Some colleges offer scholarships specifically geared to cheerleaders.
McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas, features the McPherson College Spirit Program, which includes cheerleaders and members of the dance team. All students who participate in the program can apply for a number of scholarships reserved just for these members, as long as they are enrolled for at least 12 credit hours each semester and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, takes a different approach to awarding its cheerleaders. The cheerleaders (both men and women) are not eligible to receive scholarships, but instead are granted a stipend each semester to assist with college tuition and fees. As of the 2009-10 school year, the stipend was $800 each semester, but it is subject to change based on tuition and fee requirements.
Even though the NCAA doesn't list cheerleading as an official college sport, many college athletic departments list cheerleading as an available sport for athletic scholarships.
For instance, Park University in Parkville, Missouri offers awards to graduates and For instance, Park University in Parkville, Missouri offers awards to graduates and undergraduates who enroll as full-time students and participate in soccer, baseball or softball, basketball, track, volleyball or cheerleading.
Blinn College, which has four campuses throughout Texas, offers scholarships for students involved in a number of athletic events, including cheerleading and drill team. Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Kentucky offers scholarships to athletic students who also demonstrate financial need, leadership and potential for success. Cheerleading is included on Campbellsville's athletic list.
Some high schools with large or popular cheerleading squads offer college scholarships for students who participate. For example, the East Texas Communities Foundation offers the Adam Carroll Scholarship each year to students graduating from Grand Saline High School. The high school teaches students from three counties in Texas, and any athlete who participate in athletics or cheerleading and maintains a grade point average of 80 or above is eligible to apply.
Similarly, the Daniel C. Kubacki Sportsmanship Award provides scholarship opportunities for students graduating from Reading High School in Reading, Pennsylvania. This award is given to a student who participates in athletics as an athlete, manager, mascot, official or cheerleader and who demonstrates values of sportsmanship through his or her participation.