ESA for Student-Athletes

How athletes can maximize their ESA benefits

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The Athlete Equation

For student-athletes, ESA changes the math:

Before ESA:

• Private school tuition: $8,000-15,000/year
• PLUS training costs: $3,000-10,000/year
• Total: $11,000-25,000/year

With ESA:

• Private school tuition: $0 (covered by ESA)
• Training costs: $3,000-10,000/year
• Total: $3,000-10,000/year

You're not paying for school AND training. You're just paying for training — same as any athlete at any school.

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What ESA Covers for Athletes

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What Athletes Pay Separately

This is the same for every athlete, at every school. ESA covers education. Training is always a separate expense.

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The ISP Advantage for Athletes

Problem: Traditional School Schedule

Most schools require 6-7 hours of in-person attendance. Athletes squeeze training around school:

• 5:30 AM workouts (before school)
• After-school training (tired, rushed)
• Weekends (no recovery time)

Solution: ISP's 2-Hour Model

ISP academics take ~2 focused hours per day. Athletes get:

• Time to train — Peak hours, not scraps
• Time to recover — Sleep, nutrition, rest
• Time to compete — No conflict with school schedule

And tuition is covered by ESA. You're not paying extra for flexibility.

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Funding Your Training (Outside ESA)

Since ESA doesn't cover athletic training, here's how families typically fund it:

Option 1: ISP Training Credits

ISP offers $100/month in Training Credits — funds you can use at approved training facilities. This is separate from ESA and helps offset training costs.

Option 2: Savings from ESA

If you were previously paying private school tuition out-of-pocket, ESA frees up that money. Redirect it to training.

Example:

• Previously: $8,000 tuition + $5,000 training = $13,000/year
• With ESA: $0 tuition + $5,000 training = $5,000/year
• Savings: $8,000 — Use for more/better training

Option 3: Part-Time Work

With ISP's flexible schedule, older athletes can work part-time and fund their own training.

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Athlete-Specific ESA Tips

1. Don't Try to Use ESA for Training

It won't work. Training expenses will be rejected. Save yourself the hassle.

2. Maximize the Academic Benefits

ESA covers:

• ACT/SAT prep courses (educational)
• AP exam fees (builds college resume)
• Tutoring (if you need academic support)

Strong academics = better college options = better athletic opportunities.

3. Plan for College

Athletes pursuing college sports need:

• NCAA-eligible coursework (ISP provides this)
• Strong test scores (ESA covers test fees)
• Academic credentials (for academic scholarships)

ESA helps fund the academic side. You focus on athletic development.

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NCAA Eligibility & ESA

ESA has no impact on NCAA eligibility. What matters:

ESA is education funding, not athletic benefits. It doesn't affect your amateur status.

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Common Questions

Q: Can I use ESA for sports camps?

A: Generally no. Sports camps are athletic, not educational. However, if a camp has an educational component AND is offered by an approved Odyssey vendor, check with Iowa DOE.

Q: Can I use ESA for sports psychology?

A: Possibly. If it's provided by a licensed educational therapist and framed as cognitive/emotional support (not athletic performance), it may qualify. Check the vendor marketplace.

Q: Can I use ESA for nutrition coaching?

A: Generally no. Nutrition for athletic performance is not an eligible educational expense.

Q: What about Driver's Ed?

A: No. Driver's education is not an eligible ESA expense, even though it's educational.

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The Bottom Line

ESA removes the financial barrier to quality education. For athletes, this means:

1. Access to flexible schooling — Without paying premium tuition
2. More resources for training — Money freed from tuition
3. Better academic outcomes — Which matter for college sports

ISP + ESA = World-class academics + time to train + $0 tuition.

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Related Topics

• What Is ESA? →
• Eligible Expenses →
• Training Credits →
• How ISP Works →

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