Tuition Grants are intended to encourage athletes to further their formal education in preparation for lifelong career goals and to defray a portion of the athletes' tuition costs.
The application can be downloaded by clicking the link on the bottom of this page.
For questions about the Tuition Grant program, or to submit your application, please contact Jamie Martin
.
Award Amount
The total dollar amount available for tuition grants is limited and the award process is highly competitive. Along with an athlete's performance standards, financial need is considered when determining an award. Traditionally, the highest priority for awards is given to those applicants who have a current top-8 World Championships placement or world ranking. However, compelling cases will be reviewed and given consideration.
Generally (based on budget availability) the following payment schedule will be applied:
International Rank/Placement 1st - 4th, up to $5,000
International Rank/Placement 5th - 8th, up to $2,500
Retired Paralympic team members may apply for one-time only tuition assistance within five-years of their last Paralympic competition. Retired athletes applying for these funds must be endorsed by U.S. Paralympics. Tuition grant awards for retired athletes will not exceed $2,500.
Tuition grants are restricted to tuition and mandatory fees only. Books, parking fees and room-and-board charges are not eligible costs.
Any grant money awarded but not disbursed by the end of the grant year (December 31 for summer sports, June 30 for winter sports) is deemed forfeited.
Eligibility
The following athletes may apply for a USOC Tuition Grant:
- Current U.S. Paralympics Elite or National Team athletes or
- Retired Paralympians (must have competed in a Paralympic Games within 5 years of date of Tuition Grant application).
Please note that resident athletes must apply for the "B.J Stupak Olympic Scholarship" (if available) as opposed to a USOC Tuition Grant. Current resident athletes include any of the U.S. Olympic Training Centers (Colorado Springs, Chula Vista, Lake Placid) or the U.S. Olympic Education Center (Northern Michigan University). Athletes can request forms from the Olympic Training Centers.
Applicants must be endorsed by U.S. Paralympics and must be enrolled in an accredited degree- or certificate-granting academic institution of higher learning. Qualified applicants must be in good academic standing as defined by their educational institution.
Athletes may only receive one Tuition award in a grant year.
Application
Athletes who meet the eligibility criteria may obtain applications from U.S. Paralympics. Applications will be reviewed quarterly. Applications must be received by U.S. Paralympics on or before the submission deadlines below:
February 1
May 2
August 1
November 1
Applicants will be notified no later than a month after the submission deadline. Incomplete or late applications will be returned and the athlete will be notified he/she is ineligible for the current quarterly review.
Anti-Doping
Refer to USOC Suspension of Benefits Policy.
ATTACHMENTS