There are 22 men's and 33 women's Division-I water polo programs in the country. There are only 7 men's and 12 women's programs at the Division-II level. Then, there are 14 men's and 15 women's Division-III programs, but those don't offer athletic scholarships (source). 

Our point? There really aren't that many opportunities to play college water polo. However, there aren't that many high school water polo players, which is why the odds of getting in are so good (relatively, at least); about 7.8% of male high school athletes and 9.6% of female high school athletes will make it onto a college team (source).

Some tips for making that college recruiter's short list:

Water polo is an extremely political sport. A large part of the success of players depends directly on their teams' ability and interest in throwing them the ball in the right place at the right time so that they can go on to score and be a hero.

The politics don’t end in the water. They extend onto the pool deck, as well. Coaches like malleable athletes and what's malleable to one coach is cold steel to another. Some coaches just like physically huge players and figure they can teach them the rest. Others are addicted to speed so they hunt the guys who finished eight inches behind Michael Phelps.

In other cases, coaches are all about defense and they just seek angry squid. How you mesh with the coach's vision is arguably as important as the sum total of your water polo's resume.

Given all of that vaseline smeared on the lens, some ways to make your vision less blurry include all of the following:

Start attending summer camps and showcases. These are massive events where top high school players can compete for the amusement of college coaches and recruiters (source). In order to make a name for yourself as a top dog in the water, it all begins here. Primp, preen, and show off that rocket arm of yours.

It's essential to establish relationships with coaches at programs that interest you. Reach out to them, and put yourself on the map (source). Who doesn't like an athlete who is proactive and shows her dedication through action? It's also a major plus if you're a competitive swimmer. Your swimming ability will give you a major leg up on the other boys and girls who want your scholarship money.