For many young athletes, success often means having agents and sponsors represent them and the tempation to go “pro” and get paid for their athletic success seems to be always tempting.

But there is a “flip side” to that coin. Once an athlete accepts money for their sport, they forgo their NCAA eligibility for college scholarships. The cost of college is an ever growing concern for parents and many people cannot afford to pay for college in the United States without some form of financial aid. It's no secret that like everything else, the cost of an education has risen in the past 30 years.

In 2001, the average cost of tuition including room and board was $10,711 for a four-year public institution. Today, the total cost of college at a public institution will run about $22,261, of course, costs increase depending on if you are attending school in state or as an out of state student. An NCAA athletic scholarship is a good way to offset the costs and it's often a good way for athletes to still be involved in the sport they love, but without the pressure cooker of the elite scene. 2008 Olympic Champion Nastia Liukin has admitted to feeling lost and confused after her Olympic win, having quite literally her whole life revolve around training, competing and training and competing and winning,

For NCAA college gymnastics, first and foremost, the athletes compete as a team and then as individuals. It's an environment many former elite gymnasts thrive in. It's also a way for them to continue with the sport they love. Since the NCAA uses the Junior Olympic code as opposed to the FIG code of points, which the elites are easier. NCAA gymnastics is also a team oriented atmosphere.

For some, the college athletic scene is not what they want. Jordyn Wieber's coach, John Geddert was quoted with his foot in his mouth when Jordyn went pro saying that she wouldn't have been happy “performing watered down routines, fourteen weeks a year.” With as many opportunities and endorsment's Jordyn's had, Jordyn can certainly afford to pay for her college education she's embarked on at UCLA.

In her book, Winning Balance, Shawn Johnson said that after Chow's flooded days before she was due to compete at the Olympic Trials in Philadelphia, her sponsors from Coca-Cola stepped in to help offset the costs of repairs from the flood waters. Shawn also went on Dancing With the Stars, and won the competition scoring the million dollar prize in 2009. In 2012, Shawn went on the all-stars show and came in second. Both opportunities she may not have experienced had she not gone “pro”.