Professional video gaming, commonly known as esports, is gaining traction at universities nationwide, with an anticipated 30 million Americans expected to watch esports this year, as per researchers’ estimates.
To capitalize on this flourishing industry, several universities are investing substantial amounts, ranging from thousands to millions of dollars, in constructing state-of-the-art esports facilities. Juan Bohorquez, an alum of the Illinois Institute of Technology, played a pivotal role in initiating the esports program at the institution in 2018. Reflecting on the growth of esports, Bohorquez remarked, “When I graduated, I got to see the growth as a whole, from there being high school, collegiate, and even professional competitions.”
Illinois Tech administrators have witnessed a surge in esports’ popularity on campus, prompting plans for the expansion of the program’s facilities. April Welch, the director of esports at Illinois Tech, noted that a significant portion of the players major in computer science or business, with their gaming experience translating into various professional opportunities. Welch stated, “There are content creators, coaches, psychologists, all the jobs that you would think about.”
Miami University boasts one of the nation’s top-ranked esports programs, described by program co-director Glenn Platt as “the sport that defines the college generation.” Platt explained that schools are recruiting esports players, and offering scholarships similar to those provided to traditional athletes. Esports scholarships are sought after by students, some of whom play for recreation, while others aspire to turn professional.
Esports Insider reports that top-level players can earn millions annually from their organizations, contingent on viewer numbers. For instance, in the game VALORANT, players often earn between $20,000 and $40,000 monthly, according to Digiday.
Isaiah Perez, coordinator of Illinois Tech’s Esports and Digital Arts program, highlighted that the university typically offers merit scholarships of approximately $5,000 per year to recruit players. Presently, the program boasts 100 competitive gamers participating in at least nine titles, ranging from Super Smash Brothers to Counter-Strike. Despite the program’s growth, Perez emphasized that opportunities for casual gamers are also available, stating, “We are trying to open those doors up to those casual gamers, making sure that the students who recreationally want to be involved without [the] program have that space.”
