each supported game: Overwatch, Mario Kart) source | Overwatch 2 | Varsity · No published scholarships |
| Cottey CollegeNevada, MO | All-women's collegiate esports team (Overwatch and Valorant rosters) source | Overwatch 2, VALORANT | Varsity · No published scholarships |
| University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY | Women's/non-binary Valorant team source | VALORANT | Varsity · No published scholarships |
| University of Maryland, College ParkCollege Park, MD | VALORANT Game Changers (Premier and Academy rosters) source | VALORANT | Varsity · No published scholarships |
| University of MissouriColumbia, MO | Valorant Game Changers source | VALORANT | Varsity · No published scholarships |
Cottey College is a women's college, so its whole program is women's esports.
We count separate women's teams, not co-ed rosters grouped by gender. Know a program we missed? Tell us.
Esports scholarships for women
ESA Foundation Esports Scholarship
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.
College esports scholarships (co-ed)
Every college esports scholarship we track is open to women. We found no college that publishes a women-only esports award, so the best route is the same for everyone: see how esports scholarships work and what they pay.
If you're headed into the games industry
The AIAS Foundation WomenIn Scholarship ($2,500 toward tuition (students), plus a trip to the D.I.C.E. Summit) supports women pursuing game-development careers. It's for making games, not competing in esports.
Where women compete
- On co-ed college rosters in every league: NACE, NJCAA Esports, conferences and publisher leagues. See how college esports works.
- VALORANT Game Changers North America: Riot's circuit for women and marginalized genders. $150,000 season prize pool in 2026 (cash prizes, not scholarships). It's an open pro circuit, not a college league, but college players compete in it.
- Women's college rosters at the programs above; several are VALORANT Game Changers rosters.
Questions & answers
Do colleges have women's esports teams?
A few do. Most college esports teams are co-ed and open to everyone. 5 programs we track list a women's or women-and-marginalized-gender team for 2026–27: California Lutheran University, Cottey College, University at Buffalo, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Missouri.
Are there esports scholarships for women?
Yes. The ESA Foundation Esports Scholarship is for women and under-represented students who compete on a college esports team, including incoming freshmen. Women are also eligible for every co-ed program's esports scholarships: 102 colleges offer them for 2026–27. We found no college that publishes a women-only esports scholarship.
Can women play on college esports teams?
Yes. College esports teams are co-ed unless a program says otherwise, and women play on varsity rosters across every major title. Some programs add women's or Game Changers rosters as an extra pathway.
What is VALORANT Game Changers?
Game Changers is Riot Games' VALORANT circuit for women and marginalized genders. In North America it is an open, professional competition with cash prizes, not a college league, though college players do compete in it. Some colleges name their women's VALORANT rosters after it.
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.
- How college esports worksVarsity vs club, the leagues, the games colleges play and whether players get paid.