University of Maryland to Guarantee Athletic Scholarships Through Graduation

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The University of Maryland says it will start guaranteeing scholarships to student-athletes until they graduate, regardless of injury or on-field performance.

Maryland announced Tuesday that the guaranteed scholarships will begin this November. They will go to athletes in all sports, not just the so-called revenue sports of football and basketball.

NCAA rules allow scholarships to be renewed on a year-to-year basis and reduced or canceled for any reason. Critics have argued that such policies undermine the NCAA’s argument that revenue-generating athletes should not be paid. Earlier this month, a federal judge issued an injunction that paves the way for future college football and basketball players to get monetary compensation.

Maryland says it’s one of the first Division I schools to guarantee scholarships for athletes in all sports.