Colorado State to provide student-athletes full cost-of-attendance stipends

Colorado State University will provide student-athletes with a full cost-of-attendance stipend starting on August 1.

“For decades, a full scholarship has been defined as tuition, room, board, books and fees,” said CSU Director of Athletics Joe Parker in a statement. “The demands to balance academics and athletics have grown over that period. Most of our students simply do not have time to engage in part-time or summer employment to supplement the costs of their education. The new stipend is important and helps to address the incidental expenses associated with attending CSU.”

Due to recent legislation passed by the NCAA, Colorado State will be able to provide $654,000 per year for their student athletes. The school is proud to announce their continued efforts to create the best experience for student-athletes by complying with the new NCAA legislation in the first year permissible. According to Parker, the first three-five years of stipends will be paid with the $7M paid back to the school following Jim McElwain’s departure to Florida.

For full scholarship athletes playing in football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and women’s tennis, a $2,400 stipend will be given for in-state students and $3,100 to those from out-of-state. Those in equivalency sports, like golf, cross country, softball, swimming and diving as well as track and field will receive a percentage of the full stipend which will equal the percentage of a full scholarship they already receive. These all fall within regulations set by the CSU Financial Aid office to comply with federal regulations.

This is major news; schools are beginning to pay their athletes. Which means they’ll be more fairly compensated and it means the product on the court/field may improve with athletes no longer needing to work a job as well as attend class, study, practice and so on.