Your Complete Guide to Powerlifting Scholarships

If you have a passion for the barbell and a drive to pursue higher education, you might be wondering if your strength can help pay for your degree. The great news is that powerlifting scholarships are real, and this guide will provide the information you need to find and apply for them, turning your dedication in the gym into an academic opportunity.

The Landscape of Collegiate Powerlifting

Before diving into the application process, it’s crucial to understand how powerlifting fits into the world of college athletics. The most important thing to know is that powerlifting is not an NCAA-sanctioned sport. This is a key detail because it changes where you’ll find scholarships and how they are awarded.

Unlike NCAA sports like football or basketball, which have large, well-funded programs, collegiate powerlifting operates primarily through club teams. These teams compete under governing bodies, with USA Powerlifting (USAPL) being the largest and most prominent for collegiate competitions in the United States.

Because these are club teams, scholarships are not as widespread or as large as typical athletic scholarships. Full-ride scholarships are extremely rare. However, many universities with top-tier powerlifting programs offer significant financial awards to attract talented lifters to their schools. These scholarships are a testament to the growing recognition of powerlifting as a legitimate and demanding sport.

Where to Find Powerlifting Scholarships

Scholarships for powerlifters primarily come directly from the universities that have established and competitive teams. These schools have dedicated coaches and budgets to recruit strong student-athletes. Your search should begin by identifying these key programs.

Top Universities with Powerlifting Programs

While the list of schools with teams is always growing, several universities have historically strong programs known for offering scholarships. Focusing your efforts on these schools is a great starting point.

  • Midland University (Fremont, Nebraska): Midland has one of the most dominant collegiate powerlifting programs in the nation. They actively recruit and offer substantial scholarships to both male and female lifters. Their program is well-funded and boasts a history of national championships.
  • Louisiana Tech University (Ruston, Louisiana): A powerhouse in collegiate lifting, Louisiana Tech has a long-standing tradition of excellence. They consistently produce high-level lifters and offer scholarships to promising recruits who meet both their athletic and academic standards.
  • McKendree University (Lebanon, Illinois): McKendree is another top contender at the national level. They have a structured program and provide financial aid opportunities for lifters who can contribute to their team’s success.
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA): UTSA has a very strong and competitive club team that consistently performs well at national competitions. They are a great example of a large state university that invests in its powerlifting program.
  • Central Florida University (UCF): With a large and active team, UCF is another program to watch. They often have lifters placing high in national rankings.

This is not an exhaustive list. Many other universities, like Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, also have strong teams. The best strategy is to look at the results from the most recent USAPL Collegiate Nationals to see which schools are competing and placing high.

What You Need to Qualify

Coaches are looking for well-rounded student-athletes. Simply being strong is not enough. To be a competitive candidate for a powerlifting scholarship, you need to excel in several key areas.

1. A Competitive Lifting Total

Your “total” is the combined weight of your best squat, bench press, and deadlift in a sanctioned competition. This number is the primary measure of your strength. To get a scholarship, your total needs to be competitive for your weight class at the collegiate national level.

  • How to Know if You’re Competitive: Research is key. Look up the results from the last USAPL Collegiate Nationals. Find your age group and weight class and see what the top 5-10 lifters totaled. This will give you a clear benchmark for the numbers you need to be hitting to get a coach’s attention.

2. Strong Academic Performance

Remember, you are applying to be a student first and an athlete second. Universities have minimum academic requirements for all students, and scholarship recipients are often held to an even higher standard.

  • GPA: You will need a strong high school GPA. Most competitive programs will look for a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Standardized Tests: Good scores on the SAT or ACT are also very important for your university application and can impact your eligibility for both academic and athletic aid.

3. A Solid Competition History

Coaches want to see that you have experience competing. A history of participating in sanctioned meets shows that you understand the rules, can perform under pressure, and are committed to the sport. Competing in federations like USAPL is highly recommended, as it’s the primary federation for collegiate competition.

How to Get Noticed and Apply

Once you have the numbers in the gym and the grades in the classroom, you need to be proactive. Coaches are busy, and you need to make it easy for them to see your potential.

Step 1: Create a Lifting Portfolio

Compile all your important information into one place. This “lifting resume” should include:

  • Your full name and contact information.
  • Your high school, GPA, and SAT/ACT scores.
  • Your weight class and height.
  • Your best competition lifts (squat, bench, deadlift) and your total. Clearly state which federation and meet these were achieved in.
  • A list of your notable competition placings.
  • A link to your lifting videos.

Step 2: Film High-Quality Videos of Your Lifts

Your videos are your audition. They must be clear and follow some basic rules:

  • Film from the side or a 45-degree angle. This allows coaches to clearly see your form and depth.
  • Ensure the entire lift is in the frame. Don’t cut off your feet or the top of the barbell.
  • Use recent footage. The videos should be of lifts at or near your current maximums.
  • Upload to YouTube or another easily accessible platform. Set the videos to “Unlisted” and include the links in your portfolio.

Step 3: Contact Coaches Directly

This is the most important step. Find the contact information for the powerlifting coach at the universities you are interested in. This is often available on the university’s club sports website.

Draft a professional and personalized email.

  • Subject Line: Make it clear and informative, such as “Prospective Powerlifting Recruit - [Your Name] - [Your Graduating Year]”.
  • Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself, your year in school, and why you are interested in their specific program. Mention something you like about their team or university to show you’ve done your research.
  • Body: State your best lifts, total, weight class, and academic information (GPA/SAT).
  • Closing: Attach your lifting portfolio and thank the coach for their time.

Follow up respectfully if you do not hear back within a couple of weeks. Coaches are often busy, and a polite reminder can be helpful.