The winner would go on to receive the prize of a subscription to Rolling Stone Magazine.  

The Schools That Laid the Foundation

The following schools helped lay the foundation for the future of collegiate esports.

• 2014 - Robert Morris University (Illinois), was the first school to offer esports scholarships and the first college to recognize esports as an official sport.
• 2016 - The University of California at Irvine (UCI) announced its esports program, making it the first public research university to offer esports scholarships. Students also have the opportunity to earn a degree in video game-related fields with a major in Computer Game Science. 
• 2017 - The University of Utah, the first university in the Power Five athletic conference, officially adopted esports by offering scholarships to students competing in League of Legends, Overwatch, and Rocket League.
• 2018 - Harrisburg University awarded their first full-ride scholarships to their entire 16-player roster.
• Fall 2022 - West Virginia University will offer a 15-credit minor in esports alongside the launch of a new esports team. According to Maryanne Reed, provost and vice president for academic affairs, “Developing curricula in esports recognizes that it is a billion-dollar-plus industry that will require professionals with skills in business, media marketing, and promotions. As WVU launches its own esports team, there will be many opportunities for students to apply the skills they learn in the classroom.”

Regulating College Esports

Scholarships are not the only benefits esports players can receive.

When the NCAA unanimously voted not to govern esports in 2019, that opened doors for third-party organizations to move in. In addition, other concerns include potential Title IX issues in a sport dominated by men.

Publishers and Organizations Make their Move

Riot Games, the creator of the popular esports game, League of Legends (LoL), formed the Riot Scholastic Association of America (RSAA) soon after the NCAA removed itself as a possible governing entity in college esports, creating a path for game publishers to have the ability to take an active role in the regulation of their own games. 

In addition to game publishers, third-party organizations like the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), American Collegiate Esports League (ACEL), and the Electronic Gaming Federation (EFG), who have already begun creating esports programs all over the country, saw tremendous growth. Schools were eager to add their own varsity programs and list themselves with an organization where they can compete with similar schools all over North America. 

NACE, a non-profit organization formed in 2016 at the first Collegiate Esports Summit, has amassed a school membership from just seven colleges and universities when it began, to over 170 member schools. Along with 5,000 plus student-athletes NACE has given over $16 million in esports scholarships and aid. According to their website, “The purpose of NACE is to promote the education and development of students through intercollegiate esports participation.” Esports is viewed as an integral part of the total educational process. 

Recruiting Talent

The guide suggests the minimum qualified rank for each game that coaches look for in candidates. Players who meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the school and try out for a team.

The list of opportunities for esports scholarships is extensive, including popular Battle Royale titles like Fortnite and Apex Legends. 

For parents, navigating this new world of competitive gaming with their child can seem daunting.

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