10 Best Archery Scholarships To Pay Your Way Through School

Written by Tim Rhodes Last Updated: Oct 1 2023

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Are you an academic wizard who has a notable talent with bows but lacks funds for schooling?

Study hard and practice harder because your two special abilities will make way for your studies.

Many universities, associations, foundations, and even private companies are giving support to an exceptional person like you.

Make time to scout for a good scholarship and apply promptly.

Apply for every available program, then if two or more accept you, choose which will benefit you the most.

Much better if they will allow multiple grants.

10 Best Archery Scholarships To Pay Your Way Through School

I’ve listed the ten best archery scholarships to pay your way through school.

So, polish your skills more, secure the necessary documents, and shoot your way to a good future.

1. Easton-NFAA Scholarship Program

This deserves the top spot because it’s specific to the sport you love, archery.

The base award is $500 that will get higher based on your performance and future competition plans.

You may get the maximum amount of $20,000 for an excellent performance.

They also give you the freedom to choose which college you want to get into.

The scholarship is good but even better when not tied to a specific university.

You’re not only enjoying the award but also the university you want and the course you wish.

The scholarship is a joint effort of Easton Foundations and the National Field Archery Association.

The grant for the first three years was $50,000 per year, providing 50% to recurve archers and 50% to compound archers, and splitting equally between men & women.

For the year 2021, the number of awards available is 5, with a value of $5,000 each.

If you’re an extraordinary applicant with excellent accomplishment, the Joint Scholarship Approval Committee may award you up to $20,000.

So, every time you shoot, think of the scholarship price and your future as inspirations.

You’ll surely hit right on the mark.

For you to apply, you must have the following requirements:

1. You must be a member of the NFAA, National Archery Association (NAA), and or USA Archery.
2. Not a graduating high school student in the current year of application.

Active in Junior Olympic Archer Development (JOAD), National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), junior high archery, or high school freshman to sophomore archers club).

1. If you’re a high school applicant, you must be aiming to be full-time college students, for two to four years.

Qualified schools are colleges, universities, or trade schools.

Please inquire about a list of accredited institutions.

1. For the current year, you must have excellent academic performance.

You must keep a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

1. If you’re in college already, you must be a full-time student for two to four years, and have a 2.5 GPA minimum on a 4.0 scale, less strict but don’t make it an excuse to study less.
2. Must compete in archery for the entire year, so make sure you study hard and shoot harder.

The scholarship has various levels with different rewards based on how hard you push yourself.

1. You’re eligible for $500 scholarships if you’re a JOAD, NASP, Junior High, High School, Junior College, or Trade College Students.
2. For college freshmen, sophomores, or juniors, your scholarship amounts will vary between $500‐2,500 based on accomplishments and future competition plans.
3. If you made it to the current Olympic, PanAm, or Other International Team through the USA Archery selection process, your scholarship will vary between $2,500‐5,000 based on the accomplishments and future competition plans.
4. I repeat, if you have a notable talent, the Joint Scholarship Approval Committee can increase the scholarship by up to $20,000.

2. Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program

Yearly, Foot Locker is giving $20,000 scholarship funds to 20 incoming college freshmen pursuing a 4-year college degree.

It’s worth mentioning that the program has awarded 180 total scholarship recipients since the program’s inception in 2011.

The program is not specifically set up for archery, but the award cost is tempting.

You will aim for it if you play multiple sports and think you meet the other qualifications.

You’re going to shoot your way to college with $20,000.

If you think your love for archery gives you no chance, think again.

In 2016, Joe Shawn Head, who played archery as one of his sports, was awarded a great sum.

I bet you have a chance too.

They prefer students who become strong school and community leaders through sports.

Having good grades and strong athletic performance are secondary requirements.

However, in the year 2019, they gave an extra $5000 to one of the 20 winners for proving superior educational achievement, excellent leadership, and passion for the game.

So, study hard and love your sport.

Prizes from winning matches, high grades, and extra grants will help you a lot.

Eligible applicants are high school seniors taking up a four-year course in an accredited U.S. college or university.

Engage in high school sport with notable performance.

Have kept a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a U.S. citizen or U.S. Permanent Legal Resident.

Judges evaluate applicants on a points system basis.

1. A good sportsman with good character.

Known and respected members of their schools and communities.

In other words, you must be popular in your previous school.

Faculty members, employees, and old students should be able to identify you easily and recommend you for scholarship in an instant.

1. Excel in the academe.

Having good grades goes a long way.

The judging committee wants a good sportsman who can also stand out academically.

1. Active in a community in a good way.

Like participating in a clean-up drive.

Helping others in terms of disaster, and supports community skill training and medical missions.

They’re implying, if you want to get help, you must support others first.

1. Display good leadership qualities.

They guide others, not boss them around.

In a river clean-up mission, for example, you’re the one who gets your hands dirty first.

Like a king who charges first in a battle, not one who hides behind the backs of his troops.

Visit the scholarship website for more information.

3. Texas A&M Archery Scholarships

Texas A&M Archery has five scholarship programs you can apply to.

Getting the highest bracket of $2000.00/semester is the best.

It’s a yearly basis scholarship so you need to apply each year.

Don’t worry too much if you’re one of the unlucky applicants or got one of the lower brackets.

You’ll always have a chance to grab a spot each year.

Likewise, don’t be complacent because others can grab your spot.

I listed the scholarships you can apply for.

Different entities sponsor each program, but all have the same requirements.

1. Texas A&M University – Archery Team Scholarship – $2000.00/semester.
2. Texas A&M University Deerfoot Youth Camp Endowed Archery Team Scholarship – $500.00/semester.
3. Texas A&M University Frank Thomas Endowed Archery Team Scholarship Application – $500.00/semester.
4. Texas A&M University Bill Coady Endowed Archery Team Scholarship Application – $500.00/semester.
5. Texas A&M University Holly McCoy Endowed Archery Team Scholarship Application – $500.00/semester.

If you’re a successful applicant, you get a grant per semester for two consecutive semesters.

It’s renewable upon meeting certain conditions.

You must be currently enrolled in Texas A&M University as a full-time student, or an incoming student.

You must be in good standing and keep a minimum grade point ratio of 2.75 on a scale of 4.0.

Residency is not a requirement, but probationary status is not allowed.

The selection committee accepted you for the first time and selected you for renewal.

In this case, good manners and right conduct are requirements.

As a scholarship recipient, you need to attend scheduled practices and meetings, aid with fundraising activities, and take part in all required team competitions.

They’ll give you leeway if you’re a graduating student needing to fulfill requirements.

You must be a good role model.

Play diligently.

Be humble when winning and be a good sport in a losing battle.

You must understand that archery and other sports are not all about winning.

The committee will remove you automatically upon requirement deviation and give the chance to other aspiring applicants.

4. University of Illinois – Avery Brundage Scholarship

You can receive a $2,500 grant.

It’s a general athletic scholarship in which archery is included.

In the year 2016, a student with great potential for archery sport was selected as the winner.

They set up the scholarship program in 1974 with the funds coming from Avery Brundage, University of Illinois alumni, and staff of the International and U.S. Olympic committees.

You must display a special ability for amateur sport, and it’s great if you have proof of previous winnings.

They are doing it for personal development rather than in preparation for professional athletics.

The scholarship is about archery, but the sponsor still wants you to focus on your studies.

The Avery Brundage Scholarship Fund Committee is made up of nine representatives from the faculties and student bodies of the Chicago, Springfield, and Urbana-Champaign campuses.

They give an equal chance to all qualified students regardless of campus, class level, and gender.

But you must be aiming for a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree at the University of Illinois.

In the upper 25 percent of the undergraduate class or have a good academic standing in the graduate program.

You should keep the required status for the scholarship duration, regularly practice archery, and participate in all competitions whenever possible.

Academic excellence and athletic competency are the main criteria, but they also evaluate financial need.

If you live in an affluent family, better give a chance to others who are in dire situations.

Go to the university website for more information.

5. Texas Field Archery Association (TFAA) Youth Scholarship

TFAA offers an attractive scholarship of $5,000 for high school seniors who are members for at least 2 consecutive years.

Besides association membership, you need additional requirements.

1. Proofs that show your merit on academic achievements, leadership, campus activities, and community participation.
2. An overall grade of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, and must keep it during the scholarship duration.
3. A written 500-word essay on why you deserve the scholarship.

Include additional details on community service, archery participation, and future goals.

Needless to say, if English is not your native language, expressing yourself clearly would be a bit hard.

Polish your English skills early on.

1. Official high school transcript, original or certified true copy.
2. A recent ID photo.

Download the application form in Microsoft Excel format from their website.

Fill up the application form and submit it together with the other requirements.

Check it twice because they might reject you for incomplete documents.

TFAA and Texas A&M Archery are different organizations.

If you live in the country or planning to migrate, go apply for both scholarship programs.

In case both organizations accept you, get both if they will allow or select one with more benefits.

6. Prince William Sound College (PWSC)- Archery Sportsmanship Scholarship

PWSC has scholarships that range from $250-$1250 per semester.

All PWSC students eligible for financial aid may apply.

Archery Sportsmanship Scholarship supports the full-time study of students actively involved in the PWSC Collegiate Archery Program.

Students must maintain a minimum GPA: 2.5.

Full-time means having other perks besides money grants.

The college has made the application easy for all wanting financial aid.

You don’t have to scratch your head and apply again for other available programs.

Their system will automatically try to pair you with other available grants.

The college carries many scholarships.

That means you have a chance for archery and more chances for others.

Just fill up one application form to apply.

Log-in to AcademicWorks and make sure you complete the General Application and any supplemental forms.

Depending on the criteria, the system automatically matches you with scholarship opportunities and recommends additional scholarships that you can apply for.

Submit any additional requested essays or references through the portal by the application deadline.

Remember to check twice before clicking the submit button.

You’ll receive an email notification if accepted, or you can also log-in back to the AcademicWorks portal to check application status.

For more information like eligibility, application deadlines, and award amounts per scholarship, contact Student Affairs at 907-834-1600 or email pwsc.student.services@alaska.edu.

7. MSAA Scholarship Program

Minnesota State Archery Association has two scholarships available each year that have a value of $500 each.

It was established in 1971 to help deserving students prepare for college education and promote archery sport.

If you’re lucky to get the scholarship and have never used it for one year, it does not carry over to the next year.

So apply only if you’re sure you can use it continuously.

You’re qualified if you’re a graduating high school student of academic excellence who has a deep love for archery and mastery of such sport.

Apply while a senior in high school or during the first three years of college.

I suggest trying to get into the program as early as possible.

Must be an MSAA member of good standing.

You have a chance the next school year if you’re a bit unlucky.

In addition to good academic records, you must be active in extracurricular activities, with good leadership skills, good moral character, possess US citizenship, and secured your teachers’ recommendations.

If you lack mastery of archery sport, you must display an enormous potential to improve.

Have the interest to help others to learn and enjoy the archery sport.

A good score in the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Testing Program (ACT) may give you an edge.

Include the results as part of the application.

​​​8. Wisconsin Bowhunters Association – Lyell Cowley Memorial Scholarship

The Wisconsin Bowhunters Association® (WBH), in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, set up a scholarship program called the Lyell Cowley Memorial Scholarship.

It gives a $500.00 grant to students enrolled in the Natural Resources Program.

With limited funding and slots, WBH also supports Wisconsin’s National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP).

The fund might not be enough, but the partner university has $250,000 annual scholarship funding for the College of Natural Resources alone, which you can explore.

Also, WBH has over 75 years of experience and accomplishment.

You can meet mentors and find other opportunities.

The Wisconsin Bowhunting Heritage Foundation has the purpose of:

1) Promoting the heritage of bowhunting, archery, and associated activities.

2) Recording of history about bowhunting and archery and maintaining a showroom.

They have a museum located in Clintonville, Wisconsin, that displays historical bowhunting and archery items.

3) Give educational opportunities and build facilities for the sole purpose of bowhunting and archery.

The scholarship is in tribute to late Association officer and director Lyell Cowley, who is passionate about archery and bowhunting, to ensure the education he believed in will continue.

For more information about scholarship requirements and application procedures, please go to WBH and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – College of Natural Resources websites.

9. Shootingtime.com Archery Scholarship

The Shootingtime website proudly announced its annual archery scholarship offering students taking part in archery while taking up college.

They congratulated Brenna M. as the first recipient, a nursing student from South Dakota.

The scholarship costs $500 to pay tuition, books, and other academic costs.

It’s paid directly to the student’s chosen college or university.

I suggest getting into a university allowing multiple scholarship grants so you can have other sources to augment.

It’s worth a shot because it’s a private company that may offer you a fantastic job after graduation.

To apply, read the application requirements, download and fill up the forms, and mail them together with the required material to their address.

To qualify for Shootingtime.com Archery Scholarship, you must be a high school student aspiring to become a full-time college student for at least two years in trade school, college, or university.

Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 at the current year of application.

If you’re a current college student, you may also apply.

You should maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 on a scale of 4.0.

To apply, enroll in an accredited, 2-year, or 4-year college or university.

Then using the university stationery, send a letter of intent to Shooting.com.

Mention your course and include an up-to-date copy of your school year’s official transcript.

Bear in mind that you must compete in archery during the entire academic year if you’re lucky.

10. ITAWAMBA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Scholarship

Itawamba Community College of Mississippi offers Competition Scholarships.

It includes archery that amounts to $800 and divided $200 per semester.

If you’re a student talented in archery, you can get the scholarship after passing the audition, completing the interview, and submitting the required document.

Itawamba Community College gives equal opportunity and students, and discrimination of any kind is prohibited.

You have a fair chance for the program regardless of race and financial status.

Contact the archery coach or sponsor for more information.

Because athletic scholarship also requires good academic performance, you may qualify for the Academic Excellence Scholarship that amounts to $725 per semester, and other higher academic grants with higher support costs.

So do your best in both archery and academics.

Other Archery Scholarships Worth Checking

In addition to the 10 choices, I gave you, check out the following scholarship programs.

They’re publishing less information on the web so you might have better chances by inquiring personally.

A. Campbellsvilles University Athletic Performance Grants

The university offers the renewable Athletic Performance Grant for students who excel in sports like archery. The grant varies.

B. Hunting Bow Scholarship

The Hunting Bow Scholarship is giving out 500USD nonrenewable grants to deserving first-year high school students.

See the College Monk for application information.

C. Ruffed Grouse Society – John Michael Dew Memorial Scholarship.

For junior or senior students of the Department of Wildlife Ecology in College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS).

D. Hal & Jean Glassen Memorial Foundation Funds.

Hal & Jean Glassen Memorial Foundation donated $500,000 funds to the USA Shooting, for five years of youth support.

It’s April 2021 news but not much info has been given.

E. State Archery Association of Massachusetts (SAAM).

SAAM awards scholarships yearly to archers both in state and out of state.

The funds come from donations, and proceeds from the Indoor Nationals Tournament.

The scholarship program has helped more than two dozen students over ten years.

F. Nevada Bow Hunters Association Archery Scholarship.

The Nevada Bow Hunters Association, an affiliate for the National Field Archery Association, offers a scholarship for students who have good grades, and are actively participating in archery.

1. Brazos County Archery Club (BCAC) – Emma Hojnacki Memorial Scholarship.

In memory of Emma Hojnacki, BCAC awards $500 scholarships to archers seeking post-secondary education in the US.

Final Thoughts

The words “never give up” is more important, so it doesn’t matter if you got the scholarship you wanted or not.

Don’t be complacent if you’ve got lucky, so always exert your best on studies and archery.

Rewards come to people who do their best.

Prestigious universities and institutions will reel you in once they see your potential.

Often, schools automatically give scholarships to outstanding students who are financially handicapped.

You’ll never run out of options even if you never excel at both.

Other sports you practice may give you a better chance.

Working while studying is not a bad option you can take.

Earning money for your studies will give you a lot of experience before stepping into the commercial world.