Your Child's Future,
Our Promise
Explore how U.S. college sports help your child combine excellent athletics with a world class education.
Free ConsultationCombination
Elite coaching, modern facilities, and daily training alongside earning a bachelor’s degree.
Scholarships
Financial support that reduces or even eliminates tuition and living costs.
Supportive Environment
On-campus housing, supervised team structures, athletic trainers, and academic advisors.
Personal Growth
Living abroad encourages maturity, responsibility, and lifelong skills.
The Benefits of U.S. College Sports
The U.S. college system offers student-athletes a unique opportunity that not many others provide: the ability to combine high-level sports with an internationally recognized academic degree. For families, it represents a proven path toward personal, athletic, and academic development, while often reducing overall education costs through athletic and academic scholarships.
For thousands of young athletes worldwide, college sports serve as the launchpad for a successful future, whether that is in professional sports, academics, or a career beyond athletics. Your child is surrounded by a structured support system, professional training conditions, and an environment built to help them succeed.
As a parent, the value of U.S. college sports scholarships extends far beyond the tuition savings. It is an investment in your child's future readiness and character development. Student-athletes gain invaluable life skills like time management, discipline, and teamwork - qualities highly sought after by employers. This holistic development, combining a respected American college degree with elite athletic training, ensures your child graduates not only with career prospects but also with a global network and the proven mental toughness to tackle any professional challenge.
Free ConsultationPlansWhat Parents Say About Us
Yannick, and Dominic treated us, their clients, as living persons - not as names or numbers. Our opinion is important to them and they try to implement it into very realistic plans that they create for everyone individually.Yannick and team, I know it took a lot of patience with me for a lot of reasons. My family is immensely grateful to you for your help.
Predrag
Parent
We’ve seen firsthand, Dominic, how much you cared for our son, and out of that, an honest relationship has grown that may not even be over yet. A sincere thank you from all of us!
Christian & Judith
Parent
I only have positive things to say about Smarthlete. They are by far the best consultants. Without Dominic and the team would not have made it to the US.
Ivan
Parent
Yannick provided a lot of good advice before we committed to Smarthlete. He doesn't mind sharing what he knows about college tennis even we are not sure if we take his service. Yannick's approach and advice is very realistic and he would honestly tell us what we can achieve and what not. Now, Kyle has started his fall semester at University Louisville about a month and he is very happy there!
Karen
Parent
I felt Dominic genuinely understood my son's requirements for a university. He got to know us a family and took a lot of trouble to reach out and introduce us to tennis coaches that were interested in my son.
Tessa
Parent
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%Graduation Success Rate
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xMore Likely to Earn a Postgraduate Degree
0
%Employed Within 6-12 Months After Graduation
Investment for the Future: U.S. College Sports as Career Accelerator
Playing college sports in the United States is more than an athletic opportunity - it's a powerful investment in your child's long-term professional success and overall well-being. The structured environment, combined with a world-class education, forges highly sought-after traits that open doors in every industry.
Graduates who were former student-athletes are more likely to be employed full-time at their desired level compared to their non-athlete classmates, showing a strong entry into the competitive job market. 87% of former NCAA DI student-athletes have their first job within 6-12 months after graduating.
Meet Our Athletes
Our former athletes currently in college have turned their dream of playing college sports in the U.S. into reality. With hundreds already placed at top universities, our athletes' stories and successes show what’s possible with the right support.
Madara Matrevica - Soccer
Florida Gulf Coast University
NCAA DI
Jari Stacher - Ice Hockey
Keene State College
NCAA DIII
Raitis Bomis - Soccer
Lewis & Clark Community College
NJCAA DI
Lauryne Duennenberger - Ice Hockey
New Hampshire Mountain Cats
Junior Hockey Team
Fabio Jäger - Soccer
Westcliff University
NAIA
Raiko Kahr - Track & Field
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
NCAA DI
Johanna Hiesmair - Tennis
Long Beach State University
NCAA DI
Maja Nöhrer - Volleyball
Northwest Missouri State University
NCAA DII
Gabriel Huber - Tennis
University of Wisconsin - Madison
NCAA DI
Amelie Gindl - Tennis
Southern Arkansas University
NCAA DII
Bosse Mikelsson - Skiing
Montana State University
NCAA DI
Arthur Akpinar - Golf
University of Denver
NCAA DI
Safety, Compliance & Costs
Choosing the path of U.S. college sports is a significant family decision, blending elite athletic opportunity with world-class education. For most parents, three priorities stand out: ensuring your child's safety, navigating the complex eligibility rules, and securing the best financial aid package.
Safety: A Structured, Supportive Environment
The U.S. collegiate system is built on a foundation of student-athlete welfare. When your child competes for an NCAA, NAIA or NJCAA school, they are immersed in one of the most structured environments in global sports, prioritizing their holistic development above all else.
Professional Support Systems: Unlike many international clubs, college sports provide mandatory academic advising, licensed athletic trainers, team doctors, and mental health professionals, ensuring comprehensive support is always on hand.
Campus Security: Your child lives in a secure campus community, surrounded by peers and supervised by resident advisors and coaching staff who actively monitor their well-being.
Structured Accountability: College programs impose strict rules regarding practice hours, travel, and personal conduct, creating a disciplined environment that fosters personal responsibility and player safety.
Eligibility & Visa
Securing a U.S. college sports scholarship requires strict adherence to the NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Center rules. Compliance errors can immediately revoke funding and playing status. It is important to understand these key international requirements:
Academic Certification: We guide the submission of international academic records (transcripts, leaving exams, etc.) to the NCAA and/or NAIA Eligibility Center for required certification. This involves correctly translating and converting your child's grades to meet specific U.S. core course and GPA requirements.
Amateur Status: NCAA amateurism rules are strict. Violations - such as receiving prize money over expenses, endorsements, or engaging with professional contracts - can permanently block eligibility.
Immigration: To legally study and compete in the U.S., students must secure an F-1 student visa. This process requires the university to issue the mandatory I-20 Form and students to successfully perform the visa screening process including an interview at the U.S. consulate.
Making sure that all of these things are in order is crucial for you child's success in the U.S.
College Costs & Financial Aid
The cost of a U.S. education can be substantial, but athletic and academic scholarships are designed to significantly reduce this burden, making a U.S. degree highly achievable. Our mission is to build the most comprehensive financial package possible for your child.
Athletic Scholarships: Institutions in NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA, and NJCAA offer athletic scholarships that significantly reduce educational expenses. These scholarships can be partial or cover comprehensive costs including tuition, housing, and food. The amount is determined by the specific coach's budget and the student-athlete's athletic level and recruitment profile.
Academic & Institutional Aid: Student-athletes often qualify for additional financial assistance. It is common to combine athletic scholarships with academic merit aid awarded based on high school grades, GPA, and test scores. Many U.S. universities also offer specific international student financial aid and institutional grants, creating opportunities for everyone.
Value of the Degree: Beyond the scholarship amount, a U.S. college degree provides an unparalleled return on investment. Graduates gain a globally respected qualification, fluency in English, and a vast international network, positioning them for success in any career field. Playing College Sports in the U.S. should not be seen as an expense, but as a future-proof investment in your child's global career.
Ready to explore a financially smart, safe, and fully compliant route to U.S. college sports? Contact us today for a free consultation.
Free Consultation