2025-26 Collegiate Competitor Guide
Updated September 12, 2025
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.
- SEASON OVERVIEW
QUALIFICATION EVENTS (QE) | ||
October 4, 2025 to February 28, 2026 | Competitors must have an active Collegiate or Collegiate Recreation Membership | Register for a USAC-sanctioned Collegiate Qualification Event(s) in the country Compete at a recognized event |
COLLEGIATE NATIONALS QUALIFICATION EVENTS (CNQEs) | ||
1-2 events will be held in each Division on:
| All QE competitors are eligible. Proof of enrollment required at the time of registration | Register for a CNQE anywhere in the country May only register for/compete at a single CNQE |
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS | ||
TBD | At each CNQE, the following competitors will be eligible in all disciplines (Boulder, Lead/TR and Speed) at Nationals: - Top 8 in the Advanced category - Top 5 in the Intermediate category | |
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.
ESTIMATED FEES | |
USA Climbing Membership | $65 |
QE Registration Fee* | $49 |
CNQE Registration Fee | $145 |
National Championship Registration Fee (2 disciplines) | $280 |
Estimated Total | $539 |
*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.
- Team payment can be used for membership purchases only.
- 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.
COLLEGIATE Membership | COLLEGIATE RECREATION Membership | |
USA Climbing Membership Fee | $65 | $35 |
Membership Requirements | Complete SafeSport Training (allow 2-3 hrs) Submit Proof of Enrollment Select Collegiate Division | |
Accepted at Qualification Events | Yes | Yes |
Accepted at Collegiate Nationals Qualification Event | Yes | No |
Accepted at National Championship | Yes | |
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:
Refer to our Membership Policy on the policy page.
- REGISTER FOR AN EVENT
Registrations for all USAC-sanctioned competitions will take place on Vertical Life. But first, your Collegiate Membership must be completed through your USA Climbing Member Portal.
Membership (through USA Climbing Member Portal)
Competitors must have an active Collegiate or Collegiate Recreation Membership at the time of registration. Log into the USA Climbing Member Portal.
Vertical Life Account
Follow instructions to Create your Athlete Profile in Vertical Life.
Registration (Vertical Life)
Additional instruction will be provided soon: https://usaclimbing.org/compete/#register
If you have not received a confirmation email after 15 minutes, contact collegiateseries@usaclimbing.org.
Find An Event
Visit the Collegiate Series events page on usaclimbing.org/compete/collegiate-series/ to find events in the US.
For additional information, refer to our Registration Policy on the policy page.
- COLLEGIATE CATEGORIES
Collegiate competitors self-select the category they will climb at Qualification Events (QE) and Collegiate National Qualification (CNQE).
Advanced | Intermediate | |
Description | Compete with the best collegiate climbers in the country Become a member of the Collegiate National Team Represent the USA at the World University Games (if the event occurs in the same year as nationals) | Attended less than 10 USAC events New to climbing Introduction to competitive climbing |
Lead/TR | Lead: 5.10+ - 5.13b/c | Top Rope: 5.9 - 5.11c/d Lead: Little to no competition experience |
Boulder | v6 - v9+ | v1 - v6 |
- QUALIFICATION EVENTS (QE)
Refer to our Collegiate Qualification Events for USA Climbing sanctioned events and recognized non-USA Climbing collegiate competition.
- 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.
Additional information will be provided soon.
- NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Information on the 2026 Collegiate National Championships will be provided here when available.
- 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 information, visit usaclimbing.org/compete/collegiate-series/2026-collegiate-scholarships/.
- TEAM ROSTER
Collegiate Team roster information will be provided here when available.
- TEAM PAYMENT
Schools will be able to pay for team discount codes in your USA Climbing Account. Please allocate an appropriate amount of time to complete this process. Until further notice, this can only be used for membership purchases.
Steps for Membership purchases:
- Log into your USA Climbing Member Portal.
- Use the Profile dropdown and choose Discount Codes
- Click on Add Discount Codes button
- Choose the discount code increment ($5 to $100)
- In Discount Code Details, choose the quantity needed (1 to 10)
- Repeat Steps 4 to 5 as needed
- 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 (we are unable to process event registrations until further notice)
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.
- 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.
- 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