L50D & former lax coach here

There is a place for every kid. The answer to the original post is what makes sense for one kid is not necessarily the same answer for another kid.

I got to know players pretty well and what they needed from a college experience/environment. Saw a lot of young men who went to play high level/academic D3 program and hated it because they always wanted a big school and program. They usually last 1-2 seasons max before transferring.

I've watched other young men with hearts set on big DI schools, end up going to play at Tufts and Gettysburg and say it was the greatest ever.

There's a bunch of players at Dickinson this spring who will never forget their run last spring. Those guys will be tight for life.

Finally I'll add that club lacrosse is simply awesome too. I've watched boys shirk D1 and D3 entirely after being HIGHLY recruited, and have best times of their lives playing high level club ball. It was the perfect solution for a player that wanted the type of school that was best for them but didn't; want to sacrifice their lax dreams. club ball is getting better and better offering these days. It's very serious competition.

Guess my point is it just depends on each players and what they need/want in a college experience.

Anonymous wrote:Based on our 2026 son's experience, there is more D3 lacrosse money than I expected. he ended up committing to a mid to lower tier D1 program, but along the way he looked at three D3 schools, and all three offered "academic" scholarships that paid 50% of tuition. they were definitely lacrosse scholarships under the label "academic," because my son is an average student and was borderline to be accepted to any of the three schools based purely on grades and SAT's. He was never asked to apply for academic scholarships, and we were never asked to fill out any kind of a financial aid application. the coaches simply made the 50% offer in their office at the end of our visit (and one made the offer before we visited). So my takeaway is that there is more lacrosse scholarship money available at D3 schools than people think.

+1 Same with our DS plenty to be had if you have the grades. Especially, if your DS is one of the players that falls to a low D1 so the D3 is a better alternative in the NESCAC and NCAC and the W&L types.

NESCAC lacrosse is the greatest option out there - high-level competitive lacrosse that is kept in perspective, great academic schools, most with coaches that are positive influences on players, can go abroad, amazing friends, etc, etc. They are also a ton of work and a huge commitment. Best decision for my child! Completely worth it.

Based on our 2026 son's experience, there is more D3 lacrosse money than I expected. he ended up committing to a mid to lower tier D1 program, but along the way he looked at three D3 schools, and all three offered "academic" scholarships that paid 50% of tuition. they were definitely lacrosse scholarships under the label "academic," because my son is an average student and was borderline to be accepted to any of the three schools based purely on grades and SAT's. He was never asked to apply for academic scholarships, and we were never asked to fill out any kind of a financial aid application. the coaches simply made the 50% offer in their office at the end of our visit (and one made the offer before we visited). So my takeaway is that there is more lacrosse scholarship money available at D3 schools than people think.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is lacrosse so popular with universities? It is not like it has value beyond college.

Lacrosse players are often full-pay well-off families. Not only tuition but shows dividends with annual giving. Not to mention adding a lot to the school network. A wise “investment” for any school, especially for D3 liberal arts schools.

Indeed. Some struggling smaller Midwest schools are actually starting lacrosse programs to help bring in students who are willing to pay full freight to be part of a college lacrosse team Kid gets to say they were “recruited” and a college athlete, school hits enrollment and reveunue target.

I have a kid going next year to plax lax at a school in the North Coast Atlantic Conference. Most of this rings true except for the full freight part. Schools in the NCAC generally have big endowments and will discount tuition to attract students. In DS's case, he received $28k in merit aid. For him, the choice was $70k for an East Coast SLAC or about half that in the Midwest (with a 1430 SAT, he would probably just miss admission to UMCP, and the other MD in-state choices were not appealing to him). He will receive an excellent education, get to play a sport that he loves, and have money left over for graduate/med school. It might be marketing to put in lax programs, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good option for some students.

My daughter is an NCAC commit. Offered $20K merit, reducing cost to a mere $75K/year. Not a new lacrosse program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tried to add up all the expenses incurred leading up to recruitment (club costs, travel costs, showcase costs, film costs, etc, etc). I gave up in part because I did not want to know the actual amount - let's just say easily more than a single year's tuition at even the most expensive private college.

Worth it?

Lemmee, see, he gained admission to a school that would otherwise have thrown him immediately into the reject pile, being on the lacrosse team made transition into college so easy, he stayed fit throughout college, he got to play the game he loved for 4 years at a high level, he made life-long friends, he landed his first real internship due to a lax alum, and that first real internship lead to a real job.

Worth it?

Ya damn right.

This... +1. I think it can get lost in the chase for a D1 slot that most of these kids love the sport, love their teammates, love the culture and rhythm of a team. Having that in college, at D3 level, where its maybe a 20 hour vs 40 hour a week commitment, with options to study abroad, take chemistry labs that meet on practice days, etc, is an awesome balance. Getting the chance to stretch into a school that might not have admitted the player otherwise is huge. As the PP says: "Ya damn right."

My DD is committed to a D3 and I’m hopeful that this will be her experience. She’ll be able to play the sport she loves, study abroad, and still have that unique sisterhood that comes with being part of a team.

Totally agree my son played D3, got a great education and landed a great internship in NYC that ended up with a job offer, lives in the city with his teammates and spends a ton of time with his lacrosse friends who span from seniors when he was a freshman to kids two years younger moving to NYC for jobs and internships. Goes back for alumni weekend, coach was a great friend, supporter and role model. Much more chill than D1 but transformed his college experience.

Nephew did a different D3 sport at an NESCAC and got a job in investment banking from a teammates dad. He could’ve played D1, but he would’ve been a small fish; whereas, at D3 he was a big fish/All American, and had time to study abroad and do internships. That’s all I know; we’re close but not as close as if he were my child.

Anonymous wrote:I tried to add up all the expenses incurred leading up to recruitment (club costs, travel costs, showcase costs, film costs, etc, etc). I gave up in part because I did not want to know the actual amount - let's just say easily more than a single year's tuition at even the most expensive private college.

Worth it?

Lemmee, see, he gained admission to a school that would otherwise have thrown him immediately into the reject pile, being on the lacrosse team made transition into college so easy, he stayed fit throughout college, he got to play the game he loved for 4 years at a high level, he made life-long friends, he landed his first real internship due to a lax alum, and that first real internship lead to a real job.

Worth it?

Ya damn right.

This... +1. I think it can get lost in the chase for a D1 slot that most of these kids love the sport, love their teammates, love the culture and rhythm of a team. Having that in college, at D3 level, where its maybe a 20 hour vs 40 hour a week commitment, with options to study abroad, take chemistry labs that meet on practice days, etc, is an awesome balance. Getting the chance to stretch into a school that might not have admitted the player otherwise is huge. As the PP says: "Ya damn right."

Really good strategy I think

I think every family is different. Our family used lacrosse to get into a high academic D3 that would have been very difficult to do without the sport. Of course stellar grades are a apart of it even with lacrosse it would be more of a lottery pick without lacrosse.

Wondering if parents og current D3 & D2 feeling positive still?

I tried to add up all the expenses incurred leading up to recruitment (club costs, travel costs, showcase costs, film costs, etc, etc). I gave up in part because I did not want to know the actual amount - let's just say easily more than a single year's tuition at even the most expensive private college.

Worth it?

Lemmee, see, he gained admission to a school that would otherwise have thrown him immediately into the reject pile, being on the lacrosse team made transition into college so easy, he stayed fit throughout college, he got to play the game he loved for 4 years at a high level, he made life-long friends, he landed his first real internship due to a lax alum, and that first real internship lead to a real job.

Worth it?

Ya damn right.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is lacrosse so popular with universities? It is not like it has value beyond college.

Lacrosse players are often full-pay well-off families. Not only tuition but shows dividends with annual giving. Not to mention adding a lot to the school network. A wise “investment” for any school, especially for D3 liberal arts schools.

This. I think that my D3 lax school only had a few full scholarships.

No D3 schools have full lacrosse scholarships. They can offer money for a variety of other reasons. D1 have 12 and half for 40-45 players. Ivy league also does not have lacrosse scholarships.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is lacrosse so popular with universities? It is not like it has value beyond college.

Lacrosse players are often full-pay well-off families. Not only tuition but shows dividends with annual giving. Not to mention adding a lot to the school network. A wise “investment” for any school, especially for D3 liberal arts schools.

This. I think that my D3 lax school only had a few full scholarships.

No D3 schools have full lacrosse scholarships. They can offer money for a variety of other reasons. D1 have 12 and half for 40-45 players. Ivy league also does not have lacrosse scholarships.