Head-Count vs. Equivalency Sports
You always thought receiving a scholarship meant “full ride,” but you’ve just been told that your scholly is a partial one. Confused? The NCAA divides sports into two categories: headcount and equivalency.
Head count sports have a set number of scholarships, and they are all full. If your sport offers 15 scholarships and a college gives you one, it has only 14 left to offer.
Equivalency sports have a set number of scholarships, but each one can be divided among two or more student-athletes. Say a sport has three scholarships available. A school could award a full scholarship to one athlete, split the second between two athletes, and divide the third among three or more athletes.
Men’s Sports
Head-count Sports |
Team Limits |
Basketball |
13 |
Football I-A |
85 |
Equivalency Sports |
Team Limits |
Baseball |
11.7 |
XC |
5 |
XC/T&F |
12.6 |
Fencing |
4.5 |
Football I-AA |
63 |
Golf |
4.5 |
Gymnastics |
6.3 |
Ice Hockey |
18 |
Lacrosse |
12.6 |
Rifle |
3.6 |
Skiing |
6.3 |
Soccer |
9.9 |
Swimming |
9.9 |
Tennis |
4.5 |
Volleyball |
4.5 |
Water Polo |
4.5 |
Wrestling |
9.9 |
Women’s Sports
Head-count Sports |
Team Limits |
Basketball |
15 |
Gymnastics |
12 |
Tennis |
8 |
Volleyball |
12 |
Equivalency Sports |
Team Limits |
Bowling |
5 |
XC |
6 |
XC/T&F |
18 |
Fencing |
5 |
Field Hockey |
12 |
Golf |
6 |
Ice Hockey |
18 |
Lacrosse |
12 |
Rowing |
20 |
Skiing |
7 |
Soccer |
12 |
Softball |
12 |
Swimming |
14 |
Water Polo |
8 |
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Head-Count vs. Equivalency Sports
You always thought receiving a scholarship meant “full ride,” but you’ve just been told that your scholly is a partial one. Confused? The NCAA divides sports into two categories: headcount and equivalency.
Head count sports have a set number of scholarships, and they are all full. If your sport offers 15 scholarships and a college gives you one, it has only 14 left to offer.
Equivalency sports have a set number of scholarships, but each one can be divided among two or more student-athletes. Say a sport has three scholarships available. A school could award a full scholarship to one athlete, split the second between two athletes, and divide the third among three or more athletes.
Men’s Sports
Head-count Sports |
Team Limits |
Basketball |
13 |
Football I-A |
85 |
Equivalency Sports |
Team Limits |
Baseball |
11.7 |
XC |
5 |
XC/T&F |
12.6 |
Fencing |
4.5 |
Football I-AA |
63 |
Golf |
4.5 |
Gymnastics |
6.3 |
Ice Hockey |
18 |
Lacrosse |
12.6 |
Rifle |
3.6 |
Skiing |
6.3 |
Soccer |
9.9 |
Swimming |
9.9 |
Tennis |
4.5 |
Volleyball |
4.5 |
Water Polo |
4.5 |
Wrestling |
9.9 |
Women’s Sports
Head-count Sports |
Team Limits |
Basketball |
15 |
Gymnastics |
12 |
Tennis |
8 |
Volleyball |
12 |
Equivalency Sports |
Team Limits |
Bowling |
5 |
XC |
6 |
XC/T&F |
18 |
Fencing |
5 |
Field Hockey |
12 |
Golf |
6 |
Ice Hockey |
18 |
Lacrosse |
12 |
Rowing |
20 |
Skiing |
7 |
Soccer |
12 |
Softball |
12 |
Swimming |
14 |
Water Polo |
8 |
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