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It’s not as well received as football, but the sport of chess is prevalent in many college campuses across the country. Several colleges have dominant chess clubs, and some of these institutions even recruit and offer scholarships to top ranking chess players. For chess prodigies or just lovers of the game, there’s some great college chess programs out there, and this week I explored some of those better-known programs.
University of Texas at Dallas – Dallas, TX
Niche Grade: A-
Most Popular Majors: Informations Science, Biology, Accounting
The University of Texas at Dallas is home to more than 15,000 students. Not as competitive as some other schools in the state, it has a 62% admission rate, and 72% of current students will graduate on time, and go on to earn around $44,000 of yearly income. The average tuition, including grants, and financial aid, is just under $10,000 a year.
UTD has a highly organized and successful chess program. They offer scholarships called “Chess 1,” “Chess 2,” and “Chess 3”, which award increasing levels of merit aid. They use one’s chess ranking, combined with high school GPA, curriculum, and standardized test scores, in determining scholarship recipients. They’re actively inviting international students to apply for scholarships. UTD has placed first or second several times over the past twenty years in the President’s Cup Competition, which is the collegiate chess club championship. UTD offers youth chess camps in the summer, and hosts youth tournaments periodically during the school year, partly as a way of attracting potential students.
Texas Tech – Lubbock, TX
Niche Grade: A-
Most Popular Majors: Liberal & Humanities, Business, Mechanical Engineering
Texas Tech University is a large public university, with more than 27,000 students currently enrolled. Although highly technical, it’s admission rate of 71% makes it a popular choice, with applicants most commonly choosing a major in liberal arts, and mechanical engineering. The average tuition is just over $15,500, considering grants, and financial aid.
At TTU talent at the checkerboard is highly rewarded, scholarships worth approximately $9,000 per year are offered to a handful of top-notch chess players, who not only have to consider their national rankings, but who also need to have excellent academic backgrounds. One of the goals of the program is to “promote and encourage academic and personal growth, as well as community involvement”, which translates to active efforts from the institution to attract international talent and to involve chess into the campus atmosphere. TTU is a perennial contender for the President’s Cup title, since 2010 they have either won, or ranked highly at the tournament.
Webster University – St. Louis, MO
Niche Grade: B
Most Popular Majors: Business, Computer Science, Communications
The above-average university shows its high standards, with a small student body of almost 2,300 and an admissions rate of 56% An average price tag of $22,700 will also make some thrifty parents think twice about choosing this school, but they also have to consider that after four years, alumni get a starting salary of $33,700.
Webster University’s chess team has won 20 national championships since 1965. They’ve reached the top ranking at the Pan-American Intercollegiate Championship, and three “World Championships”, the World Blitz and twice the World Open. Webster not only has an excellent chess team, it is also home to SPICE- The Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence, where students constantly train under chess Grandmaster Susan Polgar since 2013. The goal of SPICE is “to be the premier center for chess education, research, technology, and outreach in the nation.” In addition to participating on the chess team, Webster students can contribute to SPICE in myriad ways, like assisting with research, or promoting chess tournaments on campus. It’s a great way to get involved with the more diverse aspects of chess as a sport, rather than just playing.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley- Edinburg, TX
Niche Grade: B
Most Popular Majors: Psychology, Biology, Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Management
A popular choice within the state, with a campus packed with over 18,600 enrolled students, and an enrollment rate of 81%. UTRGV shows it’s with their academics, reflected in the sobering fact that only 46% of current students will graduate on time. But time is not the enemy, this institution shows its generosity with 93% of students receiving grants, or some sort of financial aid, resulting in a net yearly tuition of just north of $4,300. The great majority of fresh alumni are received in the workforce with a starting salary of $31,300.
Led by grandmaster Bartek Macieja (Bartłomiej Macieja, The UTRGV Vaqueros chess club and its team roster is stacked with players who are also classified as “Grandmasters” and “International Masters”. The Vaqueros compete in various tournaments worldwide as individuals, and also as part of the team at least four times per year. The club takes pride in offering opportunities for players of all levels, including those who are at the novice and intermediate levels. Although at a first glance the UTRGV doesn’t seem to have a lengthy chess history, it’s important to notice that it’s a merger of the University of Texas Brownsville and Pan American University, both of which had known chess teams, and championship titles.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Baltimore, MD
Niche Grade: A-
Most Popular Majors: Biology, Psychology, Information Science
Located in Catonsville, this top public university fosters 9,500 students enrolled in its classes and courses. UMBC weeds out all but 58% of applicants. The pursuit of chess excellence runs students yearly tuition of $17,000 after grants and financial aid.
UMBC and UTD were the first two U.S. colleges to put aggressive efforts to recruit international students, for the sole purpose of strengthening their local chess teams. PHD. Alan Sherman, the team administrator, loves having high end chess players, since they end up performing extremely well in the classroom, particularly in STEM fields. He has been on the lookout for nascent talent since the 90’s, when he joined UMBC and started promoting the club. UMBC, like UTD, offers three tiers of chess scholarships, with the possibility of a full ride program, and green card applications, all with the notion to attract international young masters.
