If there is one question that keeps high school rowers (and their parents) up at night, it is this: “What is the recruiting standard for 2k erg scores at “X” College or University?” It is the first question asked at college camps, the most Googled phrase during junior year, and the subject of endless speculation in boathouses across the country.
The anxiety is understandable. In a team sport that can sometimes feel subjective—where technique, boat feel, seat racing results, and crew combinations rule on the water—the 2k erg score stands as a brutal, undeniable metric of your own personal physiological engine. It is the number that gets your foot in the door to recruiting.
However, if you are looking for a specific number that guarantees admission to your dream school, you might be disappointed. The recruiting process is rarely that black and white. While the 2k score is a very important number on your athletic resume, it is part of a much larger, more complex conversation about potential, academics, and character.
At Rower Academy, we believe in empowering athletes with the truth, even when it’s nuanced. Here is everything you need to know about where your 2k score fits into the college recruiting puzzle, and what numbers you should actually be chasing.
The “Standard” varies by program (and Division)
The first thing to understand is that “college rowing” is not a monolith. The erg standard required to row for a top-tier, IRA National Championship-contending men’s program is vastly different from what is needed for a competitive Division III program. Further, erg score standards not only vary across Divisions, but also within them.
While ergometer numbers can fluctuate based on the recruiting class and specific program needs, here are general benchmarks you should be aware of. Achieving (or not) any of the following general erg standards will neither guarantee nor prevent you from gaining admission to the school of your dreams. Use the following scores as guides, and not hard and fast rules.
Men’s Rowing Standards
Heavyweight Men
- Tier 1 (Elite Varsity/IRA Contenders): These programs (think Yale, Washington, Cal, Harvard) are looking for athletes who can move the needle immediately. The standard here is typically sub-6:15 for high school Juniors/rising Seniors, with top recruits pulling sub-6:05. Height can be a factor, with coaches preferring athletes 6’3” and above.
- Tier 2 (Strong Varsity): For programs consistently making the IRA finals or top Dad Vail crews, you generally need to be in the 6:15 to 6:25 range.
- Tier 3 (Competitive Varsity/Club): For many competitive programs, a score in the 6:25 to 6:40 range will generate serious interest.
Lightweight Men
Lightweight rowing is incredibly competitive because the physiological window is smaller. You must be fast, but you must also be disciplined with your weight (max 160 lbs). And there are simply far fewer Varsity men’s lightweight programs than there are Heavyweight programs across the country.
- Tier 1 (Top Ivies): As noted by programs like Harvard, the standard is fierce. You should aim for sub-6:30, and well into the 6:20s on the 2k
- Tier 2: For developing programs, scores in the sub-6:40 range are the baseline.
Women’s Rowing Standards
Women’s rowing operates under NCAA regulations (mostly), which opens up significant scholarship opportunities at the Division I and II levels.
Open Weight Women
- Tier 1 (Top Division I): To catch the eye of a top-10 NCAA program, you typically need to be pulling sub-7:20, with scholarship money potentially flowing to those under 7:10 as incoming Freshman. Height is again a premium, with 5’10”+ being the gold standard.
- Tier 2 (Top D3 / Mid D1): A score in the mid-7:20s to 7:30 is a very strong recruiting tool here.
- Tier 3 (D2 / Developing D1): Scores between 7:30 and 7:50 are heavily recruited, especially if the athlete shows technical proficiency.
Lightweight Women
- Tier 1: With a weight cap of 130 lbs, top programs (Stanford, Princeton, etc.) are looking for sub-7:35.
The Trend Line: Why Progress Matters More Than Perfection
Here is the secret that coaches won’t always tell you: They love a graph that goes up (or in this case, splits that go down).
A high school Junior who pulls a 6:20 but has been stuck at that score for two years is often viewed differently than a Junior who pulls a 6:25 but dropped ten seconds in the last six months. Coaches are recruiting for potential. They want to know that your best strokes are ahead of you, not behind you.
This is particularly crucial for athletes in their sophomore (10th grade) and junior (11th grade) years. Coaches are looking for a trajectory of development. If you are relatively new to the sport or have recently undergone a growth spurt, your “trend line” can be just as valuable as your raw number.
When communicating with coaches, don’t just send your PR. Contextualize it. “I pulled a 7:40 last spring, a 7:32 this winter, and I am tracking toward a sub-7:30 this spring.” That narrative shows work ethic, coachability, and physiological upside.
The Academic Gatekeeper
You cannot row for a school you cannot get into. Admissions departments will always have the final say in the recruiting process. The question they seek to answer: “Can and will this student athlete thrive academically at this institution?” Erg scores and racing results alone will not guarantee entry into your dream school. You also need to be a great student as well.
In the Ivy League and many top-tier academic institutions, the admissions office holds the keys. Coaches at these schools often speak about “Academic Index” or “bands” of admissibility. Even if you pull a world-record erg score, a GPA of 2.5 might make you unrecruitable for Harvard or Princeton.
Top programs explicitly state that academic performance is Priority #1. They need your transcript and test scores (SAT/ACT) early in the process—often before they even ask for video of your rowing. They need to verify that you are “academically recruitable” before they invest time in you.
If your erg score is on the bubble—say, a few seconds slower than the Tier 1 standard—exceptional grades can sometimes tip the scale in your favor. Conversely, if your grades are borderline, you might need an erg score that is truly undeniable to convince admissions to take a chance on you.
Finding the Right Fit (Beyond the Speed)
While we focus heavily on the numbers, recruiting is a two-way street. You aren’t just trying to get a coach to like you; you need to find a program, and a school, where you will thrive.
Ask yourself the hard questions:
- If I got injured and could never take another stroke, would I still be happy at this university?
- Do I want a program that is chasing a National Title every year, a program on the rise to becoming a contender, a program in the midst of a rebuild, or perhaps one that emphasizes community and balance over results?
- Does the school offer the major I am passionate about?
Athletes who choose a school solely for the logo on the singlet often burn out or transfer. The most successful recruits are those who find a holistic match—academically, socially, and athletically. When you speak to coaches, showing that you have done your research on their specific school culture demonstrates maturity and genuine interest.
Proactive Communication: Take the Oars
There is a myth that if you are fast enough, coaches will find you. While that might be true if you are one of the top high school rowers in the country, most student athletes will need to be the ones making first contact. In other words, you need to drive the process.
College coaches cannot possibly reach out to every potential student athlete for their school. They do not have time to guess if you are interested. So, more often than not, you must be the one to reach out to the schools you are interested in. Here is how:
- Fill out the Questionnaire: Go to the team website and fill out the recruiting questionnaire. This puts you in their database.
- Send the Email: Send a personalized introduction email. Include your height, weight, 2k score, GPA, and a brief video clip.
- Do It Yourself: This is vital—do not let your parents write your emails. Coaches want to recruit independent, self-sufficient adults, not athletes who need their parents to manage their schedules. When a coach sees an email from “Mom or Dad,” it is often a red flag regarding the athlete’s maturity. As the recruiting process continues, there will be plenty of time for Mom and Dad to communicate with the coaching staff about the program and any questions they have.
Deeming Yourself Worthy
Ultimately, the recruiting “standard” is a moving target. It depends on who else is in your recruiting class, the specific needs of the team that year (e.g., do they need port side rowers?), and your academic standing.
Do not let a specific erg number define your self-worth or your love for the sport. Use the standards as motivation, not a ceiling. Train hard, focus on your grades, and engage with the process confidently.
If you are ready to transform from a high school rower into a college-ready student-athlete, you don’t have to navigate this water alone. At Rower Academy, we specialize in helping athletes build the physical engine and the mental resilience required to reach the next level.
Whether you need to drop splits on your 2k or need guidance on crafting the perfect email to a college coach, we are here to help you pull your weight.