Some colleges offer fishing-related scholarships, but having a bass fishing team does not mean a school awards money to its anglers. Verified examples include Simpson University, Young Harris College, and the University of Montevallo, alongside tournament awards and scholarships for students studying fisheries or conservation. Award terms differ, and some examples are historical or tied to a specific competition, so confirm current availability with the school and the award provider.
Colleges with documented fishing-related scholarships
The examples below show several distinct ways fishing can connect to college funding. They are not a complete national directory, and the awards are not interchangeable.
Simpson University: a reported competition-linked award
Simpson University Athletics reported on September 22, 2026, that 2026 Bass Angler Magazine Scholastic Series Angler of the Year Colten Newman received a $100,000 scholarship to Simpson University and a place on its bass fishing team. The announcement also connected the runner-up with a scholarship and team opportunity, and said the team was recruiting for fall 2027 and later. It does not establish that the $100,000 is a standard annual package or generally available to recruits. Treat it as a specific reported award, not a promised amount for every team member. Simpson University Athletics announcement.
Young Harris College: a historical bass fishing scholarship example
In February 2019, Young Harris College reported awarding bass fishing scholarships to two students and said its team would become an official athletic team in 2019–20. That announcement establishes a past example, not current award availability or terms. Contact the college to ask whether it currently offers fishing scholarships. Young Harris College announcement.
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University of Montevallo: outdoor and conservation funding
The University of Montevallo’s President’s Outdoor Scholars Program supports students with an interest in wildlife and conservation, including fishing. The program page lists scholarships of $1,000 to $3,000 per student per year for four years, with a requirement to maintain at least a 2.5 GPA. It is a broader outdoor-scholarship program, not evidence of a bass-team athletic scholarship. The page names William Crawford as director and head fishing coach. President’s Outdoor Scholars Program.
Other ways fishing may lead to scholarship funding
High school tournament awards
Major League Fishing’s 2026 High School Fishing information says each member of the winning team at the 2026 High School Fishing National Championship receives a $5,000 scholarship to the school of their choice or one of select school-specific scholarships. The page says a student must be at least 16 on the event date to claim the benefit. This is tied to that event and year; check the current event rules and all conditions before relying on it. Major League Fishing High School Fishing.
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Event- or placement-linked offers from colleges
A 2024 High School Fishing document lists event- or placement-linked offers associated with Bethel University, Simpson University, Murray State College, and Catawba Valley Community College. Requirements vary by award and include high placement and acceptance to the school. Because the document is from 2024, it does not confirm current award amounts or availability. 2024 scholarship offers document.
Scholarships for fisheries and natural-resource study
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame’s 2026 Fishery Management Scholarship Program awarded six scholarships of $4,000 each. The recipients attended Oregon State University, the University of Nebraska, North Carolina State University, Paul Smith’s College, Purdue University, and the University of Missouri. Eligible recipients were undergraduate or graduate students with declared majors or career goals in biology, aquatic ecology, fisheries, marine science, or related natural-resource fields. These awards support academic study; they do not establish that the recipients’ colleges offer fishing-team scholarships. Bassmaster report on the 2026 recipients.
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Why a college fishing team does not guarantee a scholarship
College fishing may be organized as a club or team, and participation alone is not proof that the school pays anglers. Look for current official scholarship terms rather than inferring financial aid from a team roster or recruiting page.
“Fishing scholarship” can describe a recruiting or team-related award, an outdoor-scholarship program, a prize for tournament results, or an academic scholarship for fisheries-related study. The source and eligibility rules determine which kind of funding is involved.
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NCAA guidance says that coaches award athletics scholarships, not the NCAA, and that most athletics scholarships are partial; students may combine them with academic scholarships and need-based aid. This general NCAA guidance applies to scholarships under NCAA athletics rules. It does not establish that competitive bass fishing is an NCAA sport. NCAA scholarship guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to verify an award before choosing a school
- Ask whether the award is current. Contact the fishing coach and financial aid office. Historical announcements and past event rules do not confirm a current offer.
- Identify the funding route. Ask whether aid is for team recruiting or participation, an outdoor scholars program, tournament placement, academic merit, or a fisheries-related major.
- Get the terms in writing. Confirm the amount, duration, renewal rules, GPA and enrollment conditions, application deadlines, and any team participation expectations. Ask whether a team place is guaranteed or separately earned.
- Compare the full cost and aid package. Include tuition, fees, housing, travel, tournament expenses, and academic, need-based, institutional, and fishing-related aid. NCAA guidance recommends discussing the full aid picture with financial aid, rather than considering athletics aid alone.
- Ask about team expenses and recruiting timing. Find out the tournament schedule, travel and equipment expectations, and relevant application or recruiting deadlines. Do not assume applicants must buy specific equipment to qualify; competition rules requiring a team to supply equipment do not establish an individual purchase requirement. 2024 Super Cup rules.
What the award figures do—and do not—show
The documented amounts describe different programs and circumstances: a specific reported Simpson award, a renewable Montevallo outdoor-program range, a set of 2026 academic scholarships, and a 2026 tournament prize. They cannot be compared as though they were the same kind of offer. The available examples do not establish a typical or average fishing scholarship amount, or a complete current list of schools. Ask each school and award provider for current written terms.
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