FGCU Expands Swimming Scholarships from 11 to 18 After House Settlement

Following a House settlement that eliminated NCAA Division I scholarship limits, Florida Gulf Coast University will add seven swimming and diving scholarships, bringing their total from 11 to 18.

The university will now provide $20.5 million to student-athletes — a notable amount considering they only receive $17.5 million annually. The scholarship budget across all sports programs increased by 40%.

Expenses vary dramatically based on students' residency. In-state students pay $6,118 per semester, while out-of-state students face a much higher $25,162 fee. Currently, 29 athletes compete on FGCU's swim team.

FGCU's swim program has made significant progress since its 2007 launch. Coach Dave Rollins has led the women's program since 2016. The team now competes in NCAA Championship A-Finals and recently secured second place at the ASUN conference championship. With 29 athletes on the swimming and diving roster, the additional scholarships will help student-athletes pay for their tuition.

After the settlement overturned previous restrictions, numerous schools have made similar moves. Both Ohio State and Texas increased funding for their athletes as well.

Swimming adds to FGCU's athletic success story. In 2013, their basketball team made headlines as a No. 15 seed by defeating Georgetown and San Diego State to reach the Sweet 16.