Is it safe to send my child to university in the USA?

By Nathan Gillis, founder of Olympic Sports Scholarships and a former NCAA Division I athlete at Lamar and La Salle · Updated October 2026

THE SHORT ANSWERFor most student-athletes, yes. Your child arrives with a ready-made support network of coaches, teammates, athletic trainers and academic advisers, and a daily routine built around training and study. You can check any university's safety record yourself, and the right choice of university and team matters more than the country.

Sending your child to the other side of the world is a big step. As a parent you want to know who will be looking out for them. This is how it works.

They are part of a team from day one

Student-athletes are not arriving alone. They have:

Coaches who see them every day and know when something is wrong
Teammates, often including other international athletes
Athletic trainers for injuries and recovery
Academic advisers who build their timetable around training
A structured week of training, classes and competition

At NCAA Division I, schools must also provide access to mental health services and resources, along with life skills and career support.

Check the university's safety record

US universities that take part in federal student aid programmes must publish an annual security report under the Clery Act, including campus crime statistics. Search the university's name with "annual security report", or ask us and we will find it with you. Look at the campus itself too: a small campus town feels very different from a big city.

International student support

Every university that enrols students on an F-1 student visa has an international student office. It handles visa paperwork, helps students stay in status, and is a point of contact for problems. Your child will also have health insurance arrangements to understand; see what happens if they get injured.

How we help families

We help you choose a university and team that fit your child, not just the biggest offer
We prepare your child for arrival with a pre-arrival guide
We support the visa, I-20 and housing paperwork
We check in regularly once they are in the US, with an allocated consultant

Questions to ask before choosing

How many international athletes are on the team, and can we speak to one?
Where is the campus, and how far is the nearest international airport?
What support does the athletics department give first-year athletes?
Who does my child contact if something goes wrong at night or at a weekend?

Want an honest answer for your child?

Tell us about your child's events, results and grades. We will tell you where they could realistically compete and what kind of scholarship package is likely, with no obligation.

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Quick answers

Is it safe for my child to study in the USA?

For most student-athletes, yes. They join a team with coaches, teammates, trainers and advisers around them, and universities publish campus safety statistics under the Clery Act so you can check before choosing.

How can I check if a US university is safe?

Look for the university's annual security report, which colleges in federal aid programmes must publish under the Clery Act. It includes campus crime statistics. Visit or speak to current athletes if you can.

Who looks after international student-athletes in the US?

Coaches, athletic trainers, academic advisers and the university's international student office. Families who work with us also have an allocated consultant who checks in regularly.