Deciding which college to attend is one of the most important decisions high school students have to make, so making early plans is never a bad idea. Cheerleaders that attend camp also have an extra bonus: The College Visit! Think about it—you spend days enjoying the campus during training, checking out the cafeteria and the fitness center—so you see so much more than you even could on a one-day trip with mom and dad. We’ve put together a list of colleges and universities that host camps for the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA), the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA), the United Spirit Association (USA), the Universal Dance Association (UDA), and the National Dance Alliance (NDA).   These schools rank as some of the top universities in the country with gorgeous campuses, great facilities, high academic standards, successful athletic programs, and all of the features that make a great university experience. Check out our list, which we’ve grouped by region, and plan a camp destination that will motivate the upperclassmen on your squad for college!

WEST

• UCLA – Located in Los Angeles, California, UCLA is one of the world's premier universities. UCLA offers 131 undergraduate majors in five academic divisions. With top notch academics, exceptional sports, and the look of what true college life is all about, your experience at UCLA will make you want to graduate high school and move on to a university! The three NCA camp sessions at UCLA offer a fun, exciting environment with the chance to see the great California campus. UCA holds six sessions here. For dance, NDA has one session, UDA has three sessions, and USA has three sessions to choose from.

• Sacramento State – Sac State’s slogan, “Leadership Begins Here,” is the true meaning of this vibrant metropolitan university. Sac is one of the largest campuses in California and holds one of the highest education values. This school also has some of the lowest student fees in the nation. San Francisco, the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, the historic gold country, and the Lake Tahoe ski slopes are all just a drive away from this magnificent campus! UCA holds four sessions, and USA cheer and USA dance both offer one session.

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SOUTHWEST

• University of Texas – The University of Texas at Austin is the largest institution of the university of Texas system. UT is a major research university which is home to more than 50,000 students, 2,900 faculty, and 21,000 staff members. Because of its high academic quality and relatively low cost, UT is consistently cited as one of the best values in American higher education. Known for its extreme and victorious athletic teams, the University of Texas has claimed over 47 team championships since 1949 and was represented by athletes this summer at the Olympic Games in Beijing, by winning 14 metals. With six exciting UCA sessions and one UDA session to choose from, you can easily find the perfect camp for your team at UT!

• Texas A&M University – From the beginning in 1876 as Texas’ first public institution of higher learning, to a busy 5,000 acre campus with 48,000 plus students attending, Texas A&M is a nationally recognized university with degree programs that rank in the top 10 in the country. With an enrollment of half men and half women, 7,471 are undergraduate students and 1,225 are graduate students. The U.S. News and World Report ranked A&M third nationally as “best value” among public universities. With a lot to see on this campus and nine sessions to choose from, UCA camp at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas is the perfect camp for your team!

• Oklahoma State University – Located in Stillwater, OK, a community with a population of more than 42,000, OSU has an enrollment of approximately 26,000 students. It offers bachelors, masters, and doctors degrees in a large number of fields. Though it’s a large university, size does not minimize the personal attention given to its students. Oklahoma prides itself on making students feel more than just a number. Because of the average number of students majoring in each department is less than 150; students can count on being recognized in the friendly environment. UCA ranks this school as one of the top “Count it as a College Visit” camps and offers one camp session here while NCA holds three sessions here! For dance, UDA has one.

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MIDWEST

• Illinois State University – Students love the small-school feeling they get at this large University in Normal, Illinois. ISU keeps a big name being the third largest university in the state with 21,000 students. A student might consider attending this university because of its history and extensive academic programs. They have 67 undergraduate programs in more than 188 fields of study, the student to faculty ratio is 19:1, and it was the first public university in Illinois, started in 1857. UCA camps at ISU are very popular and have great tradition, always providing a great experience for the teams that attend! UCA offers nine sessions at ISU, and UDA offers four.

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SOUTHEAST

• North Carolina State University – Located in the exciting city of Raleigh, North Carolina, North Carolina State University has been consistently ranked among the nation’s top 50 public universities in the country. Also ranked by Princeton Review as a “best value” for students, NC State is a place where students can fit in and feel at home. Known for great athletic tradition, NC State cheerleaders are always among the best at NCA College Nationals. NCA offers two upbeat, unforgettable camp sessions at North Carolina State. UCA also offers one session.

• University of Georgia – The largest university in the state of Georgia is currently tied for 20th in the U.S. News and World Report’s top 50 public universities in America. The University of Georgia is located in Athens Georgia and is known for their great range of academic and professional programming at the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral levels. With baccalaureate degrees in 173 major fields of study, masters degrees in 130 concentration areas, and 93 areas of doctoral degrees, you can’t go wrong with an education at the University of Georgia! Coaches and cheerleaders love going to UCA camp at U of G for the great facilities, good food, and the many schools and wide-ranging staff who attend. UCA holds five sessions. NCA also suggests this camp and offers three sessions.

• University of Central Florida – The University of Central Florida is one of the largest universities in the country. It has hundreds of degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. With the university’s prestigious name and the award winning dance team, going to camp at this university gives seniors at UDA camp an opportunity to see some of what UCF has to offer them after they graduate high school. If you want your dancers to attend this camp, see the one session offered. For cheer, there are six UCA camps to choose from. 

• University of Tennessee - A perennial powerhouse in several sports, University of Tennessee fields twenty men’s and women’s varsity intercollegiate teams and is home to more than 500 student athletes! UT Knoxville buzzes with energy, ideas, and optimism. Great professors and students from all over the world live and work in a friendly, safe campus community located in scenic east Tennessee. The campus and its signature “Hill” lures students with lots of space and fun. The UCA and UDA camps are held in the indoor football complex and the Thompson-Boling Arena where the Vols basketball teams play. Cheerleaders and dancers who attend this camp can usually get a glimpse of the football or basketball team practicing! UCA holds six camps sessions here, while UDA holds two.

• University of Alabama – Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the University of Alabama was founded in 1831 as Alabama’s first public college. The U of A has consistently been ranked among the nation’s top 50 public universities by U.S. News and World Report for the last several years. They offer bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in more than 200 fields of study with a student/faculty ratio of 19:1. Extensive academic activities are also offered ranging from Freshman Learning Communities to Honors College. UCA and UDA’s number one “Count it as a College Visit” camp, is full of energy and fun, all with a great campus to enjoy it on! UDA offers one camp session here, and with UCA you can choose from five sessions.

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NORTHEAST

• Rutgers University – With more than 50,000 students attending, Rutgers University is the largest institution for higher education in the state of New Jersey and is on the list for one of the nation’s best public universities. Rutgers was chartered in 1766, and has a unique history as a colonial college, a land-grant institute, and a state university. This university holds hundreds of programs in just about every area of field study to prepare its students for future success. UCA camps here are held indoors and outdoors at the Livingston Center and consist of two camp sessions, a normal 4 day/3 night camp or a 2 day elite camp session. Whichever one you choose, UCA camp at Rutgers will not disappoint! NCA also holds one camp session here.

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