California Offers In-State Tuition to Athletes Training for the L.A. Olympics

Elite athletes training for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will have a chance to get a college degree — for a much more affordable cost, thanks to the state of California.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill in September 2022 that would allow Team USA student-athletes training in the state to be classified as “residents” for college tuition and fee purposes until they have lived in California long enough to officially become residents.

Team USA student-athletes can get in-state tuition after they certify their participation in an Olympic or Paralympic elite-level training program with their chosen campus at California State University (CSU), the University of California (UC), or the California Community Colleges, according to the bill text.

Nineteen athletes have been awarded in-state tuition in California since the legislation was passed, according to Carrie White, vice president of athlete development and engagement at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

The UC system, particularly UCLA and UC San Diego, are the most popular universities for athletes.

The legislation was initially sponsored by the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LA28).

“Athletes are at the heart of what we do at the LA28 Games and there has never been a more important time to support athletes on and off the field of play,” Janet Evans, five-time Olympic medalist and chief athlete officer for LA28, said in a 2022 statement to BestColleges.

“It’s important to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and our partners to work towards providing a pathway to affordable education and long-term success for athletes beyond the Games.”

Former Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, who previously chaired the Select Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the state Legislature, authored the bill.

In a 2022 email interview with BestColleges, Nazarian’s legislative aide Vincenzo Caporale said the bill was, “simply the right thing to do.”

“[Team USA] athletes have dedicated formative years to representing our country on the world stage,” he said. “The least we can do is provide them with in-state tuition to pursue an education while they train so that they will have the education to fall back on when their Olympic career concludes.”

Team USA, the USOPC, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic National Governing Body Council, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Athlete Advisory Council all endorsed the California legislation.

“For so many athletes, staying connected to their education (college, post-grad, etc.) is a grounding force, and it also allows them the balance (in) the pursuit of their athletic dreams without sacrificing future ambitions,” White said in a 2022 statement to BestColleges.

“Removing financial barriers to athletes considering higher education is a huge opportunity for them, and is directly in line with our mission of competitive excellence and well-being.”

While Olympic training schedules depend on each sport’s national governing body, certain national teams and individuals, such as USA artistic swimming, are already training in California.

“The bill is expected to have a significant impact on Los Angeles and California by incentivizing top talent to come here for their Olympic training and schooling,” Caporale said. “This is critical not only for a successful 2028 Olympics but also to potentially retain many of these talented individuals, California and Los Angeles will benefit well beyond the 2028 games.”

Tuition and fees for residents and nonresident students in California can vary substantially.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, the estimated average cost for a resident student living on a UC campus is $42,236. For non-residents, the price increases to $76,436.

Students attending CSU campuses will pay $6,084 in base tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year, with nonresident students required to pay an additional $420 per semester unit for ‘nonresident tuition.'”

White said that the cost of higher education combined with the vigorous time commitment makes college out of reach for some Olympic student-athletes.

“Some are able to stay connected remotely, [while] others take leave while they are training and competing. The demands on Olympic and Paralympic athletes can make it hard to find a balance that works …,” she explained in her 2022 statement. “The initial reaction is strong already, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer this resource to Team USA.”

Other states have also passed legislation to support Team USA student-athletes in higher education, according to the USOPC.

In 2017, Colorado passed similar legislation offering Team USA athletes who train in Colorado in-state tuition at state universities and community colleges, including the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

Utah also offers in-state tuition at the University of Utah, Utah State University, and Salt Lake City Community College to Team USA athletes who live and train in the state.

“The beauty of this legislation is that it gives elite athletes more options and access to affordable education while they pursue their athletic dreams …,” Evans said. “This is especially true for Paralympic hopefuls and Olympic hopefuls in non-NCAA sports who may not be eligible for athletic scholarships. This in-state tuition bill helps level the playing field for these hard-working elite athletes.”

In total, more than 100 athletes have been awarded in-state tuition in Colorado and Utah between 2022 and 2024, with many of them utilizing the discounted tuition for multiple years, according to White.

The USOPC also offers tuition grants for eligible Team USA athletes. Qualified athletes and alumni can apply for up to $4,500 annually to help cover tuition expenses for various educational pathways, such as traditional undergraduate and graduate degrees, industry-specific certificates, and professional development courses.

In 2024, more than 250 athletes received tuition grants, 62 of whom received funding for nontraditional education pathways outside of undergraduate or graduate studies.

“It was really important to us that it’s not just education in the traditional sense of an undergraduate degree or a graduate degree, but it’s even broader, acknowledging the current landscape of education to include nontraditional education,” White said.

Additionally, this April, the UCOPC and LA28 announced a partnership with the Guild educational platform. The collaboration offers eligible Team USA athletes and alumni access to more than 300 tuition-free and partially funded tuition programs through a variety of schools and learning providers, including Purdue Global and eCornell.

“People ask me all the time, ‘What do [Team USA athletes] want to study?’ And I say, ‘Everything, I can’t just give you a list of three things that they want to study,'” White said. “To be able to have over 300 different educational programs that they can choose from, from a variety of learning providers, is incredible.”