2025-26 Collegiate Competitor Guide

Updated January 21, 2026

The USA Climbing Collegiate Series provides access for undergraduate or graduate students that are currently enrolled at a college or university to compete in Boulder, Lead and Speed climbing.

1. SEASON OVERVIEW

For competitors planning to request funds from their clubs or universities, below is a table of estimated fees for the 2025-26 season. Travel, equipment, and gym memberships are not included.

*average of 2024-25 registration fees: $25-$80

New for 2025-26

• CNQE registration will be discipline specific. Competitors will no longer be automatically registered for both disciplines.
• Event registrations will take place on a new platform.
• No refunds for QEs. Please review the USA Climbing Registration Policy for details.
• Registration opens 14 days before event.

2. USA CLIMBING MEMBERSHIPS: COLLEGIATE AND COLLEGIATE RECREATION

All competitors must create an account in the USA Climbing Member Portal and have an active USA Climbing Membership to compete. Instructions for setting up or renewing a membership can be found at usaclimbing.org/memberships.

Participating at Events Outside of your Division

Collegiate competitors can participate at events outside of their selected Collegiate Division.

Proof of Enrollment

USA Climbing will begin to accept and approve Proof of Enrollment submissions beginning on September 1, 2025.  This must be uploaded when purchasing a Collegiate or Collegiate Recreational Membership.

Your Proof of Enrollment is submitted in your USA Climbing Member Portal. For step-by-step instructions, visit usaclimbing.org/compete/collegiate-series/#proof.

For more details, please review the Membership Policy on the Rules and Policies page.

3. REGISTER FOR AN EVENT

Registrations for all USAC-sanctioned competitions will take place in the USA Climbing Result Service. But first, your Collegiate Membership must be completed through your USA Climbing Member Portal.

For more details, please visit https://usaclimbing.org/compete/#register.

Find An Event

Visit the Collegiate Series events page on usaclimbing.org/compete/collegiate-series/ to find events in the US.

If you have not received a confirmation email after 15 minutes, contact collegiateseries@usaclimbing.org.

For more details, please review the Event Registration Policy on the Rules and Policies page.

4. COLLEGIATE CATEGORIES

Collegiate competitors self-select the category they will climb at Qualification Events (QE) and Collegiate National Qualification (CNQE).

5. QUALIFICATION EVENTS (QE)

Refer to our Collegiate Qualification Events for USA Climbing sanctioned events and recognized non-USA Climbing collegiate competition.

6. COLLEGIATE NATIONALS QUALIFICATION EVENT (CNQE)

Qualification for the CNQE is achieved by competing in a QE or Recognized event.

• All QE participants will be qualified in both boulder and lead disciplines at a CNQE.
• Proof of Enrollment is required at registration.
• Must have a Collegiate Membership
• May compete at a CNQE anywhere in the country and are limited to competing at one single CNQE
• Registration will be discipline specific.
• At registration, competitors must choose Advanced or Intermediate category.

See the Collegiate Nationals Qualification Event Guide for details.

7. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2026 Collegiate National Championships will be in Kennesaw, GA on May 21-24, 2026 at the Central Rock Gym Kennesaw.

For more details, please visit the Collegiate National Championships page.

8. SCHOLARSHIPS

USA Climbing is offering two scholarship opportunities to our Collegiate Members:

• Climbing Ambassador Scholarships
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarships

USA Climbing will be awarding $3,000 in scholarships: first place $1,000 and second place $500 for each scholarship.

Applications open October 4, 2025 and close February 1, 2026.

For more details, visit usaclimbing.org/compete/collegiate-series/2026-collegiate-scholarships/.

9. TEAM ROSTER

Team rosters are being developed in the USA Climbing Result Service. Just like last year, team rosters will be automatically created from the school you selected in your USA Climbing membership. Team captains will be able to remove members from their team roster.

For more details, please visit the Collegiate Team Roster page.

10. TEAM PAYMENT

Schools will be able to pay for team discount codes in their USA Climbing Account. Please allocate an appropriate amount of time to complete this process.

Steps for Membership purchases:

1. Log into your USA Climbing Member Portal.
2. Use the Profile dropdown and choose Discount Codes
3. Click on Add Discount Codes button
4. Choose the discount code increment ($5 to $100)
5. In Discount Code Details, choose the quantity needed (1 to 10)
6. Repeat Steps 4 to 5 as needed
7. Checkout and pay

Once you’ve received the confirmation email, forward it madeleine@usaclimbing.org with the following information so we can generate your discount codes:

• Collegiate Division
• School Name
• Membership Quantity
• Qualification Event Name and Quantity

Team Distributes Codes to Members

The school will distribute the codes generated by USA Climbing to its members. For members to receive the discount, codes must be applied during the member’s checkout.

Schools are also able to create a USA Climbing Account to pay for team discount codes.

11. PARTICIPANT ACCIDENT COVERAGE

USA Climbing’s Participant Accident Coverage policy is supplemental to an individual’s primary insurance and may assist in covering out of pocket expenses for injuries sustained at USA Climbing sanctioned events.  For more detailed information, click on the link above.

12. 2026 FISU WORLD UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sport Climbing will not be included in the 2026 FISU World University Championships. We know many of you look forward to this event every other year, and we share your disappointment. Rest assured, we will continue advocating for its future inclusion.

13. RESOURCES

Our volunteer Collegiate Divisional Coordinators are available to answer your questions.  Visit your division’s page for their email.

Contacts

Collegiate Series Manager: Madeleine Palmer, madeleine@usaclimbing.org

Collegiate National Coordinator: Jeff Cass, jcass.usac@gmail.com

Links

• USA Climbing Collegiate Series
• Rulebook and Policies
• Competition Resources