01 · Short answer
How much does it cost to study and play soccer in the US with a scholarship?
What you pay each year is the university's full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, meals, books and health insurance) minus your athletic and academic aid. On top, international students pay fixed costs: the $185 visa application fee, the $350 SEVIS fee, in some consulates a new $250 visa integrity fee (amounts as of October 2026; check travel.state.gov), plus flights, translations and an English test. A full scholarship can bring the yearly cost close to zero; a partial one can still leave a large bill.
02 · Fixed costs
The fixed costs every international player pays
The nonrefundable fee for the F-1 visa application.
Paid online before your visa interview.
New in 2026; some consulates have started charging it when the visa is issued.
Add the NCAA Eligibility Center registration (check the current fee on eligibilitycenter.org), sworn translations of your school records, your English test and flights. Most universities also require health insurance.
03 · Scholarships
What a scholarship covers
An athletic scholarship can cover part or all of tuition, housing, meals and books. Division I schools in the House settlement decide how much aid to give a roster of up to 28. Division II allows up to 9.0 for men and 9.9 for women, the NAIA up to 12, almost always split, and Division III gives no athletic scholarships. Good grades can add academic aid on top.
The useful question is not «will I get a scholarship?» but «how much will a year cost us?»
04 · Reading an offer
How to read an offer
Full cost
Ask for the university's cost of attendance for the year, not just tuition.
Aid
Separate athletic and academic aid, and ask whether each one renews every year.
Gap
Cost minus aid is what your family pays. Compare offers by that number.
I-20
Your I-20 shows estimated costs, and you must prove you can cover them for the visa.
05 · How we charge
And how GSX charges
At GSX the price depends on the plan, and we explain it on the free call. It is fixed, agreed in writing and paid in three instalments with fixed dates. It never depends on the offer, the scholarship or the university, as NCAA rules require. Is an agency worth it? →
06 · Questions
Quick answers
Is a soccer scholarship in the US free?
Only if it covers the full cost of attendance. Many soccer scholarships are partial, so what you pay is the cost of attendance minus your athletic and academic aid, plus visa, flights and insurance.
How much are the US student visa fees?
The visa application fee is $185 and the SEVIS I-901 fee is $350. In 2026 some consulates have also started charging a new $250 visa integrity fee when the visa is issued. Amounts as of October 2026: check travel.state.gov before you pay.
How many soccer scholarships does each division have?
Division I schools in the House settlement decide how much aid to give a roster of up to 28. Division II allows up to 9.0 for men and 9.9 for women, the NAIA up to 12, and Division III gives no athletic scholarships.
How do I compare two scholarship offers?
By the yearly amount your family pays: cost of attendance minus all aid. A bigger scholarship at an expensive university can cost you more than a smaller one at a cheaper school.
How much does GSX cost?
It depends on the plan, and we explain it on the free call. The price is fixed, agreed in writing and paid in three instalments. The price never depends on the offer, the scholarship or the university.