UCLA's Alston awards offered to athletes on at least 10% scholarship

UCLA athletes who receive a scholarship equivalency of at least 10% will be eligible for the school’s Bruin Academic and Service Achievement Awards. These education-related financial awards are often referred to as Alston awards, following the Supreme Court of the United States’ 9-0 ruling in the NCAA v. Alston case in June 2021.

According to a copy of UCLA’s Alston awards policy, obtained by On3 through a public records request, the awards are based on three “areas of potential success” — academic eligibility and retention, GPA, and development and service.

Athletes can receive up to $1,993 per quarter for the fall, winter and spring quarters, up to the maximum allowable amount of $5,980 annually. The awards will be proportionate to an athlete’s scholarship equivalency. Athletes must be an active member of their respective teams, while those who have medically retired are still eligible if they’re within five years of first-time enrollment.

UCLA quarterback Chase Griffin previously told On3 in an email, “I’d like to stress that the one thing that will help all athletes, more than NIL, is funding the Alston stipends this year. That is honestly more than most athletes are making on NIL.”

The NIL technology company Opendorse found that among NIL deals completed or disclosed through its platform from July 1, 2021 through Aug. 31, 2022, Division I athletes earned an average of $3,063.

UCLA’s Alston awards policy says that “upon an evaluation of the student-athlete’s total aid package, awards will be issued either on a quarterly basis or as a graduation incentive. Financial aid rules and regulations will guide payment options.”

At the time of publishing, multiple UCLA athletic department staff members haven’t responded to emails regarding what criteria determine whether payments are made quarterly or upon graduation.

Athletes who leave UCLA prior to graduation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Athletes who have been indefinitely suspended aren’t eligible for Alston awards. Those who have a pending student conduct issue will be evaluated individually to determine their award eligibility.

UCLA’s Alston awards include point system

Based on a point system, athletes at UCLA must earn at least six points in a quarter to receive the award for that quarter. Two of the required six points must be earned through the athlete earning the NCAA’s eligibility and retention points for the calculation of the program’s Academic Progress Rate (APR).

According to UCLA’s Alston awards policy, “the remaining points are earned through any combination of GPA and/or development or service participation.”

Under a column titled “Additional 2pts,” the criteria include earning a quarter GPA of 2.5 in eight graded units, a cumulative GPA of 2.5 after three full-time terms, participation at a student-athlete development or campus event, and participation in two hours of community service.

Athletes are required to submit a service/development form to confirm their participation.

Under the four-point column, UCLA’s Alston awards policy lists criteria including graduation, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 after three full-time terms and qualifying for the athletic director’s honor roll by earning a quarter GPA of at least 3.0.

There aren’t any partial payments for athletes who only earn two or four points in a quarter.

Here you can read On3’s guide to Alston award policies across the country.