Men’s Volleyball Scholarships

How do men’s volleyball scholarships work?
Unlike women’s volleyball (where scholarship rules recently shifted), men’s volleyball has always been an equivalency sport. That means coaches can divide scholarship money among multiple players instead of only offering full rides.

As of the latest NCAA update, men’s volleyball has a roster cap of 18 players, and scholarships may be split across the entire roster.

👉 Translation: More players can now receive athletic aid, but the size of each award depends on the program’s budget. Top teams may give larger packages, while smaller programs may only offer partial aid.

Scholarship Availability by Level

• NCAA Division I & II
  • Programs have a maximum scholarship “pool” equivalent to the cost of 4.5 full scholarships.
  • Under equivalency rules, that amount can be split among up to 18 players.
  • A top outside hitter might get half tuition, while others receive quarter awards or books/fees.
• NCAA Division III
  • No athletic aid is permitted.
  • Instead, athletes rely on merit aid, academic scholarships, and need-based financial aid.
• NAIA
  • Men’s volleyball is expanding quickly at this level.
  • Schools may fund the equivalent of 8 full scholarships, split however coaches see fit.
• Junior Colleges (NJCAA/CCCAA)
  • Scholarship offerings vary widely.
  • Some JUCO programs can provide full rides (tuition, books, housing), while others only offer partial athletic aid.

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Key Realities About Men’s Volleyball Scholarships

• Full rides are rare. Because most programs split dollars, very few athletes receive 100% athletic aid.
• Academics matter. Strong grades and test scores help you qualify for academic scholarships that stack with athletic aid.
• Better-funded programs = bigger packages. Top D1 programs and some NAIA schools can award more substantial scholarships.
• JUCO can be a launch pad. Two years at a junior college can lead to transferring into an NCAA or NAIA program with stronger funding.

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Quick Example

A D1 men’s volleyball program has 4.5 scholarships worth of athletic aid to divide:

• OH1: 60% scholarship
• MB1: 50%
• Setter1: 40%
• OH2: 30%
• Libero1: 20%
• Others: small partials or none

The total adds up to 4.5 “fulls”, but no single athlete has a full ride.