Water Polo

Odds of a High School Water Polo Player making a College Varsity Roster 2022:
College Water Polo Odds 2022: Male Female
Number of US High School Water Polo Players 2021-2220,52919,512
Number of College Water Polo Players (see table below)1,9012,053
% of US HS Water Polo Players competing at any College Level8.0%9.4%
% of US HS Water Polo Players Competing at NCAA I Schools3.0%3.7%
Odds of a US HS Water Polo Player making any College Roster13:111:1
Odds of a US HS Water Polo Player making an NCAA I Roster34:129:1
 

These are the odds of a random US high school water polo player making a college roster – odds are adjusted for foreign student athlete participation. Actual odds are likely better for most athletes motivated to play in college due to several factors: High school participation includes multi-sport athletes who typically play only one sport in college, many high school athletes do not intend to compete at the college level, and unfortunately, a significant portion of high school students –  including athletes – do not go on to college.

125 Schools sponsor varsity Water Polo teams:
 # of teamsTotal AthletesAverage team sizeScholarship limit Average Scholarship *
DivisionSchoolsMen'sWomen'sMenWomenMen'sWomen'sMenWomenMenWomen
NCAA I42293777485427234.5816,62417,735
NCAA II1071014520821214.587,2178,047
NCAA III2517203203391917----
CCCAA4435445946041714----
NAIA44469491712--7,1916,984
Totals125921151,9012,0532118

Water Polo is an NCAA equivalency sport, so partial scholarships can  be awarded to meet the limit per school.  For example, an NCAA I school can award 9 male players each a 1/2 scholarship and not exceed the  limit of 4.5 per team.    See our page on scholarship limits for more information.

* Avr Athletic Scholarship is the average annual amount of athletically related student aid per athlete for ALL varsity sports sponsored by the specific school. Some athletes receive full awards, some receive partial and many receive none. Additionally some sports within a school may be fully funded, some partially and some sports provide no athletic scholarships. Private schools generally have higher tuition than public schools and the average award will reflect this.

Do you have the skills to play College Water Polo?

What level of player are coaches looking for and who are you competing with for a roster spot? A good way to get an idea is to look at the high-school bios of players currently on the roster of schools that interest you.

Stats & Links to all US Colleges sponsoring varsity Water Polo teams:

Hover over individual states on the map below to see how many schools sponsor varsity water polo programs – over 75% of high school Water Polo participants are from California, and nearly 70% of schools sponsoring water polo teams are also located in California.

The following table has information on each sponsoring school and links to all 125 team sites.

Water Polo - All Schools:

US Colleges with varsity
Water Polo teams 2022-23
City / Main CampusStateDivisionTeamsAvr Men's ScholarshipAvr Women's ScholarshipAvr SAT MathAvr ACT CompAdmission Rate In-State Tuition  Out of State Tuition 
Arizona State UniversityTempeAZNCAA  IW           25,171            19,937            610               25 88%             10,710            28,800
Ottawa University - ArizonaSurpriseAZNAIAMW           14,199            13,437            470               24 28%             29,600            29,600
American River CollegeSacramentoCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               8,880
Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusaCANCAA II W           12,162            14,916       94%             40,830            40,830
Biola UniversityLa MiradaCANCAA IIMW             9,840            12,219            585               26 64%             44,382            44,382
Cabrillo CollegeAptosCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               8,472
Cal State - East BayHaywardCANCAA II W             3,858              4,744       73%               5,742            17,622
Cal State - Monterey BaySeasideCANCAA II W             2,494              2,435            525               20 86%               5,742            17,622
Cal State - NorthridgeNorthridgeCANCAA  IW             8,807            10,075            495               19 66%               5,742            17,622
Cal State FullertonFullertonCANCAA  IMW             8,907            12,652            545               21 68%               5,742            17,622
California Baptist UniversityRiversideCANCAA  IMW           19,495            25,381            525               22 80%             34,918            34,918
California Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCANCAA III MW                    -                       -              795               36 7%             56,364            56,364
California Lutheran UniversityThousand OaksCANCAA III MW                    -                       -              575               24 74%             45,500            45,500
California Maritime AcademyVallejoCANAIA  MW                 184                  530       82%               5,742            17,622
Cerritos CollegeNorwalkCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,288               9,968
Chaffey CollegeRancho CucamongaCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               8,880
Chapman UniversityOrangeCANCAA III MW                    -                       -              630               28 58%             58,250            58,250
Citrus CollegeGlendoraCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               8,712
City College of San FranciscoSan FranciscoCACCCAAW                    -                       -                        1,104               7,536
Claremont McKenna (CMS)ClaremontCANCAA III MW                    -                       -              720               33 13%             57,876            57,876
College of MarinKentfieldCACCCAAW                    -                       -                        1,380               9,750
College of San MateoSan MateoCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                     1,364            10,016
Concordia University-IrvineIrvineCANCAA II MW             8,147              7,805            555               23 78%             37,990            37,990
Crafton Hills CollegeYucaipaCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               8,424
Cuesta CollegeSan Luis ObispoCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,288               8,652
Cypress CollegeCypressCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               8,856
De Anza CollegeCupertinoCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,395            10,620
Diablo Valley CollegePleasant HillCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,288               8,988
East Los Angeles CollegeMonterey ParkCACCCAAW                    -                       -                        1,196               8,970
El Camino College TorranceCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               7,968
Foothill CollegeLos Altos HillsCACCCAAW                    -                       -                        1,395            10,620
Fresno City CollegeFresnoCACCCAAW                    -                       -                        1,104               8,304
Fresno Pacific UniversityFresnoCANCAA II MW             9,288            11,030            505               19 67%             32,954            32,954
Fresno State FresnoCANCAA  IW           15,866            16,117            490               19 90%               5,742            17,622
Fullerton CollegeFullertonCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               7,752
Golden West CollegeHuntington BeachCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               8,472
Grossmont CollegeEl CajonCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,288               9,884
Harvey Mudd College (CMS)ClaremontCANCAA III MW           785               35 18%             60,402            60,402
Las Positas CollegeLivermoreCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                  1,104               8,664
Long Beach City CollegeLong BeachCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,472            11,360
Long Beach State Long BeachCANCAA  IMW             6,519              9,161            565               23 42%               5,742            17,622
Los Angeles Pierce CollegeWoodland HillsCACCCAAW                    -                       -                        1,196               8,970
Los Angeles Valley CollegeValley GlenCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,196               8,970
Loyola Marymount UniversityLos AngelesCANCAA  IMW           21,301            27,105            650               29 50%             52,310            52,310
Merced CollegeMercedCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               7,368
Modesto Junior CollegeModestoCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               8,472
Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnutCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,288               9,968
Occidental CollegeLos AngelesCANCAA III MW                    -                       -              680               31 41%             57,830            57,830
Ohlone CollegeFremontCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               6,960
Orange Coast CollegeCosta MesaCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,104               8,304
Palomar CollegeSan MarcosCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,288               9,884
Pasadena City CollegePasadenaCACCCAAW                    -                       -                        1,104               7,368
Pepperdine UniversityMalibuCANCAA  IM           26,223            32,046            660               29 42%             59,450            59,450
Pitzer College (Pomona-Pitzer)ClaremontCANCAA III MW      17%             57,686            57,686
Pomona College (Pomona - Pitzer)ClaremontCANCAA III MW                    -                       -         9%             56,284            56,284
Rio Hondo CollegeWhittierCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,316               9,812
Riverside City CollegeRiversideCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,380            10,080
Sacramento City CollegeSacramentoCACCCAAW                    -                       -                        1,104               8,880
Saddleback CollegeMission ViejoCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                        1,288            10,248
San Diego Mesa CollegeSan DiegoCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                     1,104               8,472
San Diego Miramar CollegeSan DiegoCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                     1,104               8,472
San Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCANCAA  IW           20,835            14,496            600               26 37%               5,742            17,622
San Joaquin Delta CollegeStocktonCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                     1,288               9,072
San Jose State UniversitySan JoseCANCAA  IMW           15,754            15,767            570               23 67%               5,742            17,622
Santa Barbara City CollegeSanta BarbaraCACCCAAW                    -                       -                     1,104               8,472
Santa Clara UniversitySanta ClaraCANCAA  IMW           17,278            19,456            695               30 51%             55,224            55,224
Santa Monica CollegeSanta MonicaCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                     1,104               9,048
Scripps College (CMS)ClaremontCANCAA III  W           700               31 35%             58,224            58,224
Sierra CollegeRocklinCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                     1,104               7,848
Southwestern CollegeChula VistaCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                     1,288               9,380
Stanford UniversityPalo AltoCANCAA  IMW           31,347            30,370            760               33 5%             55,473            55,473
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeleyCANCAA  IMW           13,577            12,778            725               33 17%             11,442            41,196
University of California-DavisDavisCANCAA  IMW           15,238            13,544            660               29 46%             11,442            41,196
University of California-IrvineIrvineCANCAA  IMW           12,594            12,583            690               30 30%             11,442            41,196
University of California-Los AngelesLos AngelesCANCAA  IMW           25,205            20,646       14%             11,442            41,196
University of California-MercedMercedCANAIAMW                 340                  414            525               22 85%             11,442            41,196
University of California-San DiegoLa JollaCANCAA  IMW             2,677              2,353            710               31 37%             11,442            41,196
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCANCAA  IMW           10,622            14,228            680               31 37%             11,442            41,196
University of La VerneLa VerneCANCAA III MW                    -                       -              525               20 76%             44,700            44,700
University of RedlandsRedlandsCANCAA III MW                    -                       -              560               22 69%             53,716            53,716
University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCANCAA  IMW           32,872            33,366            735               32 16%             60,446            60,446
University of the PacificStocktonCANCAA  IMW           16,876            28,301            610               26 71%             51,628            51,628
Ventura CollegeVenturaCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                     1,344               8,092
West Valley CollegeSaratogaCACCCAAMW                    -                       -                     1,380            10,590
Westcliff UniversityIrvineCANAIAMW           14,199            13,437 72%             16,500            16,500
Whittier CollegeWhittierCANCAA III MW                    -                       -         72%             48,924            48,924
U.S. Air Force AcademyColorado SpringsCONCAA  IM           675               31 13% full  ride 
Connecticut CollegeNew LondonCTNCAA III MW                    -                       -              695               32 38%             60,420            60,420
George Washington UniversityWashingtonDCNCAA  IM            20,749            27,570            680               32 43%             59,780            59,780
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonoluluHINCAA  IW           22,675            21,842            585               24 84%             11,304            33,336
Augustana CollegeRock IslandILNCAA III MW                    -                       -         57%             46,039            46,039
McKendree UniversityLebanonILNCAA II MW             5,724              6,250            540               23 70%             31,700            31,700
Indiana UniversityBloomingtonINNCAA  IW           24,494            21,347            620               28 80%               9,913            36,932
Harvard UniversityCambridgeMANCAA  IMW                    -                       -              770               34 5%             51,143            51,143
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMANCAA III M                    -                       -              790               35 7%             55,510            55,510
Wheaton CollegeNortonMANCAA III MW                    -                       -              625               30 77%             57,700            57,700
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMDNCAA III M                    -                       -              775               35 11%             58,720            58,720
Mount St Mary's UniversityEmmitsburgMDNCAA  IMW             9,731            11,303            527               22 80%             43,250            43,250
U.S. Naval AcademyAnnapolisMDNCAA  IM           680               31 9% full  ride 
University of MichiganAnn ArborMINCAA  IW           30,573            26,088            730               33 26%             15,850            52,904
Macalester CollegeSaint PaulMNNCAA III W                    -                       -              685               31 39%             60,288            60,288
Princeton UniversityPrincetonNJNCAA  IMW                    -                       -              770               34 6%             56,010            56,010
Fordham UniversityBronxNYNCAA  IM           24,451            31,565            660               30 53%             54,730            54,730
Iona CollegeNew RochelleNYNCAA  IMW           13,499            13,050            545               24 86%             40,628            40,628
Long Island UniversityBrooklynNYNCAA  IMW           19,761            20,151            595               26 85%             37,296            37,296
Marist CollegePoughkeepsieNYNCAA  IW             7,578            12,700       55%             42,650            42,650
Siena CollegeLoudonvilleNYNCAA  IW           14,878            21,271       81%             39,925            39,925
St Francis CollegeBrooklyn HeightsNYNCAA  IMW           11,662            13,583            500               20 85%             27,188            27,188
Utica CollegeUticaNYNCAA III W                    -                       -         86%             23,264            23,264
Wagner CollegeStaten IslandNYNCAA  IMW           17,144            19,758       70%             48,730            48,730
Wittenberg UniversitySpringfieldOHNCAA III W                    -                       -         97%             41,442            41,442
Bucknell UniversityLewisburgPANCAA  IMW           18,128            22,498            680               30 38%             59,474            59,474
Gannon UniversityEriePANCAA II MW             8,925              6,817            545               23 79%             33,560            33,560
Grove City CollegeGrove CityPANCAA IIIW           611               27 78%             19,310            19,310
La Salle UniversityPhiladelphiaPANCAA  I  W           10,247            11,453       76%             32,000            32,000
Mercyhurst UniversityEriePANCAA II MW           14,253            15,271       88%             39,750            39,750
Penn State - Erie-Behrend CollegeEriePANCAA III MW                    -                       -   5952589%             15,388            25,854
Saint Francis UniversityLorettoPANCAA  IW           15,493            16,916            550               24 59%             38,852            38,852
Villanova UniversityVillanovaPANCAA  IW           22,853            19,304            710               32 31%             58,290            58,290
Washington & Jefferson CollegeWashingtonPANCAA III MW                    -                       -         90%             49,612            49,612
Brown UniversityProvidenceRINCAA  IMW                    -                       -              760               34 8%             60,944            60,944
Austin CollegeShermanTXNCAA III MW                    -                       -              600               26 49%             43,340            43,340
Virginia Military InstituteLexingtonVANCAA  IW           12,204              8,177            575               25 60%               9,782            38,436
Carthage CollegeKenoshaWINCAA III W                    -                       -              560               24 77%             33,000            33,000
Salem UniversitySalemWVNCAA II MW             6,314              9,360              12,750            12,990

 

# of Schools with varsity Water Polo teams by State 2022-23

# of Schools with varsity Water Polo
teams by State 2022-23
TotalNCAA INCAA IINCAA IIICCCAANAIA
California              84 19
                6               12 443
Pennsylvania                9 4                2                 3
New York                8 7                1
Maryland                3 2                1
Massachusetts                3 1                2
Arizona                2 11
Illinois                2                 1                 1
Colorado                1 1
Connecticut                1                 1
District of Columbia                1 1
Hawaii                1 1
Indiana                1 1
Michigan                1 1
Minnesota                1                 1
New Jersey                1 1
Ohio                1                 1
Rhode Island                1 1
Texas                1                 1
Virginia                1 1
West Virginia                1                 1
Wisconsin                1                 1
Totals125421025444