Esports & Game Broadcasting Scholarships for 2026: Verified Scholarships, Media Awards, and College Esports Funding
January
NCAA Jim McKay Graduate Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the strongest picks on the whole list if your long-term lane is sports communication, sports media, or broadcast storytelling. It is not branded as an “esports” award, but it is extremely relevant for students who want to build a career as an on-air host, sports documentarian, producer, or digital sports storyteller. If your game-broadcasting path includes graduate study in sports communication, journalism, or sports media, this is a prestige play with real career signal attached to it.
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: January 5
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
March
Wes Vernon Broadcast Journalism Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This one fits students who are serious about broadcast journalism and want a cleaner bridge into esports hosting, live reporting, desk analysis, or video storytelling. Many esports media careers now overlap with the same skills traditional broadcasters use: researching stories, interviewing talent, writing tight scripts, and performing clearly on camera or mic. This scholarship is especially valuable because it supports broadcast journalism directly rather than treating media as an afterthought.
Amount: $5,000, renewable up to 3 years
Deadline: March 1
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
NATAS Jim McKay Memorial Scholarship
Why It Slaps: If your version of “game broadcasting” looks more like serious sports-style coverage, this scholarship is a great fit. It is aimed at students interested in sports broadcasting, which overlaps directly with esports commentary, studio hosting, event coverage, highlights production, and live analysis. For students who want to bring ESPN-level polish into esports, this is one of the cleanest national scholarships to target.
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 2
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
NATAS Mike Wallace Memorial Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is stronger for students whose esports-media angle leans toward journalism, features, interviews, investigative storytelling, or documentary-style work. Not everyone in gaming media wants to be a caster. Some want to be the person producing the best long-form stories, news packages, and player profiles. If that sounds like you, this award deserves attention because it rewards serious television journalism ambitions.
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 2
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
NATAS Douglas W. Mummert Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This award makes sense for students who want to work behind the scenes in television and live media production. That is a direct overlap with esports event production, streaming operations, show building, replay packages, graphics coordination, and community-facing media work. If your future role is less “main caster” and more “make the whole show run,” this is one of the better nationally recognized scholarships to pursue.
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: March 2
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
Carroll University Esports Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a straightforward varsity esports scholarship from a college page, which is exactly the kind of listing students should trust more than third-party roundups. It is especially appealing because it is open to incoming students from any major who want to compete. That flexibility matters. A lot of students interested in esports do not major in game design. They might study marketing, communications, business, IT, or media and still contribute heavily to a campus program.
Amount: $500 to $2,500
Deadline: March 9
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
Edgecombe Community College Esports Scholars
Why It Slaps: Community-college esports scholarships are often overlooked, which is a mistake. This one matters because it gives students a lower-cost entry point into competitive gaming, campus involvement, and transfer-building experience. If you are trying to prove yourself as a player, content creator, or esports community builder without jumping straight into a pricey four-year program, this is the kind of opportunity that can quietly deliver real value.
Amount: Not publicly listed on the official page
Deadline: March 15
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
April
Stevenson University eSports Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a solid campus-based esports scholarship for incoming freshmen and transfer students, and that transfer angle is a real plus. Many students discover esports late, switch schools, or level up their competitive profile after high school. This scholarship gives those students a clearer shot at funding while joining an organized collegiate program. It is a practical fit for students who want to combine academics with actual team participation instead of just listing gaming as a hobby.
Amount: $2,000, renewable for 4 years
Deadline: April 1
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
Kettering University Esports Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Kettering’s scholarship stands out because the official page clearly outlines that it is meant for newly entering competitive students and can renew yearly. That makes it more actionable than a lot of vague esports pages. It is a good target for students who have a track record in specific titles and want to turn competitive skill into real tuition help. If you are organized enough to show rankings, public profiles, or proof of competition, this is a smart application.
Amount: Up to $5,000 per year, renewable
Deadline: April 1
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
Cornell College Esports Award
Why It Slaps: This is one of the better pure esports awards on the list because the official page gives a real application, a real range, and a real deadline. It is also stackable, which matters more than students sometimes realize. A stackable esports award can turn a “nice extra” into a meaningful aid boost when combined with academic scholarships, grants, and other campus awards. That makes this especially useful for students trying to build a realistic affordability plan.
Amount: $1,000 to $5,000 per year
Deadline: April 2
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
BroadcastHER Academy Fellowship
Why It Slaps: This is not a traditional tuition scholarship, but it absolutely belongs in this guide because it is tailored to women and femmes pursuing sports broadcasting and media experience. That is highly relevant for students who want to work in esports hosting, commentary, production, and live event coverage. The grant amount is modest compared with some college scholarships, but the mentorship and access piece makes it unusually strong for career-building. Sometimes the right door matters as much as the dollar amount.
Amount: $500 grant plus mentorship and VIP experience
Deadline: April 3
Apply/info: Official fellowship page
NHAB Student Broadcaster Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: This is a smart regional pick for students in New Hampshire who are serious about radio, television, or over-the-air broadcasting. The reason it still belongs in an esports guide is simple: strong shoutcasters, hosts, and live producers often build the same voice, timing, scripting, and technical instincts that traditional broadcasters use. Regional scholarships like this can be much less crowded than big national awards, which means they are often better odds than students assume.
Amount: $2,500, with one $5,000 Al Sprague award
Deadline: April 10
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
October
RTDNA Bob Horner Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a good fit for students whose game-broadcasting path overlaps with video journalism, documentary work, digital reporting, or polished multimedia storytelling. Esports media is getting more professional every year, and strong video packages, feature stories, and digital reports are part of that growth. If your portfolio includes highlight packages, player interviews, event recap videos, or mini-doc work, this scholarship lines up well with the skills you are building.
Amount: $2,500
Deadline: October 22
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
RTDNA Carole Simpson Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This award is especially important for students of color pursuing radio, television, or digital journalism. It is a strong target for future esports hosts, analysts, and reporters who want to break into a media space that still needs more diverse voices. If you are building a reel, covering competitions, interviewing players, or doing campus media with serious on-air ambitions, this scholarship has both practical value and strong résumé signal.
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: October 22
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
RTDNA Ed Bradley Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most attractive October opportunities in the broader broadcast space because the award size is meaningful and the journalism focus is strong. Students chasing esports media sometimes underapply to journalism awards because they think gaming is “too niche.” That is a mistake. If your work shows reporting skill, storytelling ability, and digital broadcast potential, this is absolutely worth a shot.
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: October 22
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
RTDNA Dr. Marsha Della Giustina Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This one is a strong broad-fit scholarship for undergrad or grad students in broadcast or multimedia journalism. That matters for esports students who are not sure whether they want to stay in pure gaming coverage forever. A lot of the best opportunities come from building portable media skills that work in esports, sports, news, documentary, and digital production. This scholarship supports exactly that kind of flexible media path.
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: October 22
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
RTDNA Lou and Carole Prato Sports Reporting Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This one is especially relevant for game broadcasting because it sits right at the crossover point between sports reporting and esports coverage. If your goal is to cover matches, players, tournaments, coaches, or the business of competitive gaming, this scholarship fits that storytelling lane well. It is also one of the cleaner “direct relevance” picks for students who want to be taken seriously in sports-style coverage, whether the arena is physical or digital.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 22
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
RTDNA Mike Reynolds Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a useful target for students in electronic journalism who also have financial need. For an esports or game-broadcasting student, it works best if your portfolio shows serious digital journalism instincts rather than only entertainment content. Think coverage, analysis, interviews, field packages, or well-produced live reporting. The amount is smaller than some others on this list, but the fit can still be strong for the right applicant.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: October 22
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
November
Illinois Tech Esports Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the best late-year campus esports scholarships because the official page clearly states the award amount and the longer renewal window. It also values more than raw gameplay. Leadership, character, and campus contribution matter, which is good news for students who organize communities, mentor teammates, create content, or help shape program culture. If you want a scholarship that rewards being more than just a rank screenshot, this is a standout.
Amount: $5,000 per year, renewable up to four years
Deadline: November 15
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
Rolling or Varies
Ball State Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a very niche but very cool fit for students interested in sim racing, esports competition, and promotional work tied to collegiate esports. It stands out because Ball State’s broader esports ecosystem also connects to media and production study, including streaming and live event broadcasting. That makes it more than a pure player scholarship. For students who like the blend of competition, community promotion, and media-adjacent work, this is a strong specialty option.
Amount: $5,000, renewable up to 4 years
Deadline: Review begins March 15 and continues until awarded
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
Thomas College Esports Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a strong practical pick because the official page clearly explains the value range and the basic two-step process: apply to the college, then complete the esports questionnaire. That simplicity matters. Many students miss solid campus opportunities because the application flow is unclear. Thomas makes this one easy to understand, and the award ceiling is big enough to justify the effort, especially for students building a real competitive profile.
Amount: Up to $10,000
Deadline: Varies
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
WSU Tech Varsity eSports Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This one is appealing because the official page mentions both scholarships and stipends, and it says applications are always being accepted. That makes it a good option for students who are not perfectly lined up with a once-a-year scholarship cycle. If you want a hands-on, lower-cost college path with competitive gaming built into student life, this kind of rolling-access opportunity can be far more usable than highly selective national awards.
Amount: Up to $5,000 per year, plus stipends up to $1,000
Deadline: Rolling / always accepting applications
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
Oral Roberts University Esports Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a cleaner fit for recruited players who want a direct team-based award rather than a broad campus scholarship search. The amount is smaller than some other schools on the list, but recruited scholarships can still become useful stackable money when paired with other merit or institutional aid. If you already know you want the structure of a collegiate esports roster, this is worth checking early in your college search process.
Amount: Up to $3,500
Deadline: Varies / recruitment-based
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
UNT Dallas Trailblazer Esports Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This one earns a spot because the official page does something a lot of campus esports pages do not: it explicitly connects the program to streaming, video and audio production, podcasting, shoutcasting, journalism, and PR/marketing. That makes it especially relevant for students who want the broadcast side of gaming, not only competitive play. The dollar amount is modest, but the career relevance for future game broadcasters is unusually clear.
Amount: $500 additional scholarship funds for varsity-level esports athletes
Deadline: Varies
Apply/info: Official program page
University of Delaware Esports Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a useful official page to bookmark because it confirms partial scholarships for current players and incoming students and notes that applications reopen in late fall. That timing matters if you are planning ahead instead of scrambling after deadlines pass. It is not the most detailed scholarship page on the web, but it is official, live, and directly tied to a university esports program. For accuracy alone, that makes it more trustworthy than most roundup articles.
Amount: Partial scholarships
Deadline: Applications reopen in late fall
Apply/info: Official scholarship page
How to choose the right esports or game broadcasting scholarship
For this niche, think in three lanes:
Lane 1: Pure esports player scholarships.
These are the Ball State, Carroll, Kettering, Cornell, Illinois Tech, Thomas, WSU Tech, ORU, and Delaware-style awards. They are best if you already compete, have rankings, team experience, or strong title-specific proof.
Lane 2: Broadcast and media scholarships that fit esports careers.
These include NATAS, RTDNA, the NCAA Jim McKay Graduate Scholarship, the NHAB award, and the Wes Vernon scholarship. They are ideal for students who want to become hosts, analysts, interviewers, writers, reporters, producers, editors, or digital storytellers in gaming and esports.
Lane 3: Hybrid opportunity builders.
BroadcastHER and UNT Dallas are great examples. They may not be the biggest tuition awards, but they can give you industry access, mentorship, media experience, and a stronger portfolio. In a media career, that can matter fast.
FAQs
Are there really 30 legit esports and game broadcasting scholarships?
Not easily. There are plenty of listicles online, but once you remove expired awards, vague directories, and pages with no official application details, the pool gets much smaller. That is why this guide prioritizes a smaller verified list instead of forcing weak filler.
Are esports scholarships only for top-ranked players?
No. Some are clearly tied to competitive recruitment, but others value leadership, community, character, campus fit, or broader program involvement. Some schools also connect esports with media, production, and community-building roles.
Can future casters, hosts, and producers apply even if they are not elite players?
Yes. That is exactly why broadcast-focused awards belong in this guide. Scholarships from NATAS, RTDNA, the NCAA Jim McKay program, NHAB, and the National Press Club Institute can fit students building careers in esports commentary, hosting, reporting, digital storytelling, and production.
What should I include in an esports or game-broadcasting application?
The strongest applications usually show proof of work. For players, that can mean rankings, stats, team history, or tournament results. For broadcasters, it can mean a casting reel, stream clips, interviews, campus media work, highlight packages, production samples, or a portfolio site. Official pages that mention journalism, sports broadcasting, streaming, or competitive team involvement strongly suggest that evidence matters.
Can I stack these with other scholarships and grants?
Often yes, especially institutional or stackable awards like Cornell’s esports award, but stacking rules vary by college and scholarship. Always check the official financial-aid office or scholarship terms before assuming an award will combine cleanly with merit aid, grants, or athletic-style funding.
What if I missed this year’s deadline?
Do not drop the opportunity. Save the official page, note the month, and prep your materials early for the next cycle. Several campus esports scholarships and broadcast awards recur annually or reopen in late fall or the following academic cycle.
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