Getting a college hockey scholarship isn’t easy.
But have you considered trying to get a college scholarship because you play hockey?
There are roughly $3 billion in athletic scholarships offered by NCAA institutions, and another $500 million by NAIA and NJCAA schools. Meanwhile, academic scholarships from those institutions total more than $13 billion annually. Federal, state, local and private scholarship avenues push that number to nearly $50 billion.
Private scholarships — sometimes called “targeted” or “outside” scholarships — are an area worth exploring. They’re available based on a wide range of circumstances, and many go unawarded in any given year. Students have benefited by receiving financial gifts from their parents’ employers, local fraternal organizations or leading companies in their chosen field of study; or they’ve earned scholarships based on their hobbies, ethnic background or community service.
Hockey organizations are among the many that hand out financial awards for college-bound students.
Among the private scholarships offered to hockey players or by hockey organizations are:
Pro Stock Hockey Student-Athlete Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Who is eligible: One $1,000 recepient, chosen from college or university undergraduates who play for their school’s hockey team.
Application deadline: August 15, 2020
Applicants must include their college transcripts and a description of themselves, among other requested information.
Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association Scholarship
Amount: $7,500 per year
Who is eligible: Three recipients chosen from Illinois high school hockey players.
Application deadline: February 1, annually
The Blackhawk Alumni seek to award “the most deserving high school hockey players” in Illinois based on academics, financial need, character, community service, and the applicant essay.
Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association Scholarships
Amount: $1,000
Who is eligible: Three $1,000 recipients chosen from USA Hockey members from the Atlantic District.
Application deadlines: February 1 (Lou Manzione Scholarship), April 15 (Daniel Triano Scholarship).
Two Manzione scholarships are awarded — one to a player from New Jersey, the other for residents of Delaware or Pennsylvania — based on their essay score, coach’s recommendation, teacher evaluation, scholastic achievement, and extracurricular activity. The Triano Scholarship is open to high school seniors in the Atlantic District registered as both a player and an official — and is based on an essay, scholastic achievement, and extracurricular activities.
Pittsburgh Penguins Scholarships
Amounts: $5,000; $2,000; $1,500
Who is eligible: Western Pennsylvania and inner-city Pittsburgh high school students
Application deadlines: April 20, 2020 (Bob Johnson Scholarship, Alumni Association Scholarship); April 30, 2020 (Foundation Scholarship)
The Johnson Scholarship gives $5,000 to a high school senior hockey player from western Pennsylvania based on the student’s accomplishments as a player, student, and member of the community. The Alumni Association offers $2,000 to a western Pennsylvania high school student who has demonstrated character, leadership, and a love for hockey — and excels academically (3.2 GPA or better). The Foundation offers multiple $1,500 awards (which can include an additional $1,000 for a student’s second year of college) to students attending a Pittsburgh Public School or an Allegheny County high school that “provides substantial aid to students for reduced-cost or free lunch programs per the National School Lunch Program…”
And when scholarships don’t cover everything, use College Raptor’s Student Loan Finder to compare lenders and interest rates side by side to find the ideal student loan.
| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
5.34%-15.96%* Variable
3.99%-15.61%* Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CITIZENS |
 |
4.92% - 15.08% Variable
3.99% - 15.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT SALLIE MAE |
 |
4.50% - 17.99% Variable
3.49% - 17.99% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CREDIBLE |
|
|
6.00% - 13.75% Variable
3.99% - 13.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT LENDKEY |
 |
5.50% - 14.56% Variable
3.69% - 14.41% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ASCENT |
 |
3.70% - 8.75% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ISL |
 |
4.99% - 16.85% Variable
3.47% - 16.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT EARNEST |
 |
5.00% - 14.22% Variable
3.69% - 14.22% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ELFI |
