Collegiate Skating

COLLEGIATE SKATING

At colleges and universities across the country, figure skaters build on the foundations developed through childhood and high school skating programs. Browse below to learn more about collegiate skating opportunities.

COLLEGIATE SKATING GUIDEBOOK

Figure skating doesn’t have to end after high school. In fact, thousands of dedicated figure skaters across the country represent their colleges and universities as they continue to progress through their personal skating journeys - some even going on to promising post-graduate careers with Team USA.

Whether you have been skating since you were young, learned to skate in college or are returning to the ice after a long absence from the sport, U.S. Figure Skating's collegiate programs are a great opportunity to make friends with shared interests, assimilate to a new life at school, obtain leadership skills and stay in shape, regardless of level or experience.

More than 100 colleges and universities offer some type of skating program. The level and commitment to the program varies by school, but there are many opportunities to stay involved. Click here for the most up-to-date list of colleges and universities with figure skating programs. Don't see the school you want to go to listed? Starting your own team is a great way to learn valuable leadership and business skills.

COLLEGIATE SKATING OPPORTUNITIES

As a collegiate athlete, you can participate in all of these opportunities:

U.S. Figure Skating collegiate membership, four-year full membership at a reduced rate
U.S. Collegiate Figure Skating Championships & Invitational
Intercollegiate team competitions
Synchronized skating
Stay involved - be a coach, judge, technical panel official, accountant, etc.
Leadership roles - collegiate club president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, etc.

Intercollegiate

Intercollegiate competitions are governed by U.S. Figure Skating's Collegiate Skating Subcommittee. The country is divided into four conferences: Pacific Coast, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast. The intercollegiate competitive season runs October through March, with two to three competitions held in each conference, concluding with the National Intercollegiate Final, held each spring.

Intercollegiate team skating appeals to lots of skaters because it is a team-driven sport, and individuals representing their collegiate organizations are welcomed and encouraged. For many athletes, the highlight of the season is qualifying for the National Intercollegiate Final - when athletes from all over the country come together for a cross-section competition.

U.S. Collegiate Championships & Invitational

Started in 1985, the U.S. Collegiate Championships is the longest running of all the collegiate figure skating programs. Each summer, the event welcomes full-time college students from all over the country to participate. In 2022, the competition was expanded to offer an invitational for Excel Free Skate, Short Program, and Solo Dance. Skaters competing in the Junior and Senior combined events have the potential to win a one-time monetary scholarship based on placement.

The competitors find a friendly atmosphere and make lots of new friends who share their love for figure skating. In addition, skaters get a chance to learn about U.S. Figure Skating activities, volunteer opportunities in figure skating, coaching, forming collegiate clubs on their campuses and even try their hand at trial judging.

Learn More About the U.S. Collegiate Championships

Collegiate Synchronized Skating

There are two divisions for college-aged synchronized skaters - collegiate synchronized skating and open collegiate synchronized skating.

A collegiate synchronized skating team consists of 12-20 skaters. Skaters must be enrolled in a university, college or degree program as full-time students, and each member must have passed the U.S. Figure Skating bronze skating skills test. Collegiate synchronized skating teams can compete at qualifying competitions with the opportunity to advance and compete at the collegiate level in the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships.

An open collegiate synchronized skating team consists of 8-20 skaters. This team does not have any test level requirements, however all skaters must be enrolled in a university, college or degree program as full-time students. Open collegiate teams may compete at the Sectional Championships but do not advance to the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships.

Collegiate Ambassador Program

The Collegiate Ambassador Program was created in 2020 as a way for collegiate skaters to serve in a leadership position and work closely with U.S. Figure Skating staff and committees in order to promote and grow collegiate skating in the United States. They should be dedicated to sharing their passion for the sport with others and willing to give back to their community and sport as whole. They should also act as leaders and role models for young skaters around the country.

There are currently twelve Collegiate Ambassadors, representing intercollegiate teams and collegiate/open collegiate synchronized skating teams from around the country.

See a list of collegiate skating opportunities

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